All-new Escape to kick off Ford's local electric charge

Thursday, 4 April 2019

Ford New Zealand has confirmed the new-generation Escape here next year will include a plug-in hybrid that will be the first of the blue oval's electrified product to come here, but certainly not the only one.

This was spelled out by Ford New Zealand after it announced the PHEV edition of the crossover, the second product off the C2 platform that underpins the just-arrived Focus, is coming in 2020.

The brand's first electric here has a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine supplemented by an electric motor to produce 165kW. Its electric-only range will be more than 50km, Ford said. CO2 emissions when will be as low as 29 grams per km.

The all-new Escape is based on the same platform as the Focus and will be sold here in petrol, diesel and PHEV forms.

First detail of Escape's release plan was announced locally after Ford internationally revealed that it has 16 electrified products on the go. Local spokesman Tom Clancy says the distributor could conceivably pluck far more deeply than it has.

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'Long story short, we cannot confirm anything today but we can say that we're interested in everything.'

Ford NZ are very keen on the idea of bringing hybrid and fully-electric versions of the Transit Custom van here as well.

Of the products outlined so far, only a PHEV edition of the latest Explorer has been identified as being totally off-limits to right-hand-drive markets.

Ford has also confirmed it will have mild hybrid, full hybrid, PHEV and fully electric variants of vehicles New Zealanders are already acquainted with.

The new-generation Fiesta, that will soon arrive in the ST sports format that Ford NZ has previously indicated will be the sole representative of this small hatch is going to come out in mild hybrid edition within the next 12 months. And so will the Focus.

These cars pair a three-cylinder 1.0 litre EcoBoost petrol engine with a 48-volt belt-driven integrated starter/generator.

The Tourneo and its commercial equivalent, the Transit Custom van, are also set to achieve battery assist. A full-electric version of the latter will be launched in 2021. The eight-seat Tourneo, meantime, is getting a mild hybrid drivetrain.

Clancy says it's fair to say Ford NZ would be keen to consider any of the above, should they become available. And it doesn't need to worry about what Australia wants – the two countries are totally autonomous when it comes to product selection.

'We don't have to worry about what they want or their homologation rules, which are tougher than ours – if it makes sense for NZ business-wise then, yeah, we could potentially bring it in.'

That might also apply to Escape - or Kuga, as it is called in right-hand-drive sectors outside of Australasia. While the PHEV, which runs a petrol-electric, is a dead cert, it could also yet consider mild and full hybrid versions, the latter marrying a diesel with electric urge, Clancy says. In addition, Ford will continue to offer conventional petrol and diesel versions. More information about the specific NZ range and its pricing is not going to be known until much closer to launch.

All the products announced are of course entrée dishes to the main course, Ford's full EV passenger car.

This will be a sports utility with styling cues from the Mustang and is likely to also use a name that associates with the pony car: Mach E. It is also set to go into production next year. Ford was coy to say too much about this car, except to enforce it will have a 600km range under the WLTP test cycle.

Ford NZ says the PHEV Escape will be a good fit into one of the most popular segments here, giving customers an advanced powertrain alongside greater practicality, improved cabin space, wrapped in distinctive style.

It's been warmly received by Ford Australia and New Zealand President and chief executive Kay Hart, a Kiwi who operates out of regional headquarters in Melbourne. Before taking up her current post, Ms Hart was in Detroit in a high-ranking position with Ford's Team Edison, which oversaw electric mobility strategy.