Yup, looks like Ford has seen the light. Instead of building hybrids that do something now, build a whole bunch of cars that can burn E85 and pat themselves on the back for their efforts. It's the same sort of successfuly thinking that GM is using so it's gotta be good. The oil companies are of course hurting from having to sell gasoline, so will be rushing to install E85 fueling capabilities at their gas stations so Ford doesn't have to worry about being hardly any E85 being available.

Now, sarcasm aside, I think E85 is a great idea and getting more E85 "capable" cars on the road might help get E85 infrastructure rolling, but when you have cars that can just as easily fuel up on gas and if E85 doesn't get rolling you have accomplished nothing. My gut feel says E85 will slowly roll out over the next 5 to 15 yrs. In the mean time, another 10 yrs of hybrid development will make them even more efficient and cost effective, + probably also include E85. Sounds like a firm committment by Ford to stay in the shadows.

Two climate control systems, one inside and the other at the tailpipe.

2007 Camry Hybrid (in service June 2006)
FE: 6.67L/100km or 35.3 mpg (6.11L/100km or 38.5 mpg in summer)