Escape Hybrid is a showstopper

Ford in 2003 will launch the world's first production hybrid-electric SUV, which will be the subject of much discussion at this month's 2002 SAE International Truck & Bus Meeting & Exhibition.

Japanese automakers may have beaten their U.S. competitors to the punch by introducing the world's first production hybrid-electric passenger car-doing so in their home country. But here in the land of light trucks, it will be Ford that shows the way with what it says will be the world's first hybrid-electric SUV.

The Escape Hybrid is likely to be one of the major topics of discussion at the SAE International Truck & Bus Meeting & Exhibition slated for November 18-20, 2002, in Detroit. The Chief Engineer of the program, Prabhakar Patil, will make a presentation November 20 on hybrid-electric vehicles, with a focus on the Escape. Ford also will provide information about its hybrid program at its booth on the show floor, and the subject is bound to come up in a Special Issue Forum slated for November 18 and in conversation among the anticipated 3500 attendees.