Ford’s push for innovation has yielded SYNC with MyFord Touch, as well as the
fuel-efficient and powerful EcoBoost engines. The automaker’s latest
advancement is of particular significance to New England drivers dealing with
winter weather: an available intelligent all-wheel-drive system for the 2013
Ford Escape. The next-generation Escape, due to reach Ford
dealerships this
spring, will use a host of software and sensors to distribute power in ways that
previous models could not, offering owners added confidence when the roads get
slippery.
Ford’s intelligent all-wheel-drive
system is capable of not only sending all of the vehicle’s torque to either the
front or rear axles, but also dividing it between the two to provide optimum
traction in all conditions. To do this, the 2013 Ford Escape gathers information from 25 external
signals to assess not only which direction the vehicle is moving, but where the
driver wants to go, distributing power as needed to change trajectory.
“Ford’s new
all-wheel-drive system can assess conditions 20 times faster than the blink of
an eye, so it is already reacting before drivers even know what they are
getting themselves into.” said Alan Melkonian, owner and general manager of Massachusetts
Ford dealer
Stoneham Ford. “That makes it ideal for battling the crazy New England weather,
but the system even improves handling during the dry, mild days that we’ve been
having this winter.”
The 2013 Escape’s
intelligent all-wheel-drive system isn’t the only new piece of innovative technology
added as part of the redesign. In addition to its standard 2.5-liter engine,
Ford’s compact SUV will be available with two EcoBoost engines that promise
greater fuel economy without sacrificing power. A 1.6-liter EcoBoost powerplant
will likely be the most fuel-efficient option in the Escape, while the most
powerful unit will be the 2.0-liter EcoBoost, estimated to deliver 237
horsepower. Official EPA fuel-economy estimates have yet to be released, but
Ford is expecting the new model being up to 5 mpg more fuel efficient than the
current model.
Power and fuel
efficiency are important, but a compact SUV also needs to offer utility. With
that in mind, Ford Escape engineers also developed optional features like a
hands-free liftgate that opens itself with the wave of a foot under the rear
bumper, meaning drivers don’t have to put down their groceries. Also available
is the SYNC with MyFord Touch system, which enables voice control of the
stereo, climate control and navigation, as well as phone apps like Pandora
internet radio when connected to a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone.
Ford hopes the next-generation
Escape will build on the popularity of the current model, which, despite being at
the end of its run, continues to sell well. More than 17,000 Escape models were
sold in January, leading to a 24-percent increase compared to same month last
year and setting a new January sales record for the compact utility.
“Regardless of
future updates, buyers already love the Escape, and we’re seeing a lot of
traffic in our showroom as people snap up the remaining models,” Melkonian
noted. “With production of the 2013 model year starting up, it will be harder
and harder to get 2012 models, so buyers with a
preference for the outgoing drivetrains will want to act sooner rather than
later.”
About Stoneham Ford:
Located
on Route 28, just 15 minutes north of Boston, Stoneham Ford is a premier new
and used Ford dealer in Massachusetts. They offer a wide selection of Ford
cars, trucks and SUVS, including the latest Ford hybrid models, and their
helpful sales and service staff serve their customers with integrity and
respect. For more information and to view the current Ford inventory, visit
Stoneham Ford online at www.stonehamford.com, or in person at 211 Main St. in
Stoneham, Massachusetts. They can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MyStonehamFord, and you can reach them by phone
at 781-438-0490.
