NEW YORK, APRIL 7, 2004 - After being driven non-stop for 37 hours as part of an extreme driving test throughout Manhattan, taking on traffic congestion, morning and evening rush hours, the all-new 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid traveled an amazing 576 miles on a single tank of gas during this epic drive. The Escape Hybrid, the world's first hybrid sport utility vehicle, averaged more than 38 miles per gallon.

Ford recently invited media and celebrities to drive the Escape Hybrid throughout Manhattan to determine how far it could go on one tank of gas through New York City's treacherous traffic. After 37 non-stop hours of driving, the Escape Hybrid traveled an astonishing 576 miles on 15 gallons of fuel with near zero emissions. "We proved that the Escape Hybrid will perform exceptionally well in the worst traffic imaginable with clean efficiency," said Martin Collins, general marketing manager, Ford Division. "As the most fuel efficient and cleanest SUV, we believe the Escape Hybrid complements the attitudes and values of LOHAS participants."

Ford enlisted the help of local New Yorkers who were asked to help identify five of the most congested, slowest moving roads leading into the city during morning rush hour traffic. More than 1,000 people voted online at a specially designated Web site. Tuesday morning, five Escape Hybrids put the toughest routes to the test.

And the winner was: Route 78 into the Holland Tunnel from Jersey City. It proved to be the absolute worst place to be during rush hour in the New York metro area, taking 40 minutes to drive 9.6 miles. But the real victor was the Escape Hybrid. Even driving under such demanding traffic conditions, the vehicle achieved double the fuel economy numbers of a conventional SUV.

The results were impressive, but not so surprising, according to Feuell who says that unlike other conventional vehicles, the Escape Hybrid performs best in stop-and-go traffic.

"When the driver is operating at lower speeds, such as 25 miles per hour or less, the gas engine actually shuts off, and the vehicle can propel itself in battery mode only," she said. "So, not only are you getting amazing fuel economy, but the regenerative braking system also works to recharge the battery while you're driving.

While putting the five finalist routes to the test, the Escape Hybrid had an average fuel economy of 36.4 miles per gallon and gave off virtually zero emissions. The miles per gallon ranged from 31.5 to 42.7 on the five vehicles. A typical SUV averages 16.5 miles per gallon in city driving and can't match the partial zero emissions level of the Escape Hybrid.

The Hybrid inched past Exit 25—Utopia Parkway!—and the race was on. 7:51 a.m. A display on the dash indicated that the car was averaging 42.6 miles per gallon. The speed was about five miles per hour.The windows were beginning to fog up, owing to the fact that Kroswek, to goose the mileage, had decided to forgo air-conditioning or heat. Feuell decided to find out how one of her colleagues was doing, in terms of fuel-economy optimization. On her cell phone she called Sheri Shapiro, who was at that moment creeping along the Connecticut Turnpike. “What are you guys running?” Feuell said. The readout on the dash went from 59.8 to “max.” “We’re on max!” Feuell said. Shapiro was at 34.8.