Ford Car Reviews

The Ford Escape is available in three trims: the base XLS, the workhorse XLT and the more luxurious Limited. The base engine is 2.5L Duratec 4-cylinder that makes 171 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque. Also available is a 3.0L Duratec V6 engine making 240 horsepower and 223 pound-feet of torque. All models, including the Hybrid, offer a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard with the 4-cylinder engine. A 6-speed automatic transmission is standard on all V6 engines and available with the 4-cylinder.

The Escape Hybrid powertrain includes a 2.5L Duratec gasoline 4-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine. The combination delivers 177 horsepower and 136 pound-feet of torque. The powertrain also incorporates electronic throttle control (ETC), which replaces the manual linkage between accelerator and throttle with a control unit that calculates the optimal throttle position from a number of sensors. It is available in either front wheel drive or 4-wheel drive

Standard safety features include front side-impact airbags, AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, Ford's Safety Canopy (a side curtain air bag technology), SecuriCode keyless entry and a tire pressure monitoring system. The base XLS comes with a minimal amount of standard comfort features, but they do include keyless entry and power doors, mirrors and windows. Major options on the Escape include larger 17-inch wheels, a 320-watt audiophile sound system, Sirius satellite radio, a DVD-based navigation system, leather-trimmed power seats, a power moonroof, a roof rack, ambient lighting, steering wheel audio controls, auxiliary audio input jack and a 110V AC power outlet on the Hybrid model.

2012 ford focus sedan

2012 ford focus sedan

2012 ford focus sedan

2012 ford focus sedan

After what seems to be a century, Ford has finally revealed its 2012 Focus at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. For the first time ever, both European and North American markets will get the same model. Production will start late in 2010 in both regions with sales beginning in early 2011. As a true global product, Ford says that the “new Focus will be nearly identical in all markets, with 80 percent parts commonality around the world.” Production will also take place in South America and Africa.
To accommodate the wants of both European and North American buyers, the 2012 Focus comes in both sedan and five-door hatchback body styles. The design carryovers the latest evolution of Ford’s European “Kinetic” design language, which is to say it looks better than our current Focus (in both the U.S. and Europe).
Besides a more attractive exterior, the 2012 Focus gets a completely redesigned interior that screams “premium.” It features Ford’s new MyFord Touch driver connect technology SYNC and the 8-inch touch screen, keyless entry, “Ford Power” start button, a rearview camera and a semi-automatic self parallel parking system.
Also new is the Focus’ 2.0L DI Ti-VCT engine. It produces 155hp and 145 lb-ft of torque and, according to Ford, improves fuel-economy gains by more than 10%. The engine is mated to Ford’s latest dry-clutch 6-speed Ford PowerShift automatic transmission, which–with its dual-clutch design–helps reduce fuel consumption by up to 9% compared to the 4-speed automatic.
Ford also plans to release an EcoBoost model and has confirmed a battery-electric version of the new Focus in 2011, the company’s first battery-electric passenger vehicle. The electric Focus will be produced at it’s Michigan Assembly for the U.S. market.
The 2012 Focus will add to Ford’s already impressive product lineup, which includes the critically acclaimed Fusion and Fiesta. The company has momentum on its side – the sooner the new Focus gets into dealerships, the better it will be able to take advantage of said momentum. What do you think about the prospects? You can find for details in the press release below.