The all-new 2013 Ford Escape is going to debut this month in LA and while Ford has confirmed the lineup of four-cylinder engines that will power the new Escape, we have yet to see what it will look like. Well we still have to wait a bit longer, but Ford has announced that the 2013 Escape will get a segment-first hands-free liftgate that opens and closes with a simple kicking motion under the rear bumper.
The new hands-free power liftgate does away with the need for a key.
“The hands-free power liftgate is yet another innovative Ford technology that makes customers’ lives easier,” said Jason Sprawka, Escape brand manager. “New Escape owners will be able to load their vehicle without ever having to set packages or gear down.”
The hands-free liftgate builds upon systems that allow drivers to open and start their vehicles without actually ever taking the key out of their pockets. The hands-free liftgate uses two sensors in the rear bumper to detect a person’s shin and kicking motion. The system safeguards against accidental opening by being programmed to open with leg motions – not when an animal runs under the car or when the vehicle hits a bump on the road.
The all-new Escape goes on sale in the spring. It will be offered with a choice of two EcoBoost engines and a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder.
