Ford Escape Hybrid, Obama's school-run chariot

Some cars choose themselves. If you've got a million kids, some sort of van-based people carrier will have to do. If you're a Chelsea estate agent, only an Audi TT will suffice (preferably convertible). And if you're a US Presidential wannabe, surely a hybrid Ford SUV caters to every modern American voter? It's patriotic, green-sounding enough to anesthetise the environmentalists, and it's big. (Only Europeans are plain stupid enough to buy small cars.)

Obama's Escape was the first hybrid SUV to go on sale when it hit showrooms in 2004 and it utilises the same type of hybrid powertrain as the Toyota Prius. So similar was the Ford-developed system, in fact, that the American maker had to ask Toyota if the two could share patents. Toyota graciously agreed.

That means the Escape can run on pure electric power, petrol power or a combination of both. The 134bhp petrol engine is linked to a 94bhp electric motor which allows the SUV to achieve a 50 percent reduction in CO₂ over the standard model and around 43mpg - quite unremarkable by most standards, but previously unheard of for a massive yank tank. We'll have to wait and see whether Obama switches the State limousine to hybrid power, or indeed goes the whole hog and has the entire Presidential motorcade replaced with armoured electric Smart Cars. We hope so, purely to see what that would look like.

As an aside, what do you think the last Democratic President - international playboy and full-time lothario Bill Clinton - chose as personal transport? Something green too? Pah. Clinton rolled in a 1967 Ford Mustang convertible. Being green came a very definite second to the important presidential business of impressing the ladies. How times have changed. Hopefully.

Mark Nichol

Tuesday November 11