http://wot.motortrend.com/fords-esca...ts-123159.html

We’ve heard a lot about Ford’s ambitious plan to triple its electrified vehicle production by 2013, but today’s news focuses on good old internal combustion, which everybody expects to dominate the market for decades. (Ford even cited research indicating that its customers perceive $5/gallon gas to be the threshold at which hybrids really make sense; $6 for pure electrics.) The next Ford Escape, slated for introduction next year, looking something like the Vertrek concept car, will NOT be offered in a hybrid model. Instead, the all-four-cylinder lineup will be topped by two EcoBoost engines. Base Escapes will soldier on with the 2.5-liter Duratec four (it’s currently rated 171 hp/171 lb-ft). Replacing the Hybrid as the fuel-economy champ is North America’s first application of the European Sigma platform engine in 1.6-liter form. It should provide equal or better performance from 175-plus horses and 170-plus lb-ft and is expected to top the Hybrid’s 31-mpg highway fuel economy and exceed the 2.5-liter’s 18-23-mpg city economy (depending on driveline setup–and AWD is expected to be available with the 1.6.)
Replacing the V-6 is the 2.0-liter EcoBoost that we love in the Escape’s distant-cousin, the similarly sized Range Rover Evoque. Expect that one to deliver the V-6’s 240 horses with considerably more available torque (250-270 is the spread covered by the Evoque to the Edge fitments of this engine). That kind fo output should deliver better performance than the V-6 Escape–especially in handling, thanks to its lighter nose.
More details will follow, but we can expect all three engines to be available from launch, with your choice of FWD or AWD, and all should be rated for towing. The 2.0T will likely match the current V-6 Escape’s 3500-pound limit.
Ford holds more than 125 patents on EcoBoost technology (total sales of which just crossed the 100,000 mark at the beginning of October), and both engines feature direct injection, a heady 10:1 compression ratio combined with 14-psi worth of turbo boost, and variable valve timing on both cams (it’s the conventional oil-pump-powered kind, not the cool new cam-torque-actuated style) , and each features an active pressure-relief valve on the intake/compressor side to quell the hisses and pops boy-racer turbos make (the 2.0-liter also gets an active exhaust-side wastegate). Both turbocharged mills will likely be sourced from Europe.

 

Personal opinion is that this is great. Studies show that there is a lack of faith in V6 engines and for good reason. Especially now with great 4 cylinder options. At 240 Hp, that's 35 shy of the 4.8l v8 in the Silverado I had. That's amazing. Torque matching even!

One wish? Longitudinally mounted 4 cylinder. Go from there. I am a big fan of the new Ford design language and it's about time we recover from the malaise era domestic product.

 

This is great news! I would rather see more efficient gas engines than gas/electrics anyway

 

Am I the only one who doesn't like the design? I really like boxy truck-looking design of the current Escape better.

And judging by sales numbers - buyers do too, Escape is the best selling small SUV in the USA.

 

I really really like Vertrek. I also liked the original Escape (and the old Alpe concept) better than the current boxy box. But I've also heard from plenty of people who find the current Escape's look quite charming.