Just a point of clarification. There is no such thing as a V8 escape. You couldn't fit a production Ford V8 in an escape. The largest and most popular engine in the Escape is the V6.

There is a good chance that the hybrid Escape could eclipse V6 production if Ford could get enough batteries and CVTs.

If I were a cost cutter at Ford, I would phase out the I4 escape and move that production over to the hybrid.

It has been said:
Hybrid drivers come in 3 flavors, greenie, techie and cheapie. Pick any 2.
2005 Prius, Melinium Silver over gray, package 5 (AI)