It kind of makes sense from Nissan's perspective as they have a massive amount of production capacity now. For Ford to be interested in a tie-up of this nature, Nissan must be proposing a killer deal. 

The name is the least of the Wagoneer's/Grand Wagoneer's issues. 

https://logisticsviewpoints.com/2025/10/07/major-fire-at-key-aluminum-plant-hits-fords-f-150-production/    

You're right, I forgot they upped the tow rating on the hybrid, and added AWD, so there isn't much reason to get the turbo unless you really want that extra power imo. 

I dunno this article seems like a bunch of happenstance and connecting the dots without any actual data to back it up.    It would make zero sense for Ford to commit to a product short term like this esp with the hybrid C2 apparently coming that will sister product to the Bronco Sport at the end of the decade.  It might not seem it, but we are better then half way through this decade and 2028MY cars are only about 24 months away

The current hybrid Maverick has the same towing capacity as my wife’s 23 nonhybrid with the 4K tow package. 

The hybrid is the one to get imo. It's not as punchy at highway speeds, and can't tow quite as much, but it's a lot more reliable, refined, and efficient. It's the secret sauce that makes the maverick a got to have it product. 

Ideally Ford would just create a next gen more profitable and compelling escape replacement, something more aspirational. But it sounds like their current c2 production capability is pretty tapped out at the moment. They can't make a next gen escape alongside the maverick and BS, the current escape plant is going EV, so I don't know where Ford could produce a c2 escape in their own factories moving forward. 

Who knows, it could end up being a case of half truths where Nissan builds escapes but using c2. That's the compelling scenario, but we'll see. 

I paid $2.26/gal for E10/86 at that same station this evening.