All-new Ford Technology Is a Highlight of All-new Escape
Ford is dedicated to retaining its position as a fuel-efficiency leader for the auto industry, and this comes through loud and clear with the completely redesigned 2013 Ford Escape. And while the sophisticated new crossover will pack the expected Ford powertrain innovations for better fuel economy, engineers also were able to squeeze more miles out of the Escape in some notably unexpected ways.
For example, the team at Ford spent considerable effort in designing new, lightweight seats that will help reduce the Escape’s curb weight—a top contributor to improved fuel efficiency. But that doesn’t mean the seats are any less comfortable; in fact, just the opposite is the case.
Consider: According to a recent study by the University of California, the average driver is on the road some 101 minutes per day, which is a definite factor in the growing epidemic of back pain in this country. According to the prestigious Mayo Clinic back discomfort is the second-leading cause of pain in U.S. behind only headaches.
Ford has specifically addressed that issue by relying on thousands of hours of real-world and lab-based testing, as well as a thorough study of seating solutions from outside the auto industry, to create a proprietary set of comfort standards that new Ford products will have to meet—starting with the Escape.
“People are spending more time in their vehicles and continually touch the seats, which is why it has become increasingly important to ensure their seat is both comfortable and supportive,” said Ford seat-comfort engineer Mike Kolich, better known inside the company as “Dr. Derriere.” “We are designing our seats so when drivers and passengers arrive at their destinations, they are relaxed and ready to go.”
In addition, the 2013 Escape will be the first Ford vehicle to use the “Mucell” process to create its instrument panel. The Mucell technology—the “Grand Award Winner” at the 2011 Society of Plastic Engineers “Most Innovative Use of Plastics Awards” competition—involves using a gas like C02 or nitrogen to create millions of tiny air cells during the injection-molding process for the Escape’s IP. The resulting material is strong, durable and comfortable to the touch, but it’s also significantly lighter.
“Ford is focused on leveraging innovations in materials that save weight and boost fuel economy, helping our vehicles travel farther on less gas,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of global product development. “MuCell is a great example of this effort.”