Fords Escape is one of the most popular in the United States. Over the past six years, this ubiquitous little soft-roader has found its way into more than a million driveways. Then theres the Escapes green side; it was the worlds first hybrid sport utility vehicle, not to mention the worlds first E85 capable hybrid. Any which way you slice it, thats no small feat for one single vehicle. Such is also the reason why Ford chose this years LA Auto Show to debut a revised version of the Escape for model year 2008.

Now in its second facelit, the new Escape takes on a brand new look that aligns it with some of the brands other SUVs. Though it doesnt have the
Warm up your checkbooks… presenting the new 2008 Escape. (Photo: Ford)
three-bar grille found on many of Fords new products, the Escape still incorporates similarly shaped headlamps and a grille that juts forward. Other modifications to its nose include a metal-look bumper guard up front with the “ESCAPE” logo imprinted on it, while the rear receives a new tailgate design, plus new bumpers.

Chief Designer Doyle Letson says, “We raised the beltline to give the profile a strong, modern proportion of sheetmetal to glass.
Cute styling has been shed for a little more ruggedness. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)
Then we sculpted the surfaces for a more Ford Tough Truck appearance.” Indeed, the Escape looks like a downsized Expedition.

Inside, Ford hopes to give the Escape an even greener image by introducing
Styling more in line with bigger Explorer and Expedition. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)
a new kind of fabric material for 2008. Designed by Interface Fabrics, the cloth seats will be made from 100-percent post-industrial recycled material rather than brand new material. Aside from being another first from Ford, this decision positively affects the environment by saving an estimated 600,000 gallons of water, 7 trillion watt-hours of electricity and an EPA and CAFE-pleasing greenhouse gas reducing 1.8 million lbs of carbon dioxide gas. Hopefully this isnt going to be the only vehicle that Ford applies this technology to.

For those familiar with the current Escapes cabin, the facelift brings a completely different
New console design is so much better than the old model. (Photo: Ford)
view with little remaining from the original, as well as 2004s major update. The new four-spoke steering wheel, console and dashboard featured here were previewed earlier this year with the Mercury Mariner.

Inside, the Escape’s dash has been reworked to include a strip of readouts near the windshield, including temperature and radio functions. Recycled materials are used for all the seating surfaces. And the new audio systems include a standard MP3 jack for personal music players. Ford has swapped out the Escape’s green lighting for a new blue treatment-and it’s swapped the Escape’s small console for a laptop-sized bin between the drive and the front passenger.

Like the similar 2008 Mercury Mariner, the Escape has a revamped range of engines. The 2.3-liter four with 153 horsepower returns, and is teamed with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. A 3.0-liter V-6 option makes 200 horsepower and is mated to a four-speed automatic.

The Escape Hybrid continues with a 2.3-liter four-cylinder, battery packs and a continuously variable transmission combining for 155 hp. Improved software helps the Escape Hybrid distribute power more smoothly, Ford says.

Standard Engine:

2.3L I4 , 16 valve, 133 hp @ 6000 rpm, Hybrid - Electric

• VAR speed automatic transmission
• 34 mpg city / 30 mpg hwy
• Green Rating: 76

Standard Features:

• Seat Mounted Front Side Airbags
• Electronic Brake Assistance
• AM/FM Radio With 4 Speakers Total; CD Player; MP3 Player

The 2008 Escape is a 4-door, 5-passenger sport-utility, available in 9 trims, ranging from the XLS FWD Manual to the Limited 4WD.

Upon introduction, the XLS FWD Manual is equipped with a standard 2.3-liter, I4 , 153-horsepower engine that achieves 22-mpg in the city and 28-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard. The Limited 4WD is equipped with a standard 3.0-liter, V6, 200-horsepower engine that achieves 17-mpg in the city and 22-mpg on the highway. A 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.

The 2008 Ford Escape is a refresh, not a full redesign, though Ford and Ford dealers would have you think otherwise. For the most part, changes were cosmetic - the platform is a carryover, as are the engines and transmission. From a looks standpoint, the Escape looks much more like a baby Explorer than the cute-ute look of past years. I have mixed feelings about the look - I’m not big on vehicles that look tough but can’t back it up. However, I think it’s a much better look than last year, and I’m going give it the OK.

Now if only Ford had gone more than skin deep. The same 153 HP 2.3 liter four banger powers this vehicle - and it’s just not working anymore. Remember, this mini SUV weighs a whopping 3792 lbs - it’s not a lightweight by any stretch of the imagination. Couple that with an absolutely archaic and unacceptable 4 speed automatic transmission, and acceleration is a problem. And, of course, fuel economy isn’t there either.

Ford, we know you sell a lot of Escapes. And overall, they’re nice SUV’s, and reasonable priced. However, you need an updated Escape to stay competitive. The Japanese rivals are constantly updating and improving their offerings, and you must do the same. Here’s what we need to see, within the next year or two : More powerful AND more fuel efficient engine choices, a lower curb weight ( 3300 lbs is a bit on the porky side for a vehicle this size ) and a 6 speed auto or CVT. These changes are simple ( excerpt the weight reduction - that one’s tricky ) and will be very effective.

The 2008 Ford Escape, the smallest SUV in its maker’s line-up, has returned for the new model year with changes inside and out, and a lower pricetag as well. If you’ve waited until now to consider the vehicle referred to in Canada as the “cute ute,” you’re definitely getting more for your money. The base model will have a starting MSRP of $19,245, which includes destination charges of $665, and is still $740 less than the current model. Over the entire Escape line, the average price drop is about $1100.

Cosmetically, this Escape has been a face-lift. It will still have a family resemblance obvious to anyone who has ever seen one of Ford’s SUV’s, but it will sport a scaled-down, squarer version of the trapezoid-shaped grille shared by the Explorer and Expedition, as well as cleaner sides, with less plastic. Inside, the Escape will share environmentally-friendly seating surfaces made entirely of recycled materials with its hybrid sibling.

Additional interior modifications include Ford’s new “top of dash” instrument layout, that puts climate control information, radio functions, and temperature displays at the top of the dashboard, so the driver can glance there without having to divert much attention from the road. As well, the center console has dials and buttons that poke through, as opposed to the old “brick design” previously favored by Ford. The instruments themselves have also been updated, and now feature ice blue lights to replace the former green.

2008 Ford Escape Limited Models:
2008 Ford Escape XLS FWD Manual
2008 Ford Escape XLS FWD AT
2008 Ford Escape XLT FWD l4
2008 Ford Escape XLS 4WD AT
2008 Ford Escape XLT 4WD V6
2008 Ford Escape XLT 4WD l4
2008 Ford Escape Limited FWD
2008 Ford Escape Limited 4WD

The ride is smooth, sporty and comfortable, which is a testament to the redesigned suspension with MacPherson struts in the front and an independent multilink suspension in the rear. The previous Focus handled well, but this one handles better. The suspension is tuned differently depending on whether the vehicle has 15- or 16-inch wheels. Steering is crisp and lets the driver feel the road.

Most notably, the 2008 Ford Focus was significantly quieter, at any speed, than the former Focus. Ford used a number of technologies to still the wind and road, such as a new acoustic windshield, thicker side windows, dampening materials in the doors and support pillars and aerodynamic improvements to ensure the driver and passengers can talk comfortably.

The interior is vastly improved, using better quality materials and better design. The dash display is useful and easy to read. The new instrument cluster includes “cool blue” lighting and the intuitive center stack is well laid out. It also comes with an optional ambient interior lighting package that lets the driver change colors in the front and rear foot wells and the cup holders.

The standard engine in the new 2008 Ford Focus LX and Focus SE sedans has a splitport induction system designed to balance your needs for power and economy, The peak output is 110 horsepower @ 5,000 rpms. New for 2008 , the SPI engine has a new dualmode crank-shaft damper for refinement and re-calibrated management computers for better drive response. The engine powering the new 2008 Ford Focus SVT is a modified version of Ford’s 2.0L DOHC Zetec engine with peak output of 170 horsepower at 7,000 rpms. The modifications make it one of the most technologically advanced engines SVT has ever produced, giving Focus SVT a rare combination of low-end torque, peak power and exceptional smoothness. 2.3L 4-cylinder PZEV engine - 148-hp at 5500 standard in CA, MA, NY only.

All new 2008 Ford Focus models come with a 60 / 40 split fold down rear seat. You can fold down the wider of the two rear seat backs, load in your extra cargo, and still have room for a rear passenger. Or, fold down the narrower seat back, load in your cargo, and seat two rear passengers. There are four available seats which includee; Cloth low-back seats with single map pocket, Leather seating surfaces with map pocket, Sport cloth bucket seats with a tip slide feature and single map pocket, sport cloth bucket seats with single map pocket.

Ford has given the hardworking folks at nearby Wayne Assembly Plant a good-looking vehicle to build. From the front, the new Focus looks cleaner and sharper. Its happy-go-lucky face is more aggressive. And the car’s profile stays consistent, with nicely creased doors, wedge-like sporty stance and decorative fender vents. Its looks may not win everyone over, but it’s more distinctive than the first generation.

2008 Ford Focus ZX3 Premium Group includes: air conditioning, driver’s center armrest, speed control, map/reading lamps, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, and single CD/MP3 player Power moonroof (not available on ZX3 Base or Premium, ZX5 Base, Focus SE Base; optional on Ford Focus ZX5 Comfort Group. ZX3 Power Premium Group includes an all door remote keyless entry system, power locks, dual power mirrors and power windows, plus AM/FM stereo with 6-disc in-dash CD player.

2008 Ford Focus Models:
2008 Ford Focus S Coupe 
2008 Ford Focus S Sedan 
2008 Ford Focus SE Coupe 
2008 Ford Focus SE Sedan 
2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe 
2008 Ford Focus SES Sedan 

The Explorer Sport Trac SUV/pickup crossover expanded Ford’s Explorer lineup and brought a fresh face to the company’s best-selling SUV when it debuted for 2001. It got larger dimensions, more safety features and an available V-8 engine in a 2007 redesign, and for 2008 the Explorer Sport Trac gains standard side curtain airbags and newly optional entertainment features, including Ford’s Sync communication system and voice-activated navigation. Competitors include crew-cab pickups like the Honda Ridgeline, Dodge Dakota Quad Cab and Nissan Frontier Crew Cab.

The five-passenger Explorer Sport Trac adapts an independent rear suspension from the Explorer — a setup that usually trades offroad capability for on-road handling prowess — that’s only matched by the Ridgeline. Explorer Sport Tracs are built in Louisville, Ky.

Convenient power windows. The power rear window and one-touch up/down driver’s window (late availability) are effective conveniences to increase comfort.
Fog lamps. Now standard, the fog lamps help punch up the rugged exterior styling while providing increased driver confidence.
A touch of leather. The leather-wrapped steering wheel gives a more comfortable grip and a feel of greater interior sophistication.
Added storage. The drop-in storage bin with power point enjoyed great customer demand, prompting its integration as a new standard feature.
Safety Canopy?. This side curtain air bag system gives a greater sense of security to the driver and passengers.

Ford’s exclusive Sync hands-free in-car communications and entertainment system will be available late in the model year. Ford Sync™ allows seamless integration of mobile phones and handheld media players via Bluetooth technology and USB connectivity. Voice activation is added to Sport Trac’s available navigation system for 2008 as well.

All-disc antilock brakes and an electronic stability system with rollover mitigation are standard. Rollover mitigation, in the form of Ford’s Roll Stability Control, senses impending rollovers and attempts to prevent them by applying individual brakes. Side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags for both rows of seats are also standard.

The Explorer Sport Trac is outfitted standard with the 4.0-liter V-6 engine and 5-speed automatic transmission. The available, class-exclusive, 4.6-liter V-8 engine with 6-speed automatic transmission provides a power boost attractive to many customers.

2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Models:
2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac XLT 4.0L 4X2 
2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac XLT 4.6L 4X2 
2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Limited 4.0L 4X2 
2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac XLT 4.0L 4X4 
2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Limited 4.6L 4X2 
2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac XLT 4.6L 4X4 
2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Limited 4.0L 4X4 
2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Limited 4.6L 4X4 
 

The Ford Edge is an all-new crossover sport utility that answers the call for a roomy vehicle with utility and style. It isn’t a truck. Nor is it a minivan. Yet it’s more than a car.

The Ford Edge has improved handling thanks to a fully independent suspension. All Ford Edge models are powered by a brand-new 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 265 horsepower. It is coupled to a new six-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard. All-wheel drive is also available. Safety features that come standard on all models include seat-mounted side-impact air bags for the front seats and side curtain airbags with rollover protection for both rows of seating, front airbags, anti-lock brakes with AdvanceTrac electronic stability control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.

The Edge adds a top of the line Limited trim and four new paint colors for 2008.

The Edge’s nose is quite upright. Front and rear wheel arches have pronounced bulges, and the Edge’s body panels are free of cladding.

The rear features clear-lens taillamps, a spoiler on the roof’s trailing edge, and a sloping rear window that makes the Edge look sporty but diminishes cargo room when compared to a squared-off design. Edge SE models have 17-inch all-season tires. Available again are 18-inch all-season tires, and for 2008 buyers can go as high as 20-inch chrome rims.

The Edge delivers spirited performance, fuel efficiency and a smooth, quiet ride from its class-exclusive 265-horsepower V-6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission. Edge also delivers on safety, with a host of standard safety features including Ford’s exclusive AdvanceTrac® with RSC®. Edge boasts a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and achieved front and side driver five-star crash-test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Edge is available in SE, SEL and Limited trims. All Edges are manufactured at Ford’s Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada.

New-for-2008 Features Set Edge Apart from the Competition
The 2008 Edge lives up to Ford Motor Company’s commitment to deliver more vehicles that customers want to buy with features such as:
Standard Engine:
3.5L V6, 24 valve, 265 hp @ 6250 rpm
6 speed automatic transmission
16 mpg city / 24 mpg hwy

Standard Features:
Seat Mounted Front Side Airbags
AdvanceTrac(TM) Traction Control
AM/FM Radio With 4 Speakers Total; CD Player; MP3 Player

2008 Ford Edge Models:
2008 Ford Edge SE FWD 
2008 Ford Edge SE AWD 
2008 Ford Edge SEL FWD 
2008 Ford Edge SEL AWD 
2008 Ford Edge Limited FWD 
2008 Ford Edge Limited AWD