As part of Ford's strategy to give North American customers an EV option across their range, it seems that the Escape Hybrid will be making room for the C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi Plug-in Hybrid in 2013. According to recent reports, we'll see three new 4-cylinder engines for the brand-new 2013 Escape including the 175hp 1.6-liter EcoBoost and the 2.5-liter Ti-VCT. Set to be unveiled at the LA Auto Show, the redesigned Escape is will deliver improved highway fuel-economy.

However,the hybrid option will be dropped entirely. Instead, the upcoming C-Max Hybrid will be used to fill in the void. For a number of years, the Escape hybrid has been a popular seller, but now a new approach is being taken. According to Derrick Kuzak, VP of Global Product Development, "Ford is meeting people's needs by offering a family of fuel-efficient vehicles - from hybrids to electrics to traditional gasoline-powered cars - packed with class-leading technology, giving customers both exciting and greener driving choices. Customers are prioritizing fuel economy above every other trait when they make most vehicle purchases."

Although the new C-Max will boast 25 percent better fuel-efficiency than the popular Escape Hybrid on its way out the door, whether it will be accepted as a viable replacement remains to be seen. The C-Max Hybrid and the C-Max Energi EV will be competing directly against the Toyota Prius V when it arrives in U.S. dealerships next year.