Ford Wins Asinine Press Release Of The Week Award

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

We get all kinds of silly and nonsensical emails at our TTAC inboxes, but when they come from a major OEM, it’s always a little more entertaining. Check out this absurd release from Ford, boasting the 2013 Escape’s towing prowess.

According to the Blue Oval, the Escape’s hauling capability is “…best in class among small SUVs with turbocharged four-cylinder engines.” The Escape can tow 3,500 pounds, crushing the effete Volkswagen Tiguan’s 2,200 pound limit. Ford also compares the Escape to the Acura RDX (which won’t be available with a turbo for much longer) and the Kia Sportage, suggesting that it must have been a really slow news day for Ford to concoct this release out of whole cloth. Last time we checked, the turbocharged small-SUV segment was quite small, and Ford appears to have snagged a gold medal merely for showing up. Congrats!

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Flipper35 Flipper35 on Mar 19, 2012

    I bet the new Viper has best in class towing for all sports cars in the 8.0+ liter v10 class as well. This vehicle is best in class in a very narrow subset of CUVs and I think that is what the point of the article is about.

  • Threeer Threeer on Mar 19, 2012

    Are campers that much heavier here than in Europe? Most folks towing trailers across the pond tend to drive, well, um...cars...not huge SUVs or trucks. I'm wondering if it's a combination of lower trailer weight and higher percentage of diesel engines?

    • FJ60LandCruiser FJ60LandCruiser on Mar 19, 2012

      Campers or caravans as they call them are much smaller and lighter in Europe and are usually towed behind 4 cylinder diesel hatchbacks at 20-30 mph on single lane twisty roads where it is impossible to pass them.

  • Damikco Damikco on Mar 19, 2012

    So what if it is in a small class, it gets the job done. Why does this site hate all things American?

  • Lorenzo Lorenzo on Mar 19, 2012

    "...Ford appears to have snagged a gold medal merely for showing up." Since my greatest accomplishment in high school was perfect attendance, I see no problem with this.

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