<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Sep 26 2007, 10:23 AM) [snapback]517889[/snapback]</div>

Ford had this silly policy where all Ford-branded cars had to start with 'F', so the Escort name was dropped in favor of the Focus. Five hundred, Fusion, etc. Mercury cars started with M. But that's ended, so they can bring back their popular names with name-brand recognition now.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nerfer @ Sep 26 2007, 12:26 PM) [snapback]517930[/snapback]</div>

That's funny... I never even realized their line-up was all F's. I did notice all their SUV's were E's, though (Escape, Edge, Explorer, Expedition, Excursion). I guess the 'Freestyle' is considered a "crossover" rather than SUV and didn't get to have an E.

I find these press releases irritating, as the manufacturer's only purpose in such things is to get their name in the news for no good reason. I mean, a press release for a "cutting edge" product you plan to release in THREE to FOUR years? Gimme a break. In any technology-driven industry, the playing field changes quite dramatically over a time period like that, and it is highly unlikely the final product (if it ever happens) will ever reach market resembling anything like what was announced that long ago...

4 years ago, the (Classic) Prius was generally considered a niche car for hardcore environmentalists and eccentrics and generally dismissed by other manufacturers (except maybe Honda). Today, the Prius is one of the most successful cars in the USA that many other manufacturers are chasing, to the point they are regularly seen on TV shows as 'regular' cars, etc...

How things change...

Right now its safe to say our prii have the best milage and lowest emissions of anycar on the road (w/ the exception of the insight which you cant buy anymore) so I have a feeling i am going to be extremely jealous of any car that comes out in the future with anything higher.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nerfer @ Sep 26 2007, 11:26 AM) [snapback]517930[/snapback]</div>

I was always amused at Chevy's branding: Camaro, Chevelle, Corvair, Corvette, Chevy II and some others not worth mentioning. Toyota used to be on a "C" kick: Corona, Corolla, Camry, Celica, Cressida; perhaps part of their "beat 'em by copying 'em, but better" phase.

More Chevy name-alliteration madness:

Citation (Can't believe I used to drive that piece of garbage)
Caprice (The vehicle of choice for "five-o" in the early '90s before Ford Crown Vickies took over)
Chevette
Cavalier
Corsa
Corsica (the car infamous for peeling paint) :lol:
Corvair (much maligned)
Cobalt (One would think "chromium" would be a more appropriate element to name a chevy after!)


I didn't even notice Ford's attempt at alliterating their vehicle names, considering that for the longest time they didn't bother. Apparently the public was unmoved too, considering how Ford was forced to rename the Five Hundred back to good ol' Taurus..

Back to topic: 100mpg Ford Escort hybrid? I'm dubious... Does Ford even have a hybrid drive development effort underway? We are hearing all sorts of hoopla surrounding GM/DCX/BMW's billion-dollar 2-mode development efforts, but nary a peep from Ford. If it took those three automakers to bodge together a "2-mode" system, I wonder what Ford would hope to accomplish on its own.

Wow. 2011 you say. Who knew. Just think, they'll be where the Prius was, just four years after the fact.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JustLurkin @ Sep 26 2007, 10:37 PM) [snapback]518278[/snapback]</div>

The Escape hybrid is actually quite good, though pricy.

If they take the next step and use their hybrid engine to produce a high mileage, medium priced car, they'll get a lot of attention and probably make a buck or two.

Naaaahhhh - what a silly idea.

HeyKB,

Yep I quite like the Escape Hybrid as well. I live in the New York City area and they have plenty of FEHs serving as taxicabs and I have the occasion to ride them quite frequently.

The thing with the FEH is that it uses essentially a Toyota hybrid system (complete with the Power Split Device)-- Ford might have developed some of it independently of the Toyota effort, but in the end Ford and Toyota cross-licensed the technology with each other.

Ford has stated that they want to develop their own unique hybrid drivetrain for use in future vehicles (presumably the Escort hybrid). That's the part where I hold some skepticism-- It took GM/DCX/BMW years of concerted effort, lots of publicity, and a billion bucks to come up with their "2-mode" system. In contrast, we haven't heard a peep from Ford at all on how it's developing its new hybrid drivetrain.

Basically if Ford took the existing cross-licensed hybrid system from the FEH and put it in a small car like the Focus, they essentially end up with a Prius with a different carbody. That probably would find quite a few enthusiastic buyers, but I'd bet Ford would be loath to do that because they'll have to share the revenue with Toyota due to the cross-licensing agreement for that particular drivetrain.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Sep 27 2007, 01:55 PM) [snapback]518606[/snapback]</div>

The "New" 2008 Focus is not new at all. It is not built on the new European platform but instead carries over the old, first-generation Focus chassis. The only thing new about it is the sheetmetal. To get the new Focus in North America you have to buy a Mazda 3 or a Volvo S40/V50.

Ford has developed their own system. There are NO toyota parts in the Escape Hybrid. Their solution, developed independently, was soo close to toyota that they cut a licensing deal between them as to not sue each other. But all parts are Ford and Ford alone. It's a shame they have let this technology squander. They could have put it in a more practical car then a cute-ute.

Volvo had announced plans for a plug-in hybrid, swedish papers indicate a 2011 start date for it. As Volvo is responsible for hybrid technology inside ford it seems likely. that this is the technology ford will use. Could be interesting to see what they come up with. But 100 MPG in 2011 might not be that remarkable. I wish them luck