Now where getting somewhere! While GM continues with their empty promise strategy, Ford is delivering the goods.

Check out the taxi situation in Manhattan; Ford Escape Hybrids are multiplying like rabbits (not the VW).

It's good to see a company like Ford respond to the changing marketplace, now if they would only ramp up production from the present 25K

This very well may be the vehicle I buy next year. Has the space my family needs and gets twice the mpg's of my truck.

Joseph: "This very well may be the vehicle I buy next year. Has the space my family needs and gets twice the mpg's of my truck."

I want one now. But Ford isn't all that interested in making them. 25k is woefully insufficient.

I'm sure the low production of this hybrid is somehow GMs fault. I know it's made by Ford but its got to somehow be GMs fault, I mean isn't everything wrong with the auto industry GMs fault.

aha, engine efficiency peaks at 1500-1800 rpm, just like the prius engine! Although interestingly enough peak efficiency for the ottocycle is much higher, probably making it more effective for aggressive drivers!

It was a smart move for Ford to license some hybrid technologies from Toyota.Ford is now the biggest american hybrid seller before GM and Chrysler.GM hybrid are just speech, because since the begining GM sold only mere hybrid cars.

Increasing the all EV speed to 40mph certainly makes this platform easier to convert to a useful (in the city) PHEV. Nice progress.

Conversion to a city PHEV may not work too well in warm climates. I believe this hybrid still needs to run the ICE to power the AC.

"may not work too well in warm climates" .. no problem where I am.

Getting to 40 mph (electric) would get rid of the inefficient city mileages but still its up to the person to keep around 55 on highways side

It will soon be discovered that full electric operation of Brakes, Steering, water pump, fans and air-conditioning Compressors is more fuel efficient than belt drive.

LG already has a free-piston refigerator compressor that is 40% more efficient than the motor-crank-piston types just for that reason. When mounted on the fire-wall or radiator such a system never needs hoses and can be welded for no loss of refrigerant ever. The car can be cooled, while stationary, with an extra OASIS battery from Firefly if necessary. A plug in adaptor and controller will always have the car cool (or warm) for use.

It is very informative that Ford is promoting yet higher horse-power in this vehicle instead of reducing it for fuel economy. About fifteen horsepower is needed to run a car on the level at legal freeway speeds, and with a high efficiency diesel engine this would give about an average 50 miles per gallon.

All car bodies should be required to have an energy rating list at various speeds on a level road with no winds. There is no HP indicator in cars because the manufacturers do not want you to know that your 177 HP system only produces five to twenty HP while moving most of the time. At full power, a very high efficiency 100 HP car engine would require six or seven gallons of fuel every hour to operate. ...HG...

Waitaminute and not so fast guys: It's nice that the most fuel saving SUV got better, but I WANT THE FORD FUSION HYBRID!

I've got 5 years of life left in my Subaru, but if I needed a car now, the Escape hybrid would be my choice.

I've long wondered why Ford and Toyota don't offer a hybrid powertrain in a wagon yet - it seems like the best of all worlds and Subaru wagons sure sell well around here. And now with computerized traction control to keep you rolling in the snow and rain, there's no longer a need for all wheel drive.

Valve timing to save only 1 MPG, this is bullshit, 34/31 MPG is still too low for where the gas price will be 2 years from now, way to low. They should better put a focus hybrid on the market that get 45MPG, rather than refining an SUV style of car that is a dead end, hybrid or not.

You and me both, Justin VP. Right down to the 5 planned years left on a Subaru (I'm planning to buy new in 2013). Except that you really can't find any Escapes for sale. Two possible reasons that Ford has, but does not mass produce, a great Hybrid design are: (1) they can't make money on each sale, but having a design out there is good PR. (2) Ford considers current and previous Escapes to be "beta test" designs and will mass produce once they have gotten enough feedback. I hope it's the second reason. A variable Atkinson-cycle hybrid Escape-sized small CUV/wagon that I can actually buy is my dream car. A bit bigger than my current Subaru Outback, yet with better gas mileage.

Hybrid Fan: ditto on the Wagon.

Great SUV for those that really need one. Now make a car for those of us that don't require an SUV. Wind resistance from changing from SUV to sedan would give ~40 - 45 MPG. Wagon might be from 38 -42 because of added weight over the sedan, but worth it if you have a family to haul.

Auto owners always complain they don't have enough horsepower. They should have put the extra power into a smaller engine package or larger battery pack instead of increasing the 0 - 60 times.

Wazzat? Ford actually listened to it's customers?

Based on feedback from customers, Ford rewrote the operating strategy to enable the hybrid to drive in all electric mode at speeds up to 40 mph.

My thinking is that they only half listened and put in the minimum range and speed that people would accept.

Finally we seem to be going in the right direction. However, Ford should be looking at developing the next generation engine. The next generation engine will be an Atkinson engine working on HCCI mode (similar to the Mercedes Benz Diesotto). Such an engine would have the potential to match if not beat the diesel engine. Mercedes decided to go for performance in their F700 luxury car rather than fuel efficiency (although the estimated 39 mpg for a 3700 lb car easily beats my Toyota Yaris). The circle will be completed when such an efficient engine is used in a series hybrid configuration such as the one proposed for the Chevy Volt.

Does it have electrically-driven AC?

Freddy, this is Ford not Mercedes.. they attempt a fancy engine and they will setback the hybrid market for years with reliability problems (or offer an 150k miles extended warranty and lose their shirts)..

Like everyone else says.. lower the cost, increase production. I also wish they had gone to a smaller engine with a larger electric motor and batteries.. electric water pump, AC and oil pump would be cool also.

One advantage of an electric oil pump would be that it could pressurize the oil just before the engine starts.. supposedly extending its life.

The adoption of any new technology allows for rapid improvments as the easy improvements are glaringly evident.

I am still amazed at the Conspiraciy kookss out there. Ford is capacity constrained, and can't build more hybrids. Do youreally think that they want to NOT accept customer's money? Waht world do you live in?

The simple reality is that the electric drivetrain and its components are not available to build more, and won't be until new factories making those components come on line.

In this case Sanyo, is not supplying the batteries they contracted to provide, never mind ramping up for additional batteries.

Shheesh what idiots abound here.

It baffles me they have chosen performance over fuel consumption, which is contrary to the current trend.

Baby steps by Ford/ As for GM, it's their own fault. The EV-1 wasn't a failure, GM killed it. There is nothing keeping electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids from entering the market except corporate inertia and big oil.

Performance because they probably started planning for this before the price of gas took off.. they wanted to increase sales and they tought this was it.. probably takes a couple of years to implement these changes. I'm guessing..