Ford Might Build High-Performance Escape ST
The Nissan Juke NISMO better watch out, because a Ford Escape ST is a possibility.
The American automaker is working on expanding its crossover and SUV range in Europe and recently admitted that the booming segment has resulted in higher-end, luxury variants as well as sportier models. “With the maturing of the SUV segment, increasingly we will see all derivatives come to that segment, and yes some are experimenting with that,” said Roelant de Waard, vice-president, sales, marketing and service for Ford of Europe.
Currently, Ford offers a Vignale sub-brand in Europe that was introduced on the Mondeo (Fusion) and is set to expand to the S-Max. The upmarket Vignale variant could also come to the Escape as buyers in Europe look for more luxurious options when shopping for crossovers and SUVs.
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But the interest for U.S. buyers is the prospect of a Ford Escape ST model. The range-topping engine option in the Escape lineup is currently a 2.0-liter EcoBoost with 240 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. That means an ST model would not only be more powerful, but it’ll sport larger brakes, sportier suspension and more aggressive styling. Along with Nissan offering a NISMO Juke variant, MINI is also experimenting with high-performance crossovers with the Countryman JCW and Fiat is expected to release Abarth versions of the 500X.
[Source: Auto Express]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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