Auto Connexion Launches New Ford Escape SUV

Kuala Lumpur, June 10, 2009

Hot on the heels of the new Focus hatchback and sedan and the new Ranger 4X4 pick-up truck, Sime Darby Auto Connexion Sdn Bhd (Auto ConneXion) has launched yet another new Ford model for the local market.

The new Ford Escape 2.3 XLT comes with an array of design enhancements that create a contemporary new look to its unique combination of car-like ride and handling and real SUV capability.

The new Ford Escape 2.3 XLT won the Car of the Year Award for Best SUV Petrol at the recent 2009 Bangkok International Motor Show.  Top Gear Indonesia has also named it the Best SUV (Gasoline).

Powered by Ford’s proven 146 PS (107 kW) Duratec 2.3-litre VVT (Variable Valve Timing) petrol engine and matched to a 4-speed automatic transmission, the new Escape is priced at RM134,837 in Peninsular Malaysia and RM138,337 in Sabah and Sarawak (excluding road tax, insurance and registration.)

“We are delighted to introduce the new Escape in Malaysia so soon after the launch of the new Focus and new Ranger. Offering a winning combination of everyday comfort, driving ease and the capability for adventure, this latest version of the Escape with its refreshing new style is the perfect choice for the spontaneous and adventurous urbanite,” said Dato’ Lawrence Lee, Executive Vice-President of Sime Darby Motors Division.

The new Escape features a fresh face incorporating key elements of Ford design DNA and a new character that feels sleeker and more dynamically poised. Yet it retains the strength and robustness that have been at the core of the Escape brand and differentiate it from other vehicles in its segment. 

“The new Escape is both tough and refined, and that’s key to its fun and sporty appeal in any environment,” according to chief designer Paul Gibson. “It feels sleeker and more streamlined, like it’s slipping through the air, and the profile is faster without compromising the robustness, durability and capability that Escape has always stood for,” he added.

There are extensive design changes to the Escape exterior, including a new front, fenders, bumpers and a tailgate, as well as additional revisions to key details of the popular Ford compact SUV’s design. These include new front fog lamps, headlamps, alloy wheels, grille treatment, wheel arches, door cladding, tailgate and tail lamps.

Underneath its new skin, the Ford Escape is well suited to the city life with the durability to survive outdoor adventures.

"From the outset of the development program for the new Escape, preserving its unique dual capabilities has been at the core of our engineering approach," said Hiroaki Hashimoto, product development programs director, Asia Pacific and Africa, Ford Motor Company. "We've retained all of the strengths, ruggedness and durability that have made Escape a legend in its segment. Outstanding 4x4 capability is at the top of that list," he added.

New Face from Ford DNA
Most significant among the design changes for the new Escape is its confident, new front design embracing several elements that are key features of Ford design DNA.

The Escape’s new face features the distinctive Ford three-bar grille.  Finished with a sophisticated chrome effect and combined with a larger, prouder Ford oval, the grille creates an unmistakable visual signature.

Another key Ford DNA feature is Escape’s pronounced lower grille. This inverted trapezoid shape conveys power and performance, and features recessed meshing and is bisected subtly by a black bumper beam. Its lower edge is enclosed by a body-colour chin spoiler.

The new Escape’s front design is accentuated by a new hood design featuring dual raised ‘power domes’ as an expression of strength. The new hood design reinforces its streamlined front and complements the raked grille angle. New wraparound headlamps and projector fog lamps complete the face of the new Escape.

The new headlamps, with a horizontal eyebrow feature line, are sleek and aerodynamic in appearance. The sweeping lamp design visually joins the grille shape while flowing into the hood and fender shapes integrally. The new dual-beam headlamp design also incorporates the turn indicators, which are visible from a wider angle in the new wraparound shape.

The wraparound effect continues with the projector fog lamps, which are designed into sculpted black inserts in the bevelled recesses in Escape’s new front bumper. This design touch further communicates width and stance.

Faster Profile
The new Escape’s profile signals its car-like refinement and dynamic capabilities – on-road and off-road. Its side view features larger, more aggressive wheel arches, new 16-inch wheels and a number of special design touches.

The faster profile of the new Escape design begins at the front of the vehicle with the more steeply raked grille and hood shape. This gives the profile shape more speed, a design that signals Escape’s 'car-style' ride and handling.

A stylish new feature, often the domain of more expensive passenger cars, is the integration of the turn indicator into the exterior side mirror. This improves overall appearance as well as adds to the visibility and function of the vehicle.

These pronounced design improvements and other subtle design touches on the new Escape emphasize the horizontal lines of the vehicle. This gives it a less upright and boxy design.

Larger, more pronounced wheel arches are another Ford DNA element that is magnified on the new Escape. The addition of body-coloured wheel arch mouldings provides a more sophisticated look.

New 16-inch cast aluminium wheels with five dual spokes carry on the theme of performance and dynamic poise. They also contribute to the new Escape's modern look and enhance the appearance of the vehicle when viewed from profile.

The new front fender design incorporates a distinctive Escape signature air vent at its rear edge. This design touch, with Escape badging over black mesh, adds further visual appeal. New lower side cladding, also executed in body colour, contributes to the modern style of the new Escape, integrating the body side and new fender shapes with sculpted precision.

New Rear Look
The new Escape’s rear view reflects a number of key design enhancements, including a new tailgate design with wraparound high-intensity LED tail lamps.

The new rear shape accentuates the horizontal – providing a more contemporary feel without compromising the Escape’s genuine SUV character.

The new Escape features a new, two-piece tail lamp design that incorporates the lamp unit into the tailgate and rear bumper to the full extend of Escape’s bodyside waistline contour. The new LED tail lamp design – a contemporary technology – incorporates reversing lights into its design.

The tailgate design, punctuated by another large Ford oval badge and integrated upper centre high-mounted stop lamp above the glass, features straightforward chrome-letter badging. This is the only use of chrome on the tailgate on the new model and delivers an understated and uncluttered style.

The new Escape features a new rear bumper design incorporating a lower diffuser shape and skidplate-inspired lower spoiler, enclosing a recessed mesh. The bumper also features integrated rear light reflectors at the lower corners.  A short, sportily angled ‘bee sting’ radio antenna located on the roof at the rear of the vehicle, adds to the contemporary design feel.

Colours
Three stylish new colours have been introduced for the new Escape – Moondust Silver, Mica Black, and Tonic (pale blue).

Genuine 4X4 Capability
The new Escape differentiates itself from its competitive segment with its real-SUV capabilities. It has the highest ground clearance in its class – 200mm front and 242mm rear – a clear indication that it is engineered for adventure.

"Escape's SUV capabilities are absolutely uncompromised with this contemporary new look," said Hashimoto. "If you go off-road, numbers like the approach angle and departure angle separate the SUVs from the rest, and that's where Escape shines."

The new Escape XLT has an approach angle of 28.5 degrees and a departure angle of 30 degrees. It has a confident stance, with a track of 1545 mm front and 1535 mm rear and a wheelbase of 2620mm.

Ford’s proven 2.3-liter Duratec four-cylinder engine provides responsive power and competitive fuel economy. The fuel-injected engine is rated at 107kW of peak power at 6000rpm. Maximum torque is 196Nm at 4000rpm. The Escape XLT achieves very respectable fuel efficiency of 10.5 litres per 100km.

Towing capacity remains unchanged at 750kg unbraked, which increases to 1000kg for braked loads.

The new Escape is equipped with a MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension, plus disc brakes at the front and rear. 215/70R16 tyres are standard.

Safety has also been boosted, thanks to the inclusion of front seat side/head thorax airbags as standard. Additional standard-fit safety and creature-comfort features include Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), cruise-control and automatic climate control.

The new fully imported Ford Escape 2.3 XLT is available at all Ford showrooms nationwide. It also comes standard with a 3-year/100,000 km warranty, whichever comes first.  For more information, please call Auto ConneXion Voice hotline at 1-800-88-3181.

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion Sdn Bhd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sime Darby Motors Division and the Ford distributor in Malaysia.