Select images from Ford Motor Company Canada's hybrid web site:

"See-Thru" view of the Ford Escape Hybrid from the right rear.

"See-Thru" view of the Ford Escape Hybrid from the front left.

Chassis view, with the 2.3-litre 4-cylinder engine adjacent to the 70kW electric motor up front, and the Sanyo 330V NiMH battery pack above the rear axle.

The planetary CVT integrates and manages the power delivered from the gasoline engine and electric motor.

2.3L Atkinson Cycle petrol engine generates 133 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 129 lb.-ft. of torque at 4500 rpm

Sanyo's 330-volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack stores electrical power to start the petrol engine and for added boosts in acceleration performance. Sealed battery pack requires no owner maintenance.

Dash gauge cluster provides (left-to-right):
- battery pack charge/discharge indicator (energy is recovered during regenerative braking and put back into the batteries)
- tachometer with "message centre" readout at bottom (status of systems including distance to empty and average fuel economy)
- speedometer with digital odometer (total/trip) below. A symbol here indicates that the ignition is on, since there is no engine noise when stopped.
- fuel gauge

Power outlets on the centre console in front of the gear selector (between the front seats). Standard 12-volt DC powerpoint (second is provided in the dash near the stereo) is adjacent to a 110-volt/150-watt AC power outlet.

Seating for up to 5 passengers (2 in front & 3 in back, all with headrests and safety belts). The rear bench seating has child seat anchors nearby and features a 60/40 split for cargo flexibility.

With the battery pack located below the rear cargo floor (the spare tire is now outside beneath the vehicle -- non-hybrid 2005 models gain an additional storage area where the hybrid batteries reside), the full area is available for loads. With the rear seats up for passengers, 764.5L (27 cubic feet) of space exists. With the rear seats folded flat, 1841L (65 cubic feet) of cargo area is provided.

(Some owners at www.Escape-Central.com have managed to sleep in the rear of their Escapes... something I haven't yet tried).