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What would it take for Ford to get you interested in a new Escort? In its heyday, the Escort was quite popular, but managed to build up a bundle of negative brand equity. In less than three years, Ford reportedly hopes to woo Escort buyers back with a 100 mpg plug-in hybrid model. Numbers like that would certainly get some interest, and give competitors like GM's Volt and Toyota's Prius plenty to think about. And if the 2011 Escort looks anything like the renderings on Next Energy News, it should be able to make lots of money for Ford.

According to the report at Next Energy, the new Escort would be a single mode hybrid more like Toyota's drivetrain instead of the dual-mode system GM and Chrysler are developing. But the new car would be a brand new platform for Ford, and wouldn't be built using another company's proven hybrid system.

Ford's hybrid would likely utilize A123 Systems nanophosphate lithium-Ion batteries, which are also being used by the Saturn Aura and Chevy Volt.


http://www.nextenergynews.com/news1/next-energy-news-escort-hybrid.html

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/escort-hybrid_opt.jpg

Hi C0da:

___I would love to post this as news but how credible is Next Energy News? I think I will give a Ford contact or two a call tomorrow to track this one down.

___Mulally would certainly be all for a PHEV like this but I have heard very little from Ford wrt anything we would be interested as of late other then the Mazda2 which appears to be somewhat disappointing in the FE department :(

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I don't think it's as credible as I'd like it to be, but it really got my attention. I originally found it on autoblog.com and then posted it here in hopes that someone could prove it to be true.

Looks like this originated from the GM inside news website.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1185218#post1185218

Thanks xcel

The pic looks really close to the Fiesta/Verve . I really have to wonder if the wide mouth grille and big 18"ish wheels are purposeful FE improvers or BoyRacer add-ons to get the publics blood pumping?
If they follow through with it ...My hat tips to them !

I am sad to report that this story is untrue. How depressing.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/09/25/ford-is-not-working-on-a-plug-in-escort-for-2010/

So, they're working on a PHEV Escape but have no plans at all for a compact or subcompact PHEV.

Sooo American. /middle finger

I'm just going to throw in that it's probably much easier to package a PHEV in a little SUV and still have some room left over than it is to do the same in a compact car. Those batteries take up a fair bit of room.

I'm just going to throw in that it's probably much easier to package a PHEV in a little SUV and still have some room left over than it is to do the same in a compact car. Those batteries take up a fair bit of room.

I hear you but there are lots of places to stash batteries. Under the rear seats, raise the rear deck up some, etc. I would totally be willing to sacrifice some cargo space to get 100+ MPG.

As small as the Yaris' engine bay is there's still lots of room in there, too. Fitting things like an HSD and charger/controller in it would not exactly be an X Prize challenge.

They can stuff anything under the hood they want.

Remember Mustang with a big block?

On the big F-Series Trucks. The cab has to be pulled to take the engine out of the truck or to pull the heads.

I wanted a Marauder Sooooo bad when they came out. But they put a small block in it. I know,, I know. But I wanted my last big block rear wheel drive monster sedan. I would have more than likely kept it the rest of my life. But noooo Ford had to ruin it with a small block V8. Open the hood on one and there is enough room to put a 700 ci engine in there.

Point is the ****ed factorys can do and have done what ever they have wanted in the past.

When I saw the pick. I was thinking ,,, maybe the next Mazda3 and a hybrid. And look it might handle right. Great mpg with some zing with good g's on the skid pad.

But once again my hopes are dash and trashed. :(