Rep Power: 497

Ford's redesigned 2013 Escape, unveiled at the Los Angeles auto show, carries more risk than might be apparent. That's because the current Escape remains the best-selling compact SUV in North America and it's selling better than ever in its final year of production.

By appearance, the 2013 Escape is a fairly radical departure from the stout, boxy, pseudo-truck we've known for years. The new one bears a strong family resemblance to the new Focus, which shares Ford's global C platform, and its front end creates almost a cow-plow effect to meet pending worldwide pedestrian-protection standards. The new Escape is about three inches longer and slightly wider than the current one, on a longer wheelbase with a lower roof height.

A V6-powered Escape will be history come 2013, though it might not matter much. The line-topping engine will be Ford's EcoBoost 2.0 turbo four, tuned to at least 237 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque (compared with 240 hp and 223 lb-ft for the current 3.0-liter V6). Ford says the new model will maintain its class-leading 3,500-pound towing capacity.

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