If you look at Ford's rather fresh North American lineup these days, it's painfully evident that one product in particular seems a little dated—the Ford Escape. While the car-based wagon is in many ways still competitive in the compact SUV segment, its styling is getting extremely long in the tooth; it's been largely unchanged since it first debuted way back in 2000. Looking into the crystal ball reveals a replacement largely resembling the Ford Vertrek Concept debuting at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.
Ford is hitting its stride in executing its One Ford strategy, wherein the company leverages global assets to create and execute vehicles aimed at production and sales across the world. First came the Fiesta, then the Focus and Focus C-Max, and in all likelihood the Vertrek is next. It would be a consolidation of the Escape segment in the U.S. and the Kuga in Europe, both ripe for a significant new model.
The Vertrek Concept is based on the global C platform, which underpins the 2011 Focus. Styling is solidly within Ford's Kinetic design language, with bold body lines; dramatic fender arches; a deep, broad grille; and pulled-back headlights. If you squint, it looks like a Focus hatchback on steroids. The same holds true with the interior. While the detailing is decidedly concept car, the shapes and layout are extremely familiar. Anyone' who's been in a Fiesta will immediately recognize the Vertrek's dashboard layout. To provide an extremely airy cabin, the Vertrek is fitted with a massive skylight running all the way down the center of vehicle
As is the case with many Ford these days, the Vertrek can be fitted with an array of plug-and-play powertrains to accommodate several markets. For Europe, buyers will be able to select the popular Duratorq TDCi diesel engines with improved fuel efficienecy of 7% on the 2.0-liter model. The US models will likely start with the 1.6-liter Ecoboost inline four. All powerplants would get a new Auto Start-Stop system and new six-speed transmissions to further improve around-town fuel economy.
Even the world's worst tea-leaf reader could decipher the future of the Vertrek. Shave off the concept car carbon fiber bits, the overly-elaborate and nowhere-near-legal wing mirrors, the race car seats and the haute couture floor coverings and you've got a darn handsome compact SUV headed for global production.
