“Probably not enough room,” I said, as we spotted an open parking space along Wynkoop Street near the Tattered Cover bookstore.
“Watch this,” said Mike Murphy, Ford global C-car marketing manager.
With the push of a button the 2013 Ford Escape, its steering wheel freed of driver control, backed right into the space, its wheels squared perfectly along the curb. Only the accelerator and brake were under driver control.
The “park itself” technology was among features of the new Escape previewed for members of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press last week at sessions at REI on Platte Street.
The Escape, in a drive out north on I-25, delivered strong low-end and midrange torque, with quick steering and taut suspension from its MacPherson strut front and multilink/stabilizer bar rear setup.
The performance was from a 240-horsepower, turbocharged 2-liter, 4-cylinder engine with 6-speed automatic transmission (EPA rating 21/28 with all-wheel drive). Other engines are a turboed 1.6-liter and a 2.5-liter, both 4-cylinders. V-6 power and manual transmissions have been dropped for ’13, along with the hybrid version.
This is the first major makeover of the SUV since it was introduced in 2001.
The roofline has been lowered on the Escape, which is 3½ inches longer in overall length than last year’s model. Rear cargo space has been increased.
We tested the high-end Titanium model, priced at $37,000. For a person whose arms are filled with grocery bags, the power rear liftgate can be activated by lifting a foot beneath the bumper (with motion sensors).
It was equipped with leather seats, navigation, rearview camera, rain-sensing wipers and blind-spot detection.
Base price on the Titanium with AWD is $32,120; others are $29,620 for the SEL AWD and $26,820 for SE AWD.
Bud Wells can be reached via e-mail at bwells@denverpost.com.
