Hybrid SUVs

[mrgorth]

I wanted to give Ford some credit where it is due. Apparently, they're coming out with a hybrid version of their Escape SUV. Should get like 40mpg. I know Ford has been complicit in the SUV shit with the Excursion and all but this is cool. Nissan is not promoting a hybrid Xterra and Subaru is not promoting a hybrid Outback to my knowledge.

http://www.fordvehicles.com/escapehybrid/

[GOPisEvil]

1. Toyota will have a hybrid Highlander and Lexus RX300.

:-)

[tinrobot]

4. Toyota has a good track record...

I'm thinking of the Highlander over the Ford Escape simply because Toyota already has most of the kinks in the hybrid system worked out with the Prius, so the Highlander should be more reliable.

The Escape is Ford'd first hybrid, so my gut instinct is to wait a year to see if there are problems before buying.

What I'd like to see is a biodiesel hybrid... Volkswagen, are you listening?

[wysimdnwyg]

2. I don't know about Subaru, but as for Nissan...

they are WAY behind on their hybrid engine program. They have contracted with Toyota to provide hybrid engines for a vehicle or two that are to be released in the next couple of years. This is a stop-gap measure they will use until they can get their own engine program working.

http://www.fool.com/News/mft/2004/mft04011404.htm

[texastoast]

3. Every little bit helps

I just got my April 2004 Consumer Reports issue. It has some thumbnail reviews of cars. One interesting thing I noted was that while passenger and economy cars had their MPG ratings, none but a few SUVs had this listed. Excursion was one exception, and I recall the MPG to be 10 (which really means 8 in practical driving).

Ford has a lot to make up for.

Does anyone know what MPG a Hummer gets? They are getting obnoxiously popular in my suburban, oil-company employee neighborhood.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

6. 14.2 mpg at best/ 3.8 mpg at worst.

http://www.humvee.net/hid/fuel/mpg.html

[CO Liberal]

5. Saturn Is Coming Out With a Hybrid SUV, Too

Saw a picture of it while watching Al Gore give a speech on TV a week or two ago.

[Jacobin]

7. Ford has licensed Toyota's technology

The good news is it will work quite well.

The bad news is, the bozos should have been working on their own version and are once again outpaced by Japan.

[KansDem]

11. "outpaced by Japan"

This reminds me of something I saw on TV about 10-15 years ago when Honda (I believe) came out with its revolutionary dual turning wheels (the back wheels would turn in tandem with the front wheels). I thought "How revolutionary!" Then another commercial came on a few minutes later for an American car that touted "pin striping," and I thought "How typical!"

I really don't think "pin striping" can complete with revolutionary designs in automotive engineering, but apparently Detroit thought so.

As Lee Iacocca said "If you can find a better car, buy it!" Americans did, and Chrysler had to beg the American taxpayer for a bailout...

[Xithras]

8. I may have to replace the Durango

I assume that the monthly on this thing will be higher than what I pay for my Durango, but the gas savings alone would probably make them a wash (especially with gas at $2.15 a gallon here).

[mrgorth]

9. I don't think

it would be more expensive than a Durango. A new Escape is only like 21/22K. Plus, I think there are tax incentives.

[HydroAddict]

10. I hope Peak Oil folk see this thread.

It may help calm people down a bit. Hybrid tech is behind schedule, I agree, but this is a step in the right direction. Market forces in play.

Logically, one can assume fuel-cell conversions for hybrid vehicles will be next. The electronics are already in place. Then it's just a matter of a cheap alt. fuel (presumable hydrogen).

[erpowers]

12. A Tribute to Liberals

For years many liberals have encouraged the car industry to build a better vechile and increase gas mileage. While doing this they received much undue critism from conservatives. Now things are starting to change. Car companies are now beginning to build hybrid cars and trying to increase the mileage of their cars. None of this would have happened if not for the persistence of liberals. Liberals pat yourselves on the back. You made the world a safer place. I can imagine for some this road was hard and you probably thought every now and thing that nothing would happen; well now it has. Many conservatives say Bush will go down in history for making Iraq a democracy; you will go down in history for fighting to extend the life of the world and making America less dependent on the foreign oil that supports the terrorists that seek to attack America. You have done more to fight terrorism without picking up weapons than Bush has done fighting two wars. Liberals your work has helped saved America. Congrulations.

[Jane Austin]

16. Can't wait!

I absolutely can't wait to buy one!

[mzmolly]

13. Good news. Wish I could afford one...

:P

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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[newyawker99]

15. Hi SCHEME!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: