2011 Ford Escape

The 2011 Escape is a 4-door, 5-passenger sport-utility, available in 10 trims, ranging from the XLS FWD to the Limited Hybrid 4WD.

Upon introduction, the XLS FWD is equipped with a standard 2.5-liter, I4, 171-horsepower engine that achieves 23-mpg in the city and 28-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard. The Limited Hybrid 4WD is equipped with a standard 2.5-liter, I4, 153-horsepower, hybrid engine that achieves 30-mpg in the city and 27-mpg on the highway. A variable speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.

The 2011 Escape is a carryover from 2010.

NEW CONVENIENCE AND TECH FEATURES ADD TO FUN, FUEL-EFFICIENT 2011 FORD ESCAPE AND ESCAPE HYBRID

* 2011 Ford Escape adds HD Radio™ technology to an extensive list of family-friendly features like the MyKey™ programmable vehicle key and available Rear View Camera System
* Active Park Assist allows Escape owners to parallel park with the touch of a button, while Pull-Drift Compensation aids driving confidence by reducing the effects of side winds and road crowning
* Escape Hybrid is expected to remain America’s most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly SUV with 2010 EPA-estimated 34 mpg city and 31 highway
The Ford Escape compact SUV has made fans of families across the country thanks to a host of features making it a willing travel companion for road trips and the daily grind alike. Now, fresh off its second-best sales year ever, the 2011 Escape brings a wide array of standard and available upgrades like HD Radio technology, offering free access to digital radio broadcasts across the country, and the Ford-exclusive SYNC® with Traffic, Directions & Information – helping reduce distractions while accessing important route and traffic information.
Music lovers will enjoy the addition of HD Radio technology, which enables more listening options and digital sound quality. No additional equipment or cost is involved: To use HD Radio, listeners simply tune in their favorite station. If the station is broadcasting with HD Radio technology, the system automatically picks up the signal and will transition to digital audio once decoded.
SYNC with Traffic, Directions & Information leverages industry-leading voice-recognition software, integrated GPS technology and a customer’s Bluetooth®-capable mobile phone. SYNC’s new applications provide simple hands-free access to personalized traffic reports, precise turn-by-turn driving directions, and up-to-date information including business listings, news, sports, and weather.

Innovations for Safe, Convenient Driving
Escape features Integrated Blind Spot Mirrors consisting of an outside rearview mirror designed with a secondary convex spotter in the top outer corner, which is aimed exclusively at the driver’s blind spot. When traffic enters the driver’s blind spot on either side of the vehicle, it is visible in the secondary convex mirror, helping provide the driver a broader peripheral view.
An available Rear View Camera System uses an exterior camera embedded in the rear of the vehicle that sends images to a video display in the rearview mirror or the navigation system screen, if equipped, to help enhance visibility directly behind the vehicle when it is in reverse. Ford is leveraging the affordability of high-quality video cameras to widely offer the technology.
To help encourage safe teen driving, Escape also comes standard with the Ford-exclusive MyKey system. Parents simply program the vehicle key through the message center to incorporate features such as:
* Limited top speed of 80 mph
* Traction control system that limits tire spin cannot be deactivated
* Audio system volume limited to 44 percent of maximum volume
* A speed alert chime at 45, 55 or 65 mph
All Escape models come with an Anti-lock Brake System and Ford’s exclusive AdvanceTrac® with RSC (Roll Stability Control™). The only available electronic stability control system with two gyroscopic effect sensors, AdvanceTrac with RSC measures vehicle motion about both the yaw and roll axes.

Technology Improves Confidence while Parking, Driving
The class-exclusive Active Park Assist system uses sensors on the front and rear of the vehicle, working in conjunction with Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS), to guide the vehicle into a parking space. Here’s how it works:
* The driver activates the system by pressing an instrument panel button, which activates the ultrasonic sensors to measure and identify a feasible parallel parking space
* The system then prompts the driver to accept the system assistance to park
* The steering system then takes over and steers the vehicle into the parking space hands-free. The driver still shifts the transmission and operates the gas and brake pedals
* A visual and/or audible driver interface advises the driver about the proximity of other vehicles, objects and people and provides instructions
* While the steering is all done automatically, the driver remains responsible for safe parking and can interrupt the system by grasping the steering wheel
EPAS can also control steering characteristics that enhance drive quality. An example found on Escape is Pull-Drift Compensation, a software-based technology designed to help drivers offset vehicle pulling or drifting that can occur in steady crosswinds or on uneven roads.
Using sensors, EPAS constantly measures the steering input applied by the driver to maintain the vehicle’s path; it continually resets to adapt to changing road conditions or the vehicle turning a corner. Ford’s pull-drift software technology gives the EPAS system the added ability to compensate for slight steering torque changes caused by environmental factors such as road crowning or steady crosswinds.
“If you’re on the expressway and the road is crowned to the left or right for better water drainage, for example, you may need to make a slight steering compensation for that crowning,” said Brian Kosztowny, Ford Vehicle Dynamics development engineer. “With Pull-Drift Compensation, the EPAS system gradually will dial in steering assist for easier steering in these conditions without the driver feeling it in his or her fingers or needing to make an extra effort. The electric motor does more, so you don’t have to.”

Maximizing Fuel Economy
Ford Escape continues to offer advanced powertrain options that maximize performance and fuel efficiency. Buyers can choose a 171-horsepower, 2.5-liter I-4 engine with Intake Variable Cam Timing (i-VCT) or an available 3.0-liter V-6 that produces 240 horsepower with i-VCT. A five-speed manual transmission is standard with the I-4 engine; I-4 buyers can also opt for the fuel-saving six-speed automatic transmission that’s standard on V-6 models.
Refined aerodynamics and low-rolling-resistance tires also enhance fuel economy while contributing to a quiet, refined cabin environment. The powertrain also incorporates electronic throttle control (ETC). This technology replaces the manual linkage between accelerator and throttle with a control unit that calculates the optimal throttle position from a number of sensors. ETC is a form of state-of-the-art, drive-by-wire technology.
Additionally, the EPAS system replaces the traditional hydraulic power steering pump. Because it operates only when required for steering assistance, it contributes to lower fuel consumption than a hydraulic pump, which operates whenever the engine is running.
Escape scores in both comfort and sustainability with their eco-friendly seats. The seats include soy-based foam that substitutes for petroleum-based products to conserve limited resources and reduce CO2 emissions. Eco-friendly seat fabrics made from 100 percent postindustrial recycled materials also are offered on Escape Hybrid.

More Choices for Hybrid Buyers
Escape Hybrid for 2011 expects to continue its claim as America’s most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly SUV, based on 2010 EPA estimates.
Hybrid models use a 2.5-liter I-4 designed to run on the Atkinson combustion cycle. An advanced engine processor enables nearly imperceptible transitions between gas and electric vehicle mode, and hybrid models also feature a powertrain damping system to reduce vibrations and feedback to the driver and other vehicle occupants.
The Escape Hybrid Limited is packaged for environmentally conscious buyers who still want a full complement of accessories and equipment. Along with its gas counterpart, the Escape Hybrid Limited features 16-inch bright machined aluminum wheels and exterior chrome accents, a standard six-speaker audio system, chrome and ebony interior touches and a luxury and convenience package that includes ambient lighting, heated front leather seating surfaces, a power moonroof, reverse sensing system, rearview camera and universal garage door opener.

Safety Technologies
Standard and available 2011 Ford Escape safety features include:
* AdvanceTrac traction control with RSC (Roll Stability Control)
* Safety Canopy®, a side air curtain technology offering protection for the first and second seating rows
* Personal Safety System™, a suite of seven safety technologies, including dual-stage front air bags for the driver and front-seat passenger, side air bags and a front passenger sensor system
* MyKey programmable vehicle key
* Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
* LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether anchors for CHildren) system on rear seating positions
Technology and Connectivity Features
Standard and available 2011 Ford Escape technology features include:
* SYNC voice-activated communications and entertainment system with Traffic, Directions & Information
* SIRIUS® Satellite Radio with an initial six-month subscription
* Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) with Pull-Drift Compensation
* Voice-Activated Navigation with SIRIUS Travel Link™ and HD Radio, including iTunes song-tagging ability
* Integrated Blind Spot Mirrors for better blind-spot visibility
* Rear View Camera System to aid rear visibility while backing up
* Active Park Assist automatic parallel parking system
* Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel-Filler System
* Ambient lighting allowing drivers to change interior lighting color palette
* Steering wheel audio controls
* 110V AC power outlet (Hybrid models only)
Ford Escape and Escape Hybrid are built at the Kansas City Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Mo.

Price this car:
MSRP: $21,215 – $34,195
Invoice: $20,102 – $31,703

Nissan Titan Crew Cab 2010

The Nissan Titan is a full-size pickup with lots of power, ample capabilities and a level of refinement that adds to its appeal. There are two body styles: The King Cab has rearward-opening rear doors. The Crew Cab is a conventional four-door configuration and offers a choice of short or long cargo beds. The only engine choice is a very powerful 5.6-liter V8 that makes 317 horsepower; it is matched to a five-speed automatic transmission. The Titan is available with two-wheel or four-wheel drive and has a maximum towing capacity of 9,500 pounds.

On the outside the Titan has a rugged, purposeful look. Inside, you'll find an attractive, user-friendly interior. There's room for a family of five or four burly fishermen. Titans range from utilitarian models with crank windows to leather-lined cabs befitting a luxury SUV. You really can have it just about any way you want it.

The strong V8 engine gets the done. Fuel economy is EPA-rated at 13 mpg City, 18 mpg Highway with two-wheel drive. This is a truck for true truckers. If you have no need for its stout capabilities to haul or tow heavy and/or big things, you may be better off with something smaller and more efficient. However, if the Titan's robustness and its ability to deal with tough jobs and heavy loads, such as pulling a toy box full of dirt bikes and sand buggies, is just what you need, then the Titan will certainly deliver while cradling you in comfort and convenience every mile of the way.
For 2010, Titan receives some upgrades. On the safety side, side-impact airbags, side-curtain airbags, Vehicle Dynamic Control with Traction Control, and Active Brake Limited Slip are now standard on all models. There have also been changes and additions to the available options and packages which, basically, make it easier and less expensive to equip the Titan with the features most buyers want in order to suit individual preferences.
In short, if you need a full-size pickup with power to perform and deal with heavy loads, and with plenty of room inside, and you'd also like the comfort and convenience of the Titan's level of refinement, then it definitely should be on your shopping list.

Model Lineup

The 2010 Nissan Titan comes in a dozen versions, sorted by cab style, cargo-bed length, two-wheel or four-wheel drive, and trim level.
The King Cab, with its rearward-opening doors, is available in XE, SE and PRO-4X trim levels. The Crew Cab, with its full four-door configuration, is available in XE, SE, PRO-4X and LE trim levels. The PRO-4X models are available only with four-wheel drive; all the others offer a choice of two- or four-wheel drive. King Cab versions have a cargo bed that measures 79.1 inches long. Crew Cab models offer a cargo bed of 67.3 inches (a little less than six feet). Crew Cab SE is available with a long bed that measures 87.0 inches.

Nissan King Cab XE ($26,320) comes with cloth seating for six, active front head restraints, full instrumentation, cruise control, split fold-up rear seats, 18-inch wheels. Crew Cab XE ($28,870) also gets power windows and door locks. The XE Popular Equipment Package for King Cab ($1,090) and Crew Cab ($1,140) adds alloy wheels, overhead center console, cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls, remote keyless entry, Class IV hitch receiver and seven-pin wiring harness, along with pre-wiring for a trailer brake controller. Options include a bed extender ($260), splashguards ($115), rear bumper step assist ($225), under-seat storage ($150), auto-dimming mirror ($230).
Titan SE King Cab ($28,320) and Crew Cab ($30,520) upgrade with alloy wheels, chrome bumpers, upholstery and seating upgrades, a CD changer, power mirrors, tailgate assist, sliding rear window, and conveniences such as remote keyless entry and illuminated visor mirrors. Crew Cab SE is available with a longer cargo bed ($450). Four-wheel drive ($2850) is optional.

Options for Titan SE: The SE Value Truck Package ($1,350) includes front captain's chairs, eight-way power driver's seat, fog lights, Bluetooth, floor mats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass, rear sonar system, and other features. The SE Popular Equipment Package ($1,100) features interior trim upgrades. The SE Premium Utility Package ($1,910) includes a Rockford Fosgate audio system with six-CD changer and eight speakers, XM Satellite Radio, power-adjustable pedals, HomeLink garage-door opener, dual power and heated extendable tow mirrors, and a lot of utility features, including the Utili-track Bed Channel system, spray-on bedliner, lockable bedside storage, front tow hooks, a lower axle ratio for better pulling power, and other worthwhile items. The SE Utility Package ($950) includes the cargo-bed-related items from the Premium Utility Package.

Titan PRO-4X King Cab ($34,050) and Crew Cab $36,420) come standard with four-wheel drive and larger, more aggressive tires, off-road suspension tuning, 3.36:1 axle gears, electronic locking rear differential, skid plates, two-tone cloth upholstery, body-color bumpers, unique upholstery and instruments, and double sun visors. The PRO-4X is similar to the SE in level of trim. Options include the Premium Utility Package ($1,560) and a Leather Package ($2,230) that includes leather upholstery, heated front seats and memory for the driver's seat, pedals and outside mirrors.

The Titan LE Crew Cab ($36,420) features leather power seats, a Rockford Fosgate sound system with XM radio, dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable pedals, woodgrain trim, Bluetooth, double overhead consoles, 20-inch wheels, fog lamps, and chrome power folding heated mirrors. Titan LE Crew Cab is available with four-wheel drive ($39,120). Options include a Technology Package ($2,000), which includes a power moonroof and navigation; the LE Max Utility Package ($500), which adds towing and utility enhancements; DVD entertainment ($1,000).
Safety features include frontal airbags, side-impact airbags, side-curtain airbags, Vehicle Dynamic Control with Traction Control, and Active Brake Limited Slip.

Walkaround

Everything about the appearance of the Nissan Titan is big and bold, from the expanse of chrome on the bumper and grille to the creased fenders. It fills up its space on the road and you won't mistake it for something else. This is a big, brawny truck and looks it.
The Titan also delivers a high level of function. Maximum payload tops 2,000 pounds on certain versions. Vehicles with tow or Utility packages can be rated to tow up to 9,500 pounds. Available towing features include extendable dual-element mirrors, a transmission temperature gauge, lower axle ratio, and other items. Also available is a cargo track retention system (bed sides and floor). An innovative storage box in the rear fender is ideal for wet tow straps, chains or tie-down straps. The locking tailgate is damped and assisted for easy open and close. This truck has been built for work.
King Cab versions have a cargo bed that measures 79.1 inches long (almost seven feet). Crew Cab models offer a shorter cargo bed, due to their longer body length, of 67.3 inches, which is a little less than six feet. The Crew Cab SE trim level is the only one available with a choice of a longer cargo bed that measures 87.0 inches, which is slightly over seven feet. However, the longer cargo bed comes with a wheelbase that is also about 20 inches longer, at 159.5 inches compared to 139.8 inches for the Crew Cab with the shorter bed, and that longer wheelbase could definitely hinder maneuverability in tighter spots.

The Nissan Titan cabin serves very well for truck duty, yet with comfort and convenience. It's refined and is in every way a nice place to be for traveling, whether it's to the job site or towing the boat to the lake.
Dash and door panels are easy to wipe off plastic yet do not give the impression of cost-cutting in materials. The instrument layout provides complete information and has a coherent, sophisticated look. On PRO-4X models the gauges are white-faced and sporty. LE models have enough wood-like acreage to fit in a luxury utility. The Titan can be equipped with a six-person bench seat interior or with captain's chairs in front for a five-seat capacity. Our only complaint, and it's a little one, is the tilt-and-telescoping steering column adjustment that is spring-loaded and requires you to tilt-and-telescope the wheel with one hand while the other holds the release.
You sit high and comfortable in the Titan, not squeezed but not loosely floating about. Visibility is excellent to all corners, although shorter drivers may not like the large base on the windshield pillar. The view rearward is very good, especially with the tow mirrors. An optional rear-view camera is available and we found it eased trailer hitching.
The center dash section has controls for audio, climate, navigation, and switching duty (tow mode, VDC-Off, differential lock, etc.) with an integrated look. It looks good and easily provides plenty of space for things like the dual-zone climate control on LE models.
All controls are logical and sensibly arranged, although traditional pickup truck buyers who go for six seats will have to adapt to wipers and shifter on the same side of the wheel. With deep bins in the center console and smaller ones along the sides, big door and seatback pockets, and generous cup holders, you'll find a place to put virtually anything.
Entry and exit is simple. Running boards are available if you value deportment above ground clearance, but we often find running boards more in the way than helpful.
The rear doors on King Cabs swing almost 170 degrees for easy access and there's room back there for six-footers on short-to-moderate-length trips. Crew Cab rear seats are downright spacious and eclipsed only by the Toyota Tundra CrewMax.
You won't see any of the noise-reduction materials inside (unless you're under the dash installing a brake controller with the tow-package pigtail), but if you've ever been in an earlier (pre-2008) Titan you will notice the current models are much quieter and smoother.

Driving Impressions

The Nissan Titan has been recognized for its stout drivetrain. It comes standard with the big V8 and a five-speed automatic transmission. Although it doesn't have as much horsepower as GM's larger V8 choices or Dodge's Hemi, it's great on torque. We think a Titan will outrun many pickups and deliver competitive mileage to similar configurations; only the Tundra's 5.7-liter/six-speed automatic and GM's 6.2-liter/six-speed automatic combinations challenge it. The exhaust keeps the V8 rumble so adored by truck buyers while eliminating the drone that could wear on long highway trips.
The fuel economy is not great, but then, this is a big, strong truck. The EPA ratings are 13 mpg City, 18 mpg Highway with two-wheel drive and 12/17 with four-wheel drive. If you want a vehicle with this level of capability, it will deliver this level of fuel economy.
We found the transmission responds smoothly and crisply as conditions dictate. A proper gated floor shift allows direct access to any gear without pressing any buttons, and a comfortable grip and good location adjacent to the driver's leg encourages one to use it.
Four-wheel drive and low range are electrically shifted by a rotary dash knob. The electric-locking rear differential (PRO-4X only) is more effective in severe terrain than the all-wheel electronic traction control of regular 4WD Titans and most competitors. There is no automatic 4WD setting for on-road use, but if the electronic traction aids and common sense aren't enough perhaps you should be in 4WD high range.
Pickup trucks aren't held in high regard for ride comfort or handling prowess yet they have made strides in both. The longer wheelbase only betters cruising comfort but even the short-wheelbase Titans will generate no complaints, at least not from anyone who knows what a ton of payload means. Off-road biased suspension tuning with lots of travel, shocks built specifically for it, and large tires on the PRO-4X contribute to ride softness without giving up control, while the 20-inch wheel/tire combo on LE models offers crisper turn-in for cornering but transmits bumps more.
The brakes have significant swept area, a prime indicator of braking capacity, and the Titan has performed well in braking performance tests.

The 2010 Nissan Titan boasts a robust powertrain with responsive acceleration, good brakes, a comfortable cabin and plenty of feature choices. But pickups are all about carrying or towing stuff and the Titan will get those jobs done, with payload ratings that reach above 2,000 pounds, and good towing performance. Source:yahoo.com