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WE all
saw it at the recent Philippine International Motor Show
(PIMS), and it seemed like a very exciting new product
for Ford Group Philippines. And since it was simply
presented at the PIMS, nobody actually got to drive the
new Ford Escape at all.
So, true
to form, Ford came out with an exciting package and
hauled us off to Mabini, Batangas, for a weekend and
gave us the VIP treatment to test the new Escape.
We left
Manila on a Friday morning, got to Solana Beach Resort
in Mabini and were greeted with fanfare and a bunch of
lovely ladies, Rovilson and Jeff of The Amazing Race
fame, and Ford Philippines president Rick Baker.
Now,
allow me to say this, but it was the first time I had
seen Rick in shorts and beach shirt, all laid-back,
throwing away his corporate tie and attitude for the
term of the event. He was so cool.
Back to
the event, we were all awed by the driving experience of
the new Escape as we tried it all out on the winding
roads beside the beach of Mabini, Batangas, one town off
the more popular Anilao.
Getting
there, we had to complete a series of events. As if we
needed an incentive to do those activities, Ford decided
to give us gifts for completing all of them. We
snorkeled and intro-dived, got henna-tattooed and
learned the art of the poi dance (you know, the one
wherein flaming poi balls are whirled around on ropes or
cables), kayaked and paddled-boated, mixed our drinks
and sang karaoke.
But this
was not the true prize event. The real prize event was a
team competition that looked much like the popular
series The Amazing Race. We were broken down into four
teams, all the colors of the new Ford, and were given
four beautiful babes to lead us. We got Cheska Litton
while the other was Tisha Silang.
We had
to kayak to our team, get a clue, snorkel back into the
sea to get a set of stones, get a clue, massage a
teammate with the stones and get a clue, drink the juice
we mixed and get a clue, try the poi lessons and get a
clue, and the clincher: run up a flight of stairs 256
steps high, look for a key on the way and then drive off
with our whole team in the new Escape. Our team,
composed of Cheska Litton, Eggay Quesada, Alfred Mendoza
and myself, ended up last. Why, because after the first
four flights of stairs, I could not move my legs anymore
(some athlete…).
Well,
suffice it to say that the Tisoy won the round. Kevin
Limjoco, James Deakin, Dominique Uy and Jinno Rufino got
first prize, since they were the fittest, and all the
marshals were paying attention to them and none of us
anyways.
But what
was really amazing was the new Escape, with its
distinctive new front design that has a wraparound
headlamp, a redesigned rear bumper with diffuser shape
with rear reflector lamps embedded into it (though that
would be the first casualty in case of a fender bender)
and a skid plate-inspired spoiler design, plus
wraparound LED tail lamps.
It also
has wheel well moldings, bee-sting antennae, side-mirror
turn indicator, air vents on the front fender, front fog
lamps, seats that fold flat in any combination and dual
SRS air bags. The Escape is powered by a Duratec
2.3-liter engine and is going to be released at an
unusual prize of P999,000.
Be that
as it may, we have yet to comprehensively test the new
Ford Escape. But at this point, it seems to be a good
bargain and the real deal. |
