Ford Escape PHEV hit by delay

Wednesday, 4 November 2020

Ford has showed off the first examples of the Puma and Escape SUVs, as well as the plug-in hybrid Transit Custom van.

Ford’s plug-in Escape won’t be here as soon as we thought as a battery-related delay has pushed the model back to later in 2021.

The issue relates to the cells within the battery, which can ignite while charging, causing a vehicle fire.

Fires stemming from the faulty cells have been reported over in Europe in the mechanically related Kuga PHEV, forcing Ford to push the local plug-in Escape back to Q3 2021 to give its battery supplier time to fix the issue.

The plug-in Escape won’t be here as soon as we thought, with a battery-related delay pushing the model back to later in 2021.

“There were some couple of incidents in the UK where there was a fire issue and with concern about the battery and battery coolant,” said Ford New Zealand managing direction Simon Rutherford.

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Two new SUVs are joining Ford’s line-up, the Escape and Puma.

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The standard Escape is on sale now and while the PHEV has been delayed it should arrive later next year.

* Ford Puma ST coming in hot (just not to NZ)

”It was us and a number of other manufacturers including BMW being affected by the same battery supply. So the investigation is ongoing into that, but I believe the company has got the root cause of it.

“We're just waiting to seen how quickly they can get the battery supply fixed.”

Rutherford expected the PHEV to likely get here in the second half of next year now, barring any further unforseen delays.

The new Escape model line-up will include the PHEV models in standard and high-grade ST Line X models priced at $60,990 and $66,990 respectively.

It has a 2.5-litre petrol engine and 14.4kWh lithium-ion battery to provide combined power output of 167kW and an EV driving range of more than 50km.

Switching to the C2 platform that sits under the Focus means the Escape is larger than the current model, being 44mm wider and 89mm longer, while the wheelbase has increased by 20mm.

Meanwhile, the smaller Puma is an all-new entry to our market and is built on the smaller Fiesta platform.

Two models will be available at launch, both powered by a 92kW/170Nm 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine hooked up to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission channelling the power through the front wheels.

The entry Puma will cost $33,990, while the up-spec ST-Line will land at $37,990.