Advanced EcoBoost Engines Arrive on New Ford Escape, Delivering Best-in-Class Fuel Economy, Great Performance

• Ford’s next-generation SUV will offer the broadest reach yet of EcoBoost, with two EcoBoost® engines available: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a 1.6-liter four-cylinder, which makes its U.S. debut on the all-new Ford Escape
• Each engine carries forward the Ford EcoBoost promise of great fuel economy and spirited performance produced by combining direct fuel injection and turbocharging
• The comprehensive selection of four-cylinder offerings for greater customer choice is rounded out by an upgraded version of the familiar 2.5-liter as base engine
• Each engine is mated to a six-speed Ford SelectShift Automatic™ transmission, which is available for the first time on Escape
• Ford’s mission to add to the suite of sustainable materials found in each new vehicle is reflected in its next-generation Escape

Click here to visit the All-New Ford Escape Media Site.

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 16, 2011 – For the first time, the new Ford Escape will offer two different EcoBoost® engines. This award-winning Ford engine technology, which produces outstanding driving performance and expected fuel economy better than any competitor, is available in a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and for the first time in the U.S., a 1.6-liter four-cylinder.

Each new engine uses the core EcoBoost technologies of direct fuel injection and turbocharging and adds twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT). With these technologies, the 2.0-liter EcoBoost is projected to produce more torque than the larger V6 engine in Toyota’s RAV4, and the 1.6-liter is projected to produce segment-leading fuel economy among compact SUVs and up to 5 mpg better than the outgoing Escape.

EcoBoost has been a popular choice among customers since the EcoBoost V6 was introduced in 2009 in the Ford Taurus SHO and Lincoln MKS. 

EcoBoost engines are fundamental to the Ford strategy of providing technologically advanced, high-output, smaller-displacement powertrains that deliver exceptional fuel economy and uncompromised performance for millions of drivers around the world. By 2013, more than 90 percent of Ford’s North American lineup will be available with EcoBoost technology. Ford holds more than 125 patents on its EcoBoost engine technology.

“Giving customers two EcoBoost engine choices perfectly complements the array of smart, high-tech features available in the new Ford Escape,” said Roger Maynard, Powertrain supervisor. “Both the 2.0-liter and 1.6-liter EcoBoost engines will deliver spirited driving performance while maximizing fuel economy.”

The 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder is projected to deliver 250 lb.-ft. of torque and 237 horsepower. The 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder is projected to deliver 177 lb.-ft. of torque and 173 horsepower.

Each new EcoBoost engine is mated to a specially calibrated six-speed SelectShift Automatic™ transmission, which is standard and allows drivers to manually control gear selection from a switch on the left-hand side of the shifter.

The gearbox features a new torque converter for improved driving feel, silky smooth shifts and great fuel economy. Engineers also installed revised gear ratios for a balanced driving feel in all situations. The new ratios complement the revised torque converter.

“The 2.0-liter EcoBoost, like all EcoBoost engines, will deliver peak torque across a wide band,” said Maynard. “That means drivers will get fast response when they put down the power – without sacrificing fuel economy.”

1.6-liter EcoBoost comes to North America
Also available for the first time in North America is Ford’s 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine. Like its 2.0-liter stable mate, the 1.6-liter EcoBoost is projected to deliver better torque than current Toyota and Honda competitors and expected better fuel economy than both.

“The 1.6-liter EcoBoost will be the fuel economy leader for the new Escape and will deliver outstanding fuel economy with a highly responsive engine,” said Maynard.

Efforts to improve unwanted noise on the 2.0-liter EcoBoost were carried over to the 1.6-liter EcoBoost, which adds an electronically controlled bypass valve.

This valve helps mitigate turbocharger tip-in and tip-out noises, resulting in a smoother sound out of the engine when the customer tips off the throttle. The valve smoothes out the sound by balancing the air pressure in the intake.

Lighter, more efficient 2.5-liter
The base engine for the all-new Ford Escape is an updated version of the 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which shares many components with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine to save weight, improve quality and increase fuel economy.

Highlighting the improvements is the new lower-tension global front-end accessory drive belt. With the belt at a lower tension, friction in the entire system is reduced. Less friction reduces  fuel consumption.

That improvement, combined with engine control changes and other advancements, contributes up to a 2 mpg improvement in fuel economy as well as better low-end torque for enhanced performance feel.

Also improving fuel economy is the Active Grille Shutter System, which helps reduce air resistance and is on all models with the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine and the 2.5-liter four-cylinder.

The Active Grille Shutter System will open grille slats when extra engine cooling air is required, such as low-speed stop-and-go driving. When cruising on the highway at steady speeds, the grille slats automatically close to improve aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.

Active Grille Shutters already are used on the Ford Focus, Ford Taurus and Ford Edge in North America and will be added progressively to more vehicles.

Global powertrains
In markets outside of North America, where the newest SUV from Ford will wear a Kuga badge, a number of additional powertrains, including a new diesel engine, will be offered. More details will be provided when the new Kuga launches at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012.

Recycled plastic bottles, scrap cotton find fresh start
A wide suite of environmentally responsible or recycled materials – including plastic bottles and cotton, to name a few – are found within the interior of the all-new Ford Escape.

“The all-new Ford Escape has a strong environmental responsibility story to tell,” said Sue Cischke, group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “With two all-new EcoBoost engines each delivering fewer CO2 emissions compared with similar conventional engines, and the extensive use of recycled or renewable materials, the all-new Ford Escape is more environmentally friendly.”

The all-new Ford Escape contains even more sustainable materials than its predecessor. Materials that are recycled, renewable and reduce impact on the environment include:

• Carpeting made from either post-consumer or post-industrial materials. An example of a post-consumer material is plastic that’s been recycled, like from beverage bottles. The source for polyester carpeting is about one-third post-consumer and two-thirds post-industrial
• About 25 20-ounce plastic bottles total are in the carpeting
• Soy foam in the seats and head restraints
• Powertrain undershields made from 100 percent recycled plastics
• More than 10 pounds of scrap cotton recycled from jeans, sweaters, T-shirts and other items otherwise sent to a landfill is used in sound-absorption material
• Climate control gaskets made from recycled tires
• Industry-first use of microcellular (MuCell) technology in the injection molding process of the instrument panel, reducing weight by 1 pound and contributing to improved fuel economy. This technology injects microscopic cells to reduce weight without sacrificing dimensional integrity
• Tailpipe trims are made from polished stainless steel instead of more common and less environmentally friendly chromium-plated trims

Wide use of more environmentally friendly, recycled and recyclable materials complements the projected best-in-class fuel economy of the all-new Ford Escape, further bolstering the vehicle’s environmentally responsible credentials. The all-new Ford Escape meets the USCAR Vehicle Recycling Partnership goal that 85 percent of the vehicle is recyclable.

Soy-based foam added to head restraints
The expansion of using soy-based foam continues in the all-new Escape. In addition to bio-foam content in the seat cushions and backs, new for Escape is head restraint foam that is 5 percent soy-based.

The carpet material is made from either post-consumer (plastic that’s been recycled; for example, from beverage bottles) or post-industrial (scraps from companies that make clothing, for example) sources. In the new Escape, the source for the polyester carpeting is about one-third post-consumer and two-thirds post-industrial.

Ford engineers calculate that about 25 20-ounce plastic bottles will be used in the production of the carpet of each new Escape in North America. At current sales levels, that is more than 4 million recycled plastic bottles each year.

“We are confident that the all-new Ford Escape will deliver outstanding fuel economy and make smart use of materials that otherwise would up in a landfill,” said Cischke. “Savvy customers will appreciate how we have made Escape both greener and smarter.”

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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.