Ford boosts safety of Escape SUV for 2010 model year

Beating Toyota and Honda at their own game is no easy thing, but Ford's done it with the Escape, taking top rankings in safety and fuel efficiency against the RAV-4 and CR-V. For 2010, Ford's taking steps to help expand that lead by adding five new safety features to the Escape.

Keeping teens from running rampant in borrowed family vehicles is handled by Ford's controversial new MyKey technology, which allows parents to set limits on how the car can be driven. Parking becomes a breeze for teens and adults alike with the Active Park Assist, which finds a parking spot, steers into it and parks for you - all you control is the brake and the gas pedal.

Coupled with Integrated Spotter Mirrors (blind spot mirrors) and an optional Rear View Camera System, visibility around the mid-size SUV will be greatly enhanced, allowing safer driving no matter who's behind the wheel. Add in Ford's SYNC with real-time traffic, directions and information and problems can be spotted in advance and avoided.

Those five systems leverage a handful of existing technologies to enhance the already 5-star safety of the Escape, and is an unusual application of new technology to a carryover model - the rest of the vehicle, including trim, interior, exterior and powertrain choices are all unchanged from the 2009 model year.

Safety features that carry forward include traction and roll stability control, a system of side curtain airbags for rollover protection, plus Ford's Personal Safety System and tire pressure monitoring.

Ford says "No" to Fiesta ST

With the new Fiesta proving to be a real success in every market around the world, you would have expected to see a hotter version on the streets. But no, Ford decided to delay its launch and if times don’t get better, we will never see a ST version based on the current generation Fiesta.

"Now is not the right time for a Fiesta ST. We may have a better opportunity to make the ST later on in the car’s life, when Ford’s direct-injection petrol engines are ready and the range would benefit more from the extra interest surrounding such a car. But not until 2012 at the earliest.

The factory modified ST version of the Fiesta was supposed to deliver 37 HP more than a regular version and give the small economy car a top speed of 130 mph.