|  |  | | Escape Hybrid's Silver Appearance Package includes silver metallic fascias, bodyside cladding and wheel lip moldings, and the Leather Comfort Group includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel and leather-trimmed seats.
A Premium Package combines a monochromatic exterior in five colors with Premium leather-trimmed seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats and side mirrors, Reverse Sensing System, navigation system and hybrid energy flow display with Audiophile stereo, 110-volt power outlet, cargo area retractable cover and floor mats.
Like the traditional Escape, Escape Hybrid offers seating for up to five and includes the same 60/40 split folding rear seat. Efficient packaging of the hybrid technology (locating the battery pack at the rear load floor, for example) means that interior versatility is preserved. Even with a full complement of five passengers, cargo room behind the second row seat is still an ample 27.6 cubic feet.
The maximum cargo space can be expanded to over 65 cubic feet, if desired. The roof rack is capable of holding up to 100 pounds of cargo.
A unique gauge package features an economy indicator with "green zone" that shows when the vehicle is operating on battery power. A separate gauge displays levels of charge and assist for the battery pack. An optional navigation system features an Audiophile stereo system, a unique energy flow diagram that displays hybrid system operation and a fuel economy screen that displays instant and average fuel economy.
Escape Hybrid also offers a 110-volt AC power outlet, perfect for a television, radio, air pump, electric razor or even holiday lights at the campsite.
Escape Hybrid 2007 Powertrain and Chassis
The Escape's hybrid powertrain system consists of a half-dozen key components engineered to provide a seamless flow of power:
- A unique 2.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine features Atkinson-cycle combustion for improved efficiency and produces 133 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. - A 70-kWatt (equivalent to 94 horsepower) electric traction motor provides an added boost to the drive wheels when maximum acceleration is desired. - A generator-motor recharges the batteries, starts the engine and helps regulate how the two propulsion channels blend together in the transaxle. - A special electronically controlled, continuously variable transmission (eCVT) harnesses internal combustion and electric power sources to drive the front wheels in a FWD Escape or all four wheels with the optional Intelligent 4WD System. - A 330-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery pack located and sealed at the rear load floor stores electrical energy. - An electronic vehicle system controller manages charging, drive assist and engine-starting functions. This device shuts the engine down during coasting and at stoplights to save fuel. It also converts the traction motor into a generator during braking to help recharge the batteries.
The combined output of both the gas and electric motors is 155 horsepower, and the powertrain provides 0-60 acceleration performance similar to the conventional Escape with 200-horsepower V-6 engine.
The generator-motor provides power boosts during heavy load situations, helping Escape Hybrid accelerate briskly to speed. In addition to fuel-free operation, electric motors deliver maximum torque at low rpm, so they are an ideal complement to gasoline engines that generate peak power at higher rpm.
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