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2009 ford escape
While we're not quite willing to call this a full review, we did get some seat time with a couple of spankin' new 2009 Ford Escape models yesterday. We managed to get back-to-back seat time with both the 2008 and 2009 V6 4x4 Limited as well as the Hybrid for direct comparison on the same 20-mile circuit. When Hardigree reviewed the Escape's platform pal, the 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, it was fairly obvious our impression was one of disconnectedness. The brakes felt funny, the handling was blah, and the steering felt numb. Ford apparently heard these complaints from its customers as well.
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2009 Ford Escape: First Drive
While we're not quite willing to call this a full review, we did get some seat time with a couple of spankin' new 2009 Ford Escape models yesterday. We managed to get back-to-back seat time with both the 2008 and 2009 V6 4x4 Limited as well as the Hybrid for direct comparison on the same 20-mile circuit. When Hardigree reviewed the Escape's platform pal, the 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, it was fairly obvious our impression was one of disconnectedness. The brakes felt funny, the handling was blah, and the steering felt numb. Ford apparently heard these complaints from its customers as well.
More »
12:00 PM on Thu May 15 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
7,041 views,
39 comments
Latest by skulldriveshaft: Starting to look like a Jimmy / Denali? As long as it sucks less gas, and doesn't malfunction as much as the previous versions, it's alright. Plenty of people will have a hard time noticing the differences when the badge is not more »
news
Canadian Cabinet Members Forced To Give Back Vehicles, Thanks To One Teenage Hoon
The cabinet ministers in Nova Scotia will no longer be allowed to cruise around in government-paid vehicles after one teenage son of a cabinet minister crashed a 2008 Ford Escape hybrid likely doing something very un-green-like. It turned into a bit of a messy he-said she-said as the cabinet member, Judy Streatch, said she was given verbal permission to allow her son to drive the vehicle, but not written permission, which was previously required by the cabinet. More »
jalopnik reviews
Why you should buy this car:
You want a luxury SUV that isn't blinged out or foreign. Your expectation of what luxury entails is fairly low. You don't like driving but you're too lazy to ride a bicycle. You give money to groups that support eco-friendly candidates but you don't actually vote.
Why you shouldn't buy this car:
You live by the motto "between here and there is better than either here or there." You spent $30,000 on your last five cars, combined. You're holding out for a diesel version. You realize it ain't this easy being green; making a meaningful reduction in your own environmental impact requires the kind of sacrifice and commitment that can't be achieved by driving a luxury SUV. You couldn't give a damn about the previous sentence.
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2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Part Three
Why you should buy this car: You want a luxury SUV that isn't blinged out or foreign. Your expectation of what luxury entails is fairly low. You don't like driving but you're too lazy to ride a bicycle. You give money to groups that support eco-friendly candidates but you don't actually vote.
Why you shouldn't buy this car:
You live by the motto "between here and there is better than either here or there." You spent $30,000 on your last five cars, combined. You're holding out for a diesel version. You realize it ain't this easy being green; making a meaningful reduction in your own environmental impact requires the kind of sacrifice and commitment that can't be achieved by driving a luxury SUV. You couldn't give a damn about the previous sentence.
More »
12:00 PM on Fri Apr 11 2008
By Matt Hardigree
3,366 views,
39 comments
Latest by n/a: Definitely Chicago. You got your Dinkels on Lincoln, the CB2 up the street, and a Treasure Island from... Broadway, maybe? I hear Bill C. has one, with a fridge in the back. But no astroturf. more »
jalopnik reviews
Exterior Design:***
Whereas the platform buddy Ford Escape never manages to look tough enough and the other derivative, the Mazda Tribute, looks like a child with some sort of neurological condition, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid appears exactly as it should. By far the best looking of the trio, the conservative looks fare well next to luxury SUV offerings from Toyota and Acura.
Interior Design:**
Compared to the previous generation, the interior of the Mariner is smart and luxurious. The stone-colored leather seats are comfortable, though more side bolstering would be nice. The rear bench is roomy enough for two passengers joining you and your wife for a night of gallery hopping, and if you ditch them, the rear seats fold forward far enough to hold just a touch over 66 square feet of trendy crap.
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2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Part Two
Exterior Design:***Whereas the platform buddy Ford Escape never manages to look tough enough and the other derivative, the Mazda Tribute, looks like a child with some sort of neurological condition, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid appears exactly as it should. By far the best looking of the trio, the conservative looks fare well next to luxury SUV offerings from Toyota and Acura.
Interior Design:**
Compared to the previous generation, the interior of the Mariner is smart and luxurious. The stone-colored leather seats are comfortable, though more side bolstering would be nice. The rear bench is roomy enough for two passengers joining you and your wife for a night of gallery hopping, and if you ditch them, the rear seats fold forward far enough to hold just a touch over 66 square feet of trendy crap.
More »
12:00 PM on Thu Apr 10 2008
By Matt Hardigree
2,734 views,
41 comments
Latest by charles_barrett: @Matt Hardigree: "...as I cruised for Etruscan pottery." Matt, please tell me you aren't planning to take the Etruscan stuff to "the Paint Your Own Pottery place off Lincoln Ave..." I doubt you can improve on their work... more »
jalopnik reviews
The full title of this review is "2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Part One or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love my Yuppie Ass" but the kicker wouldn't look good on the page. I do my best to pass myself off as anything-but-a-yuppie. Preferring to rock cheap chinos, a hoody and an Astros cap over J. Crew sweater vests and flat front Banana Republic slacks, but something about the Mariner Hybrid makes me suddenly think about how fly I'd look with the sleeves of my dress shirt exposed while driving through Lincoln Park listening to The Best Of Tuvan Throat Singing Vol. 2.
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2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Part One
The full title of this review is "2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Part One or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love my Yuppie Ass" but the kicker wouldn't look good on the page. I do my best to pass myself off as anything-but-a-yuppie. Preferring to rock cheap chinos, a hoody and an Astros cap over J. Crew sweater vests and flat front Banana Republic slacks, but something about the Mariner Hybrid makes me suddenly think about how fly I'd look with the sleeves of my dress shirt exposed while driving through Lincoln Park listening to The Best Of Tuvan Throat Singing Vol. 2.More »
12:00 PM on Wed Apr 9 2008
By Matt Hardigree
3,139 views,
119 comments
Latest by leighzbohns: on topic: The many hybrids I see are prius. Basically, the D-Bs who want a SUV jut buy one with the full climate change, and the folks who want a wagon buy a wagon, and all the wannabe Gs more »
offbeat news
IRS Gives Biggest Tax Credit To New Ford Hybrids
Now that the tax incentives to on the Toyota Prius have run out, the new king of the road for deductions are the hybrid offerings from Ford — the Hybrid Ford Escape and Hybrid Mercury Mariner two wheel drive. The taxman will be giving buyers of the twin hybrids up to $3,000 in deductions in an effort to offset the additional cost associated with purchase. Of course, if and when Ford ever manages to build 60,000 hybrids, those incentives will evaporate just as they have for the Prius. [IRS.gov]
alternative energy
Ford Testing 120mpg Plug-In Hybrid SUV
The Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid that is currently being evaluated in Southern California is capable of up to 120mpg. 20 vehicles have been delivered to Southern California Edison, who will run them as part of their fleet for two years. For the first 30 miles after a full charge, the Plug-In Escape delivers 4.5 times the mpg of the regular non-hybrid Escape. It takes six to eight hours to fully charge the Lithium Ion batteries from a standard 120-volt outlet; once that charge is depleted, the vehicle operates like a normal Escape Hybrid. Some of the vehicles will soon be handed over to selected residential SCE customers for further evaluation. If the results of this test are favorable, we hope gives Ford the ammo to push a similar vehicle into production. [Via Gizmag]
d.c. auto show
We'd forgive you if you didn't know that anything would be happening at the Washington, D.C. Auto Show this year. We'd also forgive you if you didn't know there was a new 2009 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner on the way. Finally, we'd forgive you if after looking at these photos of the 2009 Ford Escape/Mariner you were unable to differentiate the two from the 2008 Ford Escape/Mariner. Besides a slight adjustment to the front fascia and rear tire spoilers, the big change is under the hood where Ford's mini utes are getting a new, 2.5-liter four banger mated to a 6-speed transmission. The result is an 11% in power to 170 horsepower and a slight increase in fuel economy (1 mpg). The optional 3.0-liter V6 gets a power bump to 230 horsepower and a 1 mpg increase in fuel economy as well (we're seeing a pattern). The mildly refreshed SUVs also get the fully loaded SYNC package as an option. Press release below the jump.
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D.C. Auto Show: 2009 Mercury Mariner And Ford Escape Debut, With New Tire Spoilers And Everything
We'd forgive you if you didn't know that anything would be happening at the Washington, D.C. Auto Show this year. We'd also forgive you if you didn't know there was a new 2009 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner on the way. Finally, we'd forgive you if after looking at these photos of the 2009 Ford Escape/Mariner you were unable to differentiate the two from the 2008 Ford Escape/Mariner. Besides a slight adjustment to the front fascia and rear tire spoilers, the big change is under the hood where Ford's mini utes are getting a new, 2.5-liter four banger mated to a 6-speed transmission. The result is an 11% in power to 170 horsepower and a slight increase in fuel economy (1 mpg). The optional 3.0-liter V6 gets a power bump to 230 horsepower and a 1 mpg increase in fuel economy as well (we're seeing a pattern). The mildly refreshed SUVs also get the fully loaded SYNC package as an option. Press release below the jump.More »
al navarro does detroit
Al Navarro is co-founder of Mint Advertising, an independent advertising agency in New Jersey. He also drives a Caterham Superlight R, so don't front.
Over my career in advertising, I've had some great bosses and mentors. Many of whom have uttered truisms I still rattle off to co-workers and clients to this day. One of these phrases is "You can't bore people into doing something." Enter the above Ford spot from the Jalopnik Ad Watch tag. Want to know what I think? Hit the jump. More »
Al Navarro Does Detroit: Ford to Tears
Al Navarro is co-founder of Mint Advertising, an independent advertising agency in New Jersey. He also drives a Caterham Superlight R, so don't front.
Over my career in advertising, I've had some great bosses and mentors. Many of whom have uttered truisms I still rattle off to co-workers and clients to this day. One of these phrases is "You can't bore people into doing something." Enter the above Ford spot from the Jalopnik Ad Watch tag. Want to know what I think? Hit the jump. More »
2:45 PM on Fri Dec 28 2007
1,788 views,
54 comments
Latest by FЯeeMan: @DanWarner: Dude, What dealership you at? I'm in the market, and if I can support a fellow Jalopnik, I sure will. more »
industry news
Ford Wins "Clean Vehicle Award" For Hybrids
While we may have had a little poke at yesterday for their environmental leadership, the experts at the International Energy Agency Implementing Agreement on Hybrid & Electric Vehicles have given Ford their propers for achieving sales of more than 50,000 hybrid models worldwide. They also received awards for best practices in promotions and a "personal Award" for their dedication to increased efficiency in Hybrid powertrains. So there. Press release below the jump: More »
alternative energy
Ford Delivers Plug-In Hybrid to SoCal Electric Company
Ford has gone through on its promise to lead on technology that other automakers have already developed, delivering the first of 20 Plug-In Escapes to Southern California Edison. The Plug-In Escape achieves 120 mpg when the lithium-ion batteries are full charged (for the first 30 miles at least). The little hybrid gets the Ford advanced technology livery, which sort of flies in the face of the "I didn't feel the need to talk about hybrids" theme in their commercials. All things considered, this is a step forward, if only a small one. Press release below the jump: More »
ad watch
Ford has hybrids? Who knew? If the Toyota Prius "cows farting" ad was the antithesis of all that is honest about automotive advertising, then this new ad for the hybrid FordExplorer Escape cheekily mocks the advertising and marketing madness that is the cult of hybrid. Of course it's also an explanation of why the US automakers have a hybrid marketing gap as big as the feared space exploration gap when a man named Yuri was shot up into space in a capsule way back when and why they totally missed the boat on the Prius. All we know is that this commercial's as funny as the Toyota one from earlier this week — only in a diametrically opposite way.
Ford Tweaks The Marketing Of Hybrids In New Commercial, Explains "Hybrid Gap"
Ford has hybrids? Who knew? If the Toyota Prius "cows farting" ad was the antithesis of all that is honest about automotive advertising, then this new ad for the hybrid Ford
ad watch
Blade commercialism from the not-Ford brand, our fair heroine is explaining how she can single-handedly re-badge a Ford product as a Mercury by placing the badge in the middle of thin air, and then watching as a Ford Escape Mercury Mariner is born. We kid FoMoCo, actually the ad's all about...well, hell, the press release is right after the jump.
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Ad Watch: Jill Wagner Can Make A Mercury Mariner With Her Hot, Bare Hands
Yes, not as much Jill Wagner as we'd like, but hell, we'll take as much of her as FoMoCo will give us. In this episode of
news
Jalopnik Does Math Good: A Corny State Of The Union Address?
Ok, so here's what we know. Earlier today FoMoCo issues a press release tauting six states receiving a test fleet of new E85-fueled hybrid Escape SUV's (gallery below). On top of that news, but wholly unrelated, there appears to be some kind of a run in stocks of companies involved in E85 production today. We've also heard unconfirmed reports the ethanol lobby plans to open up a bigger office in Washington, DC. How can these seemingly unrelated things all be happening today? To explain, let's put it together into a handy math equation below the jump. More »
news
LA Auto Show Preview: Ford Reveals 2008 Escape, Hybrid
Ford's rejiggered the stylings of its smallest of SUVs, the Escape, giving it a cleaner look, a higher beltline, a new face, and seating surfaces made of 100-percent post-industrial materials — that's the bizness community's version of recycling. It also gets a range of interior tweaks from ice-blue dash lighting to more storage bins in weird places to a console that can fit a laptop computer. Ford says engineers have spent all manner of brain to reduce noise, vibration and harshness, which is an SUV's version of drunken rantings from a distant cousin at Thanksgiving. (Press release on the jump page.) It's debuting today at the LA Auto Show's press days, where Los Jalopniks will likely pass it by on the way to the Giugiaro Mustang, or the concession stand, depending. More »
news
