Have you heard that Blue Oval started working on 2020 Ford Escape? The tests are in early stages, but it’s good to know that the work on the new generation of this crossover started. For all of you living in Europe, we are talking about Kuga model. The prototype caught on the spy photos we have available shows us that design changes are imminent. The new look will be smoother and sleeker compared to what the fourth-generation vehicle offers.
The camouflage is covering most of the crossover, but the similarity between 2020 Escape and the latest generation of Ford Focus can’t be denied.
2020 Escape Design
The first spy photos showed new model testing mechanical parts covered in the body of the current crossover. The ones we have now, show that the work on the exterior design begun. From what we can tell 2020 Ford Escape will be longer and wider than the current version. The dimensional changes are especially pronounced at the rear end.
The change in size could be predicted by simply looking at Ford’s current lineup. After introducing a subcompact vehicle called Ecosport, and an announcement of a new small SUV, Escape needed to grow. Another factor that contributed to this is the fact that its primary competitors Nissan Rogue, and Volkswagen Tiguan also came out larger than before.
What underpins new 2020 Ford Escape is company’s platform intended for their compact cars. This is another similarity between Escape and Focus as these underpinnings debuted with the named model. Compared to the platform currently used the rigidity and torsion will be upgraded.
Under the Hood
It’s too early to discuss the powertrains of the upcoming crossover, but we can expect the standard lineup of a turbocharged inline-4 combined with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Front wheel drive will be offered as standard while all-wheel drive will continue to be an option.
Sources such as motorauthority.com are suggesting a possible return of Escape Hybrid. But this time around, it would be offered as a plug-in hybrid. This wouldn’t come as a surprise as Ford announced that during the upcoming five-year span they plan to launch 24 hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. Among those 24 we will even find Ford F-150 hybrid and Mustang hybrid.
2020 Ford Escape release date and price
Of course, the hybrid version would arrive in months after regular versions are presented. Talking about presentation, we can expect for the new 2020 Ford Escape to be released late this year, or early in 2019. The latter date is more realistic as Blue Oval is looking to launch this vehicle as 2020 MY. The production will be handled at Ford’s plant in Louisville, Kentucky, where the current generation is also being assembled.
Thanks to the increase in size we talked about, new Escape will be in a group of its own as the only other compact vehicle made by this company is Focus Active soft-roader. If you haven’t heard, Ford is dropping all of its passenger cars in North America, in order to focus on SUVs, vans, and trucks.
It’s too early to talk the price, but with all impending changes, it will, unfortunately, go up. This means that when new 2020 Ford Escape hits the dealerships, we will be looking at different numbers compared to what we have today. The ongoing version has an MSRP for its base model set at $24,845. The premium trim Titanium has a starting price of $33,000.
