Dearborn, Michigan – Ford has announced it will outfit the 2009 Ford Escape with the automaker’s newest six-speed automatic transmission, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel economy. The transmission will also be added to the 2009 Mercury Mariner, a “sister” vehicle to the Escape not sold in Canada, as well as the 2009 Mazda Tribute and two other vehicles not yet named.

The new 6F35 front-wheel drive transmission offers a four to six per cent improvement in fuel economy over conventional four- and five-speed automatics.

“With a greater gear span, the 6G35 allows the engine to operate at more optimum combinations of speed and load to meet certain driving conditions,” said Craig Renneker, chief engineer for new automatic transmissions. “The new transmission also enables the engine to run at lower speeds on the highway, which aids fuel economy.”

The transmission will be mated to a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, and a power-improved 3.0-litre V6 in the Escape. The engines will increase horsepower by 17 hp in the I4 and by 40 hp in the V6, while boosting fuel economy when mated to the new transmission. The new six-speed is manufactured at Ford’s facility in Sterling Heights, Michigan.