Powerful electric motors team up with the 2.3 liter inline four-cylinder found in the standard Ford Escape. Two electric motors help to drive the front wheels while, on all wheel drive models, a third motor drives the rear wheels to help out in slippery situations. This results in a peak power output of 155 horsepower. The gasoline and electric motors feed into a continuously variable transmission. This transmission automatically determines the best gear ratio possible and alters that ratio seamlessly across the entire range of speeds. This means the driver will never again feel another upshift or downshift. This combination keeps the Ford Escape Hybrid ahead of the 4-cylinder Ford Escape in terms of performance but slightly below the performance of the V6 Ford Escape while maintaining fuel mileages in the mid to upper 30’s

The benefits of fuel economy in the Ford Escape Hybrid do not come at the expense of safety, of course. Standard equipment includes ABS anti-lock brakes, tire pressure sensors and a rollover sensor. In the event an accident should occur, front, side and head curtain airbags deploy to ensure passenger safety.

The Ford Escape Hybrid is an excellent choice for comfort, convenience and space. Seating for 5 and room for golf clubs means everyone can tag along for family fun. With the addition of options such as heated leather seating, satellite radio and a navigation system, this may be the perfect vehicle for those lengthy family trips.

Looking forward the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid is expected to get even better. Freshened exterior design will keep this hybrid near the top of the wish list for many.

An interesting, and beneficial offshoot of the Ford Escape Hybrid’s sales success is its acceptance into rental fleets nationwide. Whether carting the family around the sunny beaches of Florida, rolling down the Las Vegas strip with the guys or enjoying a romantic weekend in California wine country, renting a Ford Escape Hybrid on your next business or pleasure trip means you can ride in comfort, style and safety with the knowledge that you’re doing your part to reduce emissions.

For small business owners and vacationers alike renting a Ford Escape Hybrid results in reduced expenses for fuel. This can really add up on long vacations or business trips, especially if there will be a lot of traveling around the destination. If your travels will be taking you to California, hybrid rentals offer another benefit, especially in traffic jam-prone cities. In California, hybrid vehicles are eligible for the carpool lane, regardless of number of occupants.

Hertz will spend $68 million to add the hybrid cars by 2008, the Park Ridge, New Jersey-based company said today. The first 1,000 will be available at U.S. rental sites within the next few weeks, spokesman Richard Broome said.

“We want to meet expanding demand for highly efficient vehicles,” Broome said in an interview. Hertz now has only “a few Priuses, a few Ford Escape hybrids” for U.S. customers, he said, without elaborating.

Rental-car companies are offering more fuel-efficient, low- emission vehicles amid record gasoline prices and increased concern among consumers about global warming. Avis Budget Group Inc., the third-largest U.S. rental-car company, said yesterday that it’s adding 1,000 Prius cars. Hybrids save fuel by combining a battery pack and electric motor with a gasoline engine.

Hertz’s Prius order is among the largest, though Toyota won’t say whether any company or government fleet has placed a bigger one. “It’s a very significant purchase,” Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong said, without elaborating.

Prius sales in May reached a record 24,009, making it the ninth best-selling vehicle in the U.S. last month. The company has said it expects to sell at least 180,000 this year, or 68 percent more than a year ago.

Closely held Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the largest U.S. rental-car company, last week announced a plan to offer vehicles that run on alternative fuels and said it had more than 3,000 gasoline-electric cars for rent. The company will take delivery of 1,300 Prius cars by the end of July, spokeswoman Lisa Martini said in an interview today.