"The ZD Escape is the perfect introduction to the Ford Sport Utility Vehicle range, delivering on attributes expected of a recreational SUV in a compact yet extremely functional package," said Vice-President of Marketing and Sales, Mr Mark Winslow.

"Escape offers car-like ride and handling, genuine off-road capability and excellent versatility in a rugged and stylish appearance that represents excellent value for money."

The release of the new model heralds a realignment of the Escape nameplate. One highly specified model, sporting a 2.3-litre four-cylinder in-line petrol engine coupled to a floor-mounted four-speed automatic transmission, will now represent the range.

"We've made these changes to better differentiate between our two SUV model lines," said Mr Winslow.

"There is now a clear-cut discernable difference between what Escape and Territory represent and what they offer our customers. The two models now complement each other in the showroom better than ever before."

Visual enhancements to the new-look Escape have touched almost every aspect of the exterior, primarily focussing on the front and rear appearance.

"Key changes include new front fog lamps, headlamps, alloy wheels, grille treatment, bumpers, wheel arch and door cladding, tailgate and rear tail lamps," Mr Winslow said yesterday.

A new piano burgundy trim has been lavished on the interior console, along with changes to the seat trim and inside door treatment.

Safety has also been boosted thanks to the inclusion of front seat side/head thorax airbags as standard.

Additional standard-fit safety and creature-comfort features include Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), cruise-control and climate control.

Complementing the fresh new look and additional safety, Escape goes on sale this month with a recommended retail price less than the equivalent ZC 2.3-litre four-cylinder XLT model it is replacing.

"In addition to stylish aesthetic enhancements and improved safety, the new-look Escape features a recommended retail price of only $31,990," said Mr Winslow. (Excluding dealer delivery and statutory charges).

"With on-demand all-wheel-drive, automatic transmission and front seat side head/thorax airbags as standard, the changes announced todayday have further strengthened Escape's overall appeal and make it one of the best value-proposition SUV packages available."

KEY CHANGES AND ADDITIONAL DETAIL

The new ZD Escape features a raft of visual improvements, interior enhancements and a strengthened safety story to deliver a fresh new vehicle with a car-like appearance combined with the functionality and all-wheel-drive versatility of a Ford SUV.

Exterior
The new ZD Escape receives numerous embellishments over and above the previous model, providing a smart new appearance that reflects a maturing of the model, while maintaining its youthful exuberance.

A new front bumper and chrome grille, featuring three horizontal bars and an enlarged Ford logo, is literally bursting with Blue Oval DNA and ensures Escape is instantly recognisable as a Ford SUV. The rear receives a similarly revised bumper complete with newly designed rear reflectors.

New headlamps with a horizontal eyebrow feature line provide a sleek, aerodynamic appearance. Front-end light treatment also extends to the fog lamps, which now display a contemporary modern look thanks to a projector-like fog lamp bezel with three horizontal lines on the side. Rear LED lamps have also been added to Escape.

The addition of body-coloured wheel arch mouldings and body-coloured door cladding provides a more sophisticated look for the new model. New 10-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels also contribute to Escape's modern look and enhance the appearance of the vehicle when viewed from the side.

Elegance through simplicity has also been achieved through removing elements of chrome garnish from the bonnet and tailgate, in turn balancing the front and rear of the vehicle and adding to Escape's more sophisticated appearance.

A stylish new feature, often the domain of more expensive passenger cars, is the integration of the turn indicator into the side mirror. This improves overall appearance as well as adds to the functionality of the vehicle.

The freshened look is completed by new front guards with vent and Escape nomenclature, while a new blackened B pillar further differentiates the new Escape from previous models.

Colours
A stylish new colour, Ambition Grey, has been introduced with the launch of the new model, taking the colour range to six.

Other colours available include Hot Red, Panther Black, Moonlight Silver, Metallic Sand and Atlantis Blue.

Interior
The interior of the new ZD Escape has also benefited from a fresh look by the design team.

An exclusive new Piano Burgundy centre panel and door trim interior colour delivers elegant sophistication, while new Ellipse seat trim with ebony bolster accentuates the luxurious nature of the cabin.

Safety
In addition to Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Escape's safety story has been further improved thanks to the availability of front seat side/head thorax airbags as standard.

Powertrain
The ZD Escape is powered by a 2.3-litre four-cylinder in-line petrol engine coupled to a floor-mounted four-speed automatic transmission. The engine develops 109 kW at 6,000 rpm and 199 Nm at 4,000 rpm and fuel economy is 10.5-litres per 100 km.

Towing capacity of Escape remains unchanged at 750 kg unbraked, which increases to 1,000 kg for braked loads.