On numerous occasions as of late, Ford CEO Jim Farley has made it clear that he wants to rid the automaker’s lineup of what he calls “boring” vehicles, or commodity-type products. That includes the Ford Escape, which Farley has hinted is facing cancellation, a notion backed up by a recent report claiming that production of the crossover will end by 2026. However, that no longer seems to be the case, as The Blue Oval has instead opted to infuse some serious off-road DNA into the affordable crossover and create the just-revealed 2026 Ford Escape Raptor.
A vehicle that no one saw coming, the 2026 Ford Escape Raptor borrows quite a bit from its brethren, as one might imagine. Along with Code Orange accents throughout, the Escape Raptor also features the same Fox shocks present in the Ford Ranger Raptor, as well as the twin-clutch all-wheel drive system used by the rugged Ford Maverick Tremor to make it supremely capable off-road. The Ford Escape Raptor also gets two additional inches of suspension height, giving it 10.3 inches of ground clearance.
In terms of output, the 2026 Ford Escape Raptor also gets a big “boost” in the form of the turbocharged 2.3L I-4 EcoBoost engine, which churns out a healthy 360 horsepower and 322 pound-feet of torque in this guise. As is the case with some other Raptor models, Ford will launch a new Escape Raptor Performance School to help owners learn the ins and outs of their rugged crossover, though it will be separate from others and officially known as the “Ford Escape Raptor SUV Experience School For Really Cool, Non-Boring People” in what is just the latest case of Ford’s desire to become the “Porsche of off-road vehicles” – along with the Ford Mustang Raptor.
While the future of the non-Raptor Ford Escape remains unclear at the moment, The Blue Oval is clearly betting big on this off-road-focused version – in fact, it will add another shift at the Louisville Assembly plant solely for the new model, which it expects to account for at least 75 percent of overall Escape sales mix within its first year on sale. Pricing starts out at $46,000, but customers can secure theirs now with a $10,000 deposit.
“I used to be afraid of how much I hated the Ford Escape,’ said Ford CEO Tim Barley. “Then I realized we could just make a more interesting utility vehicle. After all, I want Ford to be the Porsche Macan of off-road. Now I won’t have to slash the tires of every new Escape I see in our employee parking lot!”
“No one will dare think of challenging the Ford Escape Raptor in the compact crossover segment,” added Spike Ravine, product communications manager of Ford North Dakota. “I think upon seeing this Raptor, people will ESCAPE their current vehicle faster than anyone can say pun intended.”
If one hasn’t figured it out by now, the new Ford Escape Raptor is just part of our annual April Fools’ Day content, and will never see the light of day – at least, not that we know of, but we suppose you can never say never these days!
Comments
LOL, but be careful – you might give Jimmy another idea. But, if it saves the Escape, I’d be all for it.
THIS IS SO STUPID
I love it, RAPTOR ESCAPE, looks great, and I think it’s a game changer and like SCEcoBoost suggested if it helps save ESCAPE, I’m all for it as well. The regular Escape is a great SUV.
Should have known it was an April Fool’s joke – for a minute I thought Ford management had come to their senses.
For April 2nd could we have a more serious offering……an Escape ST that would add a sporty alternative that might be a halo vehicle for FORD in this important segment.
Yes, after buying the 2 liter Ford Escape STLine I was impressed with the interior and exterior of the vehicle. The ST version should go crazy.
This would work great on the Corsair
I would buy it. My wife loves our old Escape and wants to get a new one.
Disappointed that its not real.
A 300 HP Escape ST would be more convincing. Portray it as a Civic Type R competitor, that ought to get em riled up
This should/could have been done to the Focus hatch and wagon years ago a la the Crosstrek and Outback. Sad that Farley is thinking of dumping the Escape. I’ve had three and they’ve been terrific except for the rear-end groan on my ’22 when wet. (Ford finally came up with a fix.) Sadly, there won’t be a fourth as I’d have to give up my keypad, fog lights and power tailgate and pay a lot more. (Less is more in Farley speak) The picture of the Escape Raptor looks good. Keep the 2.3 and add 19″ wheels and tires and they’d sell the hell out of it.
Yeah, Subaru’s wilderness trims really are the only things filling the gap left by the greatest vehicle of all time, the AMC Eagle.
If I had to buy a new car today I would go with a Crosstrek Wilderness
I don’t know about the name of that school though…
Really? Kinda wordy. 🙂
It does share DNA with bronco sport…
Look forward to this all year
I was fooled for just a few seconds when I saw the heading for this article and then remembered it came out on April Fools’ Day. Good one!
It appears some of the commenters didn’t realize this article was an April Fools’ joke.
Way to kill off current sales by announcing plans to kill off the Escape. It’s as boring as you make it, Ford. It’s as reliable as you make it, too. Hitching all of Ford-Lincoln to luxury halo cars is a mistake.