..... with a hybrid Tribute SUV? I was just curious as the Escape is tested to get 40-45 mpg in stop and go city driving. If it were to come to being I would rather get the Mazda Tribute rather that the Ford.

Ford Escape hybrid

Any comments??

 

I read about this a while back (2003?). It is a pretty good concept. I believe Ford may be, for once, stepping in the right direction. Does the world need more gas-guzzling SUV's?

I believe the Tribute and the Escape share the same chassis, drivetrain, etc., so if they carried it over to Mazda, there wouldn't be much change. Good story though. I hope there can be more hybrid technology in the future .

 

Mazda has a hybrid that Mazda speed did a SC for at SEMA. But when I check out the site its just hybrid talk an no SC?... It has loooooowwwww HP.

 

Well the combined HP of the Escape hybrid is somewhere in the area of 229hp. You have to combine the HP of the gas engine (133hp) and the electric engine (94hp). Because they are used in conjunction with each other. 229 hp for a vehicle that size is pretty good.

 

actually if i remember correctly its a mazda factory in the phillipines (i think) that makes the tributes and the escapes for ford. its part of the mazda/ford "partnership"

 

I would doubt they make a Tribute edition of the hybrid. Hybrid's are in too much demand, and critical components like the batteries are in limited supply. They're going to have trouble making enough for Ford, let alone any for Mazda. Also, i suspect this will be a halo vehicle for Ford, at least for now while hybrids are hot. They'll probably want to maintain the exclusivity and bring people to the Ford dealerships.

 

35 mpg is very attractive indeed

 

Ford needs a car that will bring people back. The Blue Oval and GM took a serious hit this July.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.j...toryID=5863189

 

The main reason we probably won't see Tribute hybrids in the near future is because of what it takes to add hybrid servicing capability to the dealerships. Ford's dealerships can implement this capability much easier than Mazda's. Roughly 90% of Mazda dealers in the U.S. don't sell Mazdas exclusively, so asking these dealerships to invest a bunch of money in hybrid service capability for the low-volume Tribute is just not feasible. Mazda has a plan to eventually make most of its dealerships exclusive Mazda retailers... so it is possible we could see a Mazda hybrid eventually.

Hmmm, not sure about the Tribute, but the Escape and Mariner are built near Cleveland, Ohio. As far as I know, the only Ford/Mazda joint manufacturing facilities are the AutoAlliance plants in Flat Rock, MI, where the Mazda6 and new Mustang are built, and in Thailand, where the Ranger and B-series pickups are built.