Ford Hybrids Hitting Showrooms

By: Scully Samuelson

Ford hybrids have already arrived in a showroom near you. That's
no surprise since Ford has placed a high value on hybrid
technology. The Ford hybrids that are currently available for
purchase are the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV, which was named the
North American Truck of the Year and the Mercury Mariner Hybrid
SUV, which has been endorsed by the Sierra Club.

The Escape Hybrid is a smaller SUV, which boasts a Duratec 2.3L
4-cylinder Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine, matched up with a
70KW (equivalent to 94hp) permanent electric motor. There is
also a 330-volt battery pack (located under the cargo floor).
The Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV shares the same hybrid
power-train as the Escape Hybrid but is a little more upscale in
its interior design and set of standard features such as a
perimeter alarm system and tire pressure monitoring.

The other three Ford hybrids that will hit the showrooms within
the next couple of years are the Ford Fusion Hybrid Car, Mercury
Milan Hybrid Car and Mazda Tribute Hybrid SUV. Ford knows that
hybrids are its future and by 2010 half of the Ford, Lincoln and
Mercury lineups will be hybrids.

According to CEO, Bill Ford "From this point forward, innovation
will be the compass by which the company sets its direction.
Today, I am renewing the promise of Ford Motor Company - to
again be first in delivering innovative products to our
customers - stylish in design, safer for families, first in
technology that uses new fuels and offers new services to
consumers."

Besides hybrids, Ford is also committed to just going green as
well. The 2006 Ford F-150 Truck offers flexible fuel technology
running on both gasoline and ethanol. The next year, Ford Crown
Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car also will
offer the flexible fuel option. The Ford Focus is rated as a
partial zero emission vehicle (PZEV) by the EPA, exceeding the
strictest of emissions standards. In addition, Ford has also
fitted a Focus with hydrogen fuel cell technology as Ford
continues to go down the path of having a hydrogen car or
vehicle in everyone's garage by 2015.

The first hybrid car to roll out in Ford's lineup will be the
Fusion, slated to hit the showrooms in 2007 for the 2008 selling
season. The current year 2006 Fusion is rated as a PZEV, so you
can see how Ford has decided to go down the path to greener and
greener vehicles. First, the PZEVs roll out, then the Ford
hybrids and finally the hydrogen fuel cell vehicles hit the
market. The 2008 Fusion will share the same hybrid power-train
as the 2008 Mercury Milan when it rolls out a little later in
the same year.

The Mazda Tribute Hybrid SUV will be going into production in
2006 and hit the showrooms late this same year or in 2007. Since
Ford owns 33-percent of Mazda it is likely the Tribute will
share many features of the Ford Escape Hybrid including the
hybrid power-train.

Ford may be a little late to the hybrid game compared to its
Japanese automaker counterparts, but it is definitely coming on
strong with commitment and dedication to less dependence of
foreign oil and a cleaner and greener environment. And this is a
game in which everyone will benefit.

About the author:
Scully Samuelson writes for the Hybrid
Vehicles website regarding cutting-edge automotive topics
including the future direction of cars, trucks, SUVs, aircraft
and watercraft.