2013 Ford Escape Review
Jumat, 09 Desember 2011
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2013 Ford Escape Review - The all-new Ford Escape delivers the versatility and cargo capacity SUV customers expect with a sports-inspired design they desire.
"Escape's athletic good looks are no accident," says Martin Smith, Design executive director of Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa. "We wanted to create the impression of an athlete like a runner or swimmer in the new body - right down to the defined muscles that convey movement and energy."
The new SUV will be sold as the 2013 Ford Escape in North America and will be launched later wearing a Kuga badge in many markets around the world.
Function follows form as the sleeker design allows for cargo volume that surpasses the outgoing 2013 Ford Escape - with 68.1 cubic feet of space behind the first row and 34.3 cubic feet behind the second row. The new Kuga will be slightly longer than the current model, adding luggage space.
Escape's seats, Ford's latest, lose weight while adding customer convenience. The seat structure has shed nearly 3 pounds while the seats themselves have added more functionality - two-way power recline and two-way power lumbar support. These are in addition to the familiar six-way adjustability.
A sport seat, with higher bolsters and a distinct sew style, also is available.
The front head restraint offers four-way adjustability for the first time. Both the head restraints and rear seats have been upgraded to allow for easier folding and are made from soy-based foam.
The new Escape's suspension utilizes McPherson struts up front and an independent, semi-trailing arm configuration at the rear. The new, “Intelligent” four-wheel drive system uses an electromagnetic clutch. The system’s sensors collect data from 25 sources including wheel speed, accelerator pedal position and steering wheel angle to assess both the driver’s reactions and road conditions up to 20 times faster than the blink of an eye – or so Ford claims. The Escape is also Ford’s first SUV to feature the firm's Curve Control and Torque Vectoring Control.
The interior of the 2013 Escape adopts Ford’s new design language and is similar to that of the new Focus with the vertical center vents surrounding the infotainment system’s screen.
Ruth Pauli, Chief Engineer for Color and Materials, says: “The interior design of the all-new Escape is modern and sophisticated. It captures the expressive design and enhanced functionality of the vehicle.”
Ford claims to offer technologies that are not available in any other rival including the Sync infotainment system that sports the upgraded MyFord Touch driver connect technology.
Other features available are a hands-free power liftgate that uses a motion sensor placed under the rear bumper, an active parking assist and a blind-spot information system (BLIS) to warn the driver about objects in the vehicle’s blind spots.
In Europe, Ford's new crossover model will make its debut as the Kuga at next year's Geneva Salon in March.
