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Ford Escape Hybrid Buyers to Pay a Premium to Save Fuel

Expect to Fork Out About $5,000 Extra for the Hybrid Escape

Fords long-anticipated Ford Escape Hybrid is finally lining-off from its Kansas City, Missouri assembly plant and on its way to blue oval showrooms across the nation. It will be the first gasoline-electric hybrid (HEV) sport utility vehicle, which considering the popularity of the vehicle type should make it a winner out of the chute.

Of course, the recent rise in fuel costs wont hurt sales of the new HEV either, aided by the fact that rivals Toyota and Honda are not able to keep up with customer

The first gasoline-electric hybrid (HEV) sport utility vehicle to hit the consumer market will be Fords new Escape Hybrid. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

demand for their respective Prius and Civic Hybrid (Toyota is backlogged by approximately 22,000 orders), causing six month waiting periods. Reportedly, some opportunistic Toyota dealers have increased the price of a $20,295 Prius to $26,000, the price some are

The 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid will have a base manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) of $26,380. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

willing to pay to cut fuel costs. Whats more, those waiting in line are also said to be auctioning their place in line for more than $500.

Clearly, timing is everything for Fords Escape Hybrid. Seemingly, the only thing that could jeopardize its success would be an extraordinarily high retail price.

That last concern was just recently

The Hybrid Escape will be about $3,300 to $3,425 more than the normal version, even before considering dealer rebates offered on the traditional model. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

addressed, with Ford announcing the 2-wheel drive 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid will have a base manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) of $26,380 when made available later this year. While more expensive than both the Toyota and Honda cars, the Ford is once again an SUV which gives it a higher value in the minds of most consumers.

For those with the need for greater traction Ford will offer the Escape Hybrid with

Ford is confident the market has been eagerly awaiting a very fuel efficient hybrid with all the functionality and utility of an SUV. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

"Intelligent Four-Wheel Drive", for a starting MSRP of $28,005.

To put this price in perspective, youll be paying about $3,300 to $3,425 more for the Escape Hybrid than the MSRPs of comparably equipped 2005 V6 powered Ford Escape XLT models. Such a premium is about average in the HEV segment of the market, but its also important to factor in potential buyers will most likely not be able to get anywhere near the discount from retail or incentive package on the hybrid model that they can on the conventional gasoline powered Escape, and

The Ford Escape makes use of a full hybrid system, components of which are being supplied by the current leader in HEV technology, Toyota. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

therefore the HEVs actual price may be quite a bit higher to take advantage of any fuel "savings."

Unlike Honda, which uses a mild-hybrid powertrain for its Civic Hybrid, Insight and upcoming Accord Hybrid, the Escape makes use of a full hybrid system. For comparison, a mild-hybrid system incorporates a battery powered electric motor to assist the primary power source, in Hondas case gasoline internal combustion engine (ICE), to drive the wheels. A full hybrid system is capable of driving the wheels via the ICE or the electric motor, or as most often is the case, both simultaneously. Currently the only automaker to incorporate a full hybrid system

While using some Toyota technology, Ford said its hybrid system would feature more than 100 unique patents. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

in its HEV is Toyota, incidentally one of Fords strategic partners in developing the Escape Hybrid.

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