Escape PHEV delayed until late 2021, battery fire details within days

Ford’s much-hyped petrol-electric Escape PHEV SUV has been delayed coming to Australia by at least a year – with deliveries now forecast in late 2021 at the earliest.

While Ford had initially hoped to begin selling the plug-in hybrid version of the all-new Escape – called the Escape PHEV – late in 2020, it appears much-publicised battery fires in Europe have delayed its local introduction.

In conducting a virtual media conference to launch the new Escape PHEV, Ford Australia confirmed there were “supply challenges” and that “we do anticipate that it will be late 2021 before it arrives in Australia and New Zealand”.

“If we can bring it earlier, we will,” said Ford Australia communications director Matt Moran.

But Ford is closer to confirming why some cars were catching fire, prompting a recall and stop-sale in Europe.

The global chief engineer of the upcoming new Escape, James Hughes, confirmed Ford was close to determining the issue that caused some Escapes (or Kugas, as they’re known in Europe) catching fire.

“We’ll have some public announcements quite soon that we’ll be available to share globally,” he said.

Hughes appeared to suggest the issue had been traced to one of the components supplied for the Escape.

“I’m anticipating within a very few days from now there will be some announcements that will come from Ford of Europe that will clarify the current status and will also provide the projections of the supplier quality improvements that we’re making to mitigate the current situation in Europe,” said Hughes.

The Escape PHEV delay is a win for Toyota, which continues to dominate the mid-sized market with its RAV4 Hybrid.

It also means the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – which recently had a GSR model added to its lineup – is the only PHEV in the hotly-contested mid-sized SUV segment.

Regular petrol-powered versions of the Escape are rolling out to Ford Australia dealers over coming weeks.

They will be priced from $35,990 for the base Escape up to $49,590 for the luxury-focused Vignale. An ST-Line sits in the middle.

The Escape PHEV is available only in ST-Line trim, which has slightly firmer suspension and a sporty design focus, with alloy pedals, a rear spoiler and red interior stitching.

The Escape PHEV teams a 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor for a combined power output of 167kW (Ford doesn’t quote torque figures).

A 14.4kWh battery is claimed to provide an electric driving range “in excess of 50 kilometres”.

Ford was at pains to point out that the global recall did not affect Australian cars because none have been produced yet.

“The vehicles bound for Australia and New Zealand have not yet been built,” said Moran.

UPDATE: See how the Ford Escape PHEV recall is linked to a BMW PHEV recall.