Ford also says the new Escapes are 50 percent quieter on the highway. We'll let you know once we've had a chance to drive them. New cosmetics lend a tougher "big rig look" outside and a more upscale air inside. Some cloth interior trim is now made from recycled "post industrial materials," a claimed industry first that saves water, electricity, and CO2 emissions compared to growing virgin fibers. With over a million Escapes sold since the model's 2001 introduction, the new versions loom large in Ford's efforts to get back in the black by 2009.

Ford also reinforced its green credentials by showing the "exploreR" concept SUV. This is basically a normal Explorer equipped with a prototype hydrogen fuel cell that powers an all-wheel electric drive with a motor at each axle. An onboard hydrogen storage tank gives a claimed 350-mile range, the longest of any fuel-cell vehicle built so far, says Ford. The tank mounts amidships where the transfer case and driveshaft would normally be, so cargo capacity and six-passenger seating are unaffected.

The concept was developed under a Department of Energy program to promote hydrogen-fuel infrastructure. Ford says it's already traveled 17,000 miles, including 1556 nonstop miles in 24 hours, another claimed record for a fuel-cell vehicle.

2007 Ford Escape and Escape Hybrid