While foreign automakers have dominated the hybrid market in the past, Ford is making its move to rise to the top in this new high-demand arena. With its hydraulic F-150 on the way and the newly re-engineered Escape, this company could very well be on the right track to bring American ingenuity to the forefront of this automotive field.

Although not on the market as of yet, the hydraulic F-150 is anticipated to be some 300 percent more efficient than the darling of hybrid drivers ' the Toyota Prius.  The hydraulic full-sized truck is expected to garner about 60 miles per gallon in the city. This is a whopping 400 percent increase over fuel efficiency from the standard F-150 presently on the market.

The F-150 would be a slightly different type of hybrid than others on the market.  Standard hybrids use gasoline to charge batteries that can move vehicles at low speeds. Hydraulics operate in the same manner, but do not rely on batteries. Instead, they house excess energy within hydraulic cylinders. These are said to be three times more efficient than the nickel metal hydride batteries presently in use.

The hydraulic is not the only hybrid Ford has up its sleeve. Already on the market is the redesigned Escape that boasts features that have the automotive world abuzz. This hybrid does operate using batteries, but it shows that full-sized and environmentally friendly can go hand in hand. Garnering up to 36 miles per gallon, this SUV isn't quite as efficient as smaller hybrids, but it does pack in a lot of bang for the buck. Some of the features that make the Escape stand out include:

• Seating ' The Escape hybrid is designed to comfortably seat five and still have the back cargo area that is a favorite of larger families.
• Drive options ' The new Escape features both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive options.  Four-wheel drive buyers do lose a bit on the fuel efficiency, but not much.
• Large center console ' The Escape was designed with functionality in mind. To this end, the center console is big enough to hold an entire laptop computer. It is also fully removable when extra storage capacity is required.
• Handling ' The hybrid Escape was created to look and handle just like any other SUV. Although it is on the small size compared to some SUVs, it can handle hauling and difficult terrain quite well.
• Electrical uses ' The electric-power functioning of the Escape motor kicks in at different times during operation. The Escape not only relies on the electric power for low-speed driving, it also lends a boost during high-speed acceleration.
• Transmission ' The new Escape does not have a typical transmission. Instead it relies on a continuously variable transmission that is electronically controlled. This computer-backed function lends itself to a 30-percent increase in fuel efficiency over normal transmissions.

Ford is changing the way hybrids look and feel. By breaking out of the box, this American company is showing the environmentally conscious drivers can still enjoy enough roominess to get jobs done without wasting gas in the process.

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