Ford Escape Production to end at Louisville by 2026

[AM222]

7 minutes ago, Oac98 said:

 Hope this skunkworks product that they’re developing is a real winner. 

If it's a BEV, it will be a slow build up in sales since EV growth is slowing down. 
What Ford needs in probably the next 8+ years is an ICE/Hybrid C2-based model it can sell globally.

Edited August 29 by AM222

[T-dubz]

I’ve been a fan of Toyotas crown sport concept. I’d like to see something like it

[AM222]

8 minutes ago, T-dubz said:

I’ve been a fan of Toyotas crown sport concept. I’d like to see something like it

Maybe if Ford made a new 2-row Edge. 

The wagon version, the Crown Signia looks ok too.

Edited August 29 by AM222

[Sherminator98]

Isn't the Crown a more or less fullsized sedan/CUV?

[AM222]

10 minutes ago, silvrsvt said:

Isn't the Crown a more or less fullsized sedan/CUV?

It depends, the Crown Signia is 194.1 inches long. So, I guess that's mid-size? It's only 2.3 inches longer than the last Fusion. Same 112-inch wheelbase as the mid-size Fusion and North American Edge.


0.9in longer than the 2025 Nautilus.

Edited August 29 by AM222

[DeluxeStang]

6 hours ago, AM222 said:

I'd go for that. A Maverick-based Escape would be a less-rugged but more practical roomier Bronco Sport. It would probably look like a second gen Escape.

Always felt the Maverick was like an updated pickup version of the second gen Escape.

 

Bro, the bronco sport is literally based on the Maverick chassis and already looks quite similar to the second gen escape. 

[DeluxeStang]

These are scrapped mach-e sketches, but these would be great for an electric escape. If Ford made an electric escape that looked like this, people would go crazy. 

[AM222]

30 minutes ago, DeluxeStang said:

Bro, the bronco sport is literally based on the Maverick chassis and already looks quite similar to the second gen escape. 

Then again with Maverick's more modern styling (without the Bronco's styling cues)  and Escape's size.  8+ inches longer, 4 inches lower,  with a slightly longer wheelbase.  

 

Something like this rough Photoshop-edited image of a shortened Maverick wirh a cab cap.

Edited August 29 by AM222

[Ares]

11 minutes ago, AM222 said:

Then again with Maverick's more modern styling (without the Bronco's styling cues)  and Escape's size.  8+ inches longer, 4 inches lower,  with a slightly longer wheelbase.  

 

Something like this rough Photoshop-edited image of a shortened Maverick wirh a cab cap.

I really like that. A more utilitarian Escape with maximum room that isn’t too close to Bronco Sport styling. If that were an issue, I’m sure they could square out the Bronco Sport even more next go around 
 

I also like DeluxeStang’s idea. A sportier and swoopier Escape that will draw attention to the segment and bring something fun to the nameplate 

[Tico]

We loved both our 2011 and 2021 Escape. We chose Escape over the competition for two reasons. 1. Hybrid with 4wd. We love getting 38 MPG Ciy but with Midwest winters, whats the point of a CUV if its not 4wd? 2. Factory tow package. We only pull a small trailer, but factory package including trans cooler, anti sway, and trailer dection that confirms trailer lights working and deactivates rear and cross traffic alerts is a must. Not happy with much of the competition that just suggests you slap an aftermaket hitch on with all these features missing. I slowly ruined a transmisson once pulling a trailer with a fwd vehicle that had no factory tow package available. Overall I have had other CUVs for rentals and still love our Escape. May I just drink too much blue coolaid but hope there is a cometitive Escape around in 2028 or 2029 when I am ready to buy again. Of course if BS had a hybrid 4wd trim I would happy with that assuming the interior space was expanded to meet Escapes proportions.

Edited August 29 by Tico

[Oac98]

3 hours ago, AM222 said:

If it's a BEV, it will be a slow build up in sales since EV growth is slowing down. 
What Ford needs in probably the next 8+ years is an ICE/Hybrid C2-based model it can sell globally.

I totally agree and that’s why a lot of people at OAC were pissed off that ford killed the edge and nautilus there when they could’ve went hybrid earlier. Most of the people at the plant were wondering why ford didn’t go hybrid route first. It amazes me that people who aren’t corporate have more sense than these bigshots at times it seems 

[Biker16]

This may sound controversial, but your average buyer does care if it's a Sedan, wagon, or hatchback. All they want is grey body cladding and "more" ground clearance. 
 

Grey

Body

Cladding

[tbone]

7 hours ago, silvrsvt said:

The only issue with a Bronco Sport Max or whatever, is going to compete with the Bronco in price and size. The Bronco interior space isn't that all much different from an Escape, its just a bit wider. I get there is a difference in mindsets (hard core vs soft roader) but I'm not sure how good the market is for it. 

 

The biggest issue with the Escape since it went over the C1 is the pricing and profitability of it. 

 

I'd like to see Ford do something "different" in this segment, since they've said its commoditized. 

Apparently, you haven’t been in a BS or an escape. There’s a big difference between the rear legroom in the two. My daughter had a choice between them, and she picked the escape.

 

I continue to believe that it’s proper for Ford to have two different types of vehicles in this segment. I don’t think every escape buyer converts to a BS buyer. I have spent a lot of time in both vehicles, and they are definitely different, outside of the obvious aesthetic differences.  
 

The current refreshed escape looks a lot better than the previous version, but there’s still room for improvement. I don’t think a car has to be expensive to be beautiful. Get the design right and it’ll sell.

[morgan20]

1 hour ago, tbone said:

I don’t think a car has to be expensive to be beautiful. Get the design right and it’ll sell.

 

Yea, Ford did a good job with Bronco Sport. It's beautiful in a tough looking sort of way, not too expensive, and sells well. The new Sasquatch package makes it even better, it really stands out among its competitors in terms of design. That's what the head honcho big shot at Ford wants, he said: we want Ford to be a powerhouse when it comes to passion products and work products. No more boring products

 

[Sherminator98]

Doing my part-wife is trading in her 2017 Escape for a 2024 Bronco Sport Big Bend

[HotRunrGuy]

12 minutes ago, silvrsvt said:

Doing my part-wife is trading in her 2017 Escape for a 2024 Bronco Sport Big Bend

 

Congrats. Late last year, when I was taking delivery of my current Maverick, I asked my wife to consider replacing our daughters '18 Escape with a BS, she hated the back seat room.  According to the published specs, the BS & the Mav leg room lengths are almost identical, yet my wife was definitely against the BS.  Maybe the Marketing Dept is fudging the #'s a bit?

 

HRG

[akirby]

You don’t have to replace Escape volume with a Maverick SUV or Bronco Sport Max.  That volume gets replaced mostly with lower cost EVs.  It would just expand the potential conquest sales and add some higher margin sales.  But that assumes there is enough capacity to build it.

[02MustangGT]

22 minutes ago, akirby said:

That volume gets replaced mostly with lower cost EVs.

So you expect Ford to sell 110k-140k “lower cost EV’s” in 2026 and be as profitable as the current Escape?  I have my doubts about that, especially if Ford intends on building those “lower cost EV’s” at LAP.  

[Trader 10]

1 hour ago, akirby said:

You don’t have to replace Escape volume with a Maverick SUV or Bronco Sport Max.  That volume gets replaced mostly with lower cost EVs.  It would just expand the potential conquest sales and add some higher margin sales.  But that assumes there is enough capacity to build it.

There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Ford can build a lower cost EV than the Escape and make a higher margin. Farley has already stated that Ford’s lowest cost EV will start at $30k and you can bet there won’t be many available at that price. As long as comparable ICE vehicles are available buyers will avoid small EV SUVs in droves. 

[akirby]

42 minutes ago, 02MustangGT said:

So you expect Ford to sell 110k-140k “lower cost EV’s” in 2026 and be as profitable as the current Escape?  

Yes but not immediately - it will take time to ramp up all 3.   You can’t compare any current ford EV with what the skunkworks is doing including battery technology.  I expect everything from design to manufacturing to batteries to be revolutionary.  Mainly because of all the outside talent on that team.  If this was just ford engineers or they had not already been working on it for 2 years I would be much more skeptical.

[Sherminator98]

12 minutes ago, Trader 10 said:

As long as comparable ICE vehicles are available buyers will avoid small EV SUVs in droves. 

If Ford can sell an EV for roughly the same price as an ICE product, people will be more willing to try them instead of spend say $20k more on a similar product. 
 

That was the whole point of the skunk works EV project-make more affordable EVs that more people can afford. 

[Trader 10]

1 minute ago, silvrsvt said:

If Ford can sell an EV for roughly the same price as an ICE product, people will be more willing to try them instead of spend say $20k more on a similar product. 
 

That was the whole point of the skunk works EV project-make more affordable EVs that more people can afford. 

I think you’re right to a degree but I don’t think the pool of buyers is very large. The problem will likely be the range and charging issues as Ford has hinted that the batteries will be small. 

[02MustangGT]

1 hour ago, akirby said:

Yes but not immediately - it will take time to ramp up all 3.   You can’t compare any current ford EV with what the skunkworks is doing including battery technology.  I expect everything from design to manufacturing to batteries to be revolutionary.  Mainly because of all the outside talent on that team.  If this was just ford engineers or they had not already been working on it for 2 years I would be much more skeptical.

Remember, Escape production ends by 2026.  So the answer to my original question is “No”.  Replacing a profitable vehicle with vehicles which will not have the same margin or sell at the same rate in 2026 (and likely beyond) is not a wise business decision.  “Skunkworks” should be renamed “vaporwareworks” until we see some tangible products and profitable results.  Ford has a habit of disappointing mainly because Farley talks a big game and has yet to deliver.  My opinion of course, feel free to save this and call me out in a few years if your prediction is accurate.  

[Sherminator98]

3 hours ago, HotRunrGuy said:

 

Congrats. Late last year, when I was taking delivery of my current Maverick, I asked my wife to consider replacing our daughters '18 Escape with a BS, she hated the back seat room.  According to the published specs, the BS & the Mav leg room lengths are almost identical, yet my wife was definitely against the BS.  Maybe the Marketing Dept is fudging the #'s a bit?

 

HRG

Im 6’2 and I didn’t notice a huge difference with rear seat room Vs 2017 Escape she had. 

[tbone]

5 hours ago, akirby said:

You don’t have to replace Escape volume with a Maverick SUV or Bronco Sport Max.  That volume gets replaced mostly with lower cost EVs.  It would just expand the potential conquest sales and add some higher margin sales.  But that assumes there is enough capacity to build it.

 

5 hours ago, 02MustangGT said:

So you expect Ford to sell 110k-140k “lower cost EV’s” in 2026 and be as profitable as the current Escape?  I have my doubts about that, especially if Ford intends on building those “lower cost EV’s” at LAP.  

First you have to get customers to buy the EVs.  I’m not convinced many of the circumstances making people apprehensive about buying them will be significantly improved by 2026.  Perhaps the price is might be cheaper, but that doesn’t change the other factors.  I still think they need another generation of Escape that’s either all new or substantially different than the current one in order to bridge that gap.