First of all, I’d like to apologize for the lateness in getting today’s post up on Cars for Girls.  I spent all weekend fighting the flu and while today was basically more of the same, I’m feeling just slightly better this evening.  Hopefully by mid-week I’ll be back to my old self, but until then, I’m stocked up on tissues, orange juice and lots of vitamins and flu meds.

Speaking of getting better, the 2010 Ford Escape and 2010 Escape Hybrid have added a few new safety features and driver-aid technologies in preparation for their rollout this summer.

New features include:

• MyKey (teen-safety technology – standard)
This feature allows owners to program a key that can limit the vehicle’s top speed and audio volume. MyKey also encourages safety-belt usage, provides early low-fuel warnings and can be programmed to sound chimes at 45, 55 and 65 miles per hour. This feature is standard on Escape models.

• Integrated Spotter Mirrors (standard)
Blind spot technology that consists of an outside rearview mirror designed with a secondary convex spotter in the top outer corner, which is aimed at the driver’s blind spot.

• Optional Rear View Camera System
This system uses an exterior camera embedded in the rear of the vehicle that sends images to a video display in the rearview mirror or the navigation system screen to help enhance visibility directly behind the vehicle when it is in reverse.

• Active Park Assist
The Active Park Assist uses an ultrasonic-based sensing system and Electric Power Assisted Steering to position the vehicle for parallel parking, calculate the optimal steering angle and steer the vehicle into a parking spot.

• SYNC
SYNC with Traffic, Directions and Information is voice-recognition software, GPS technology, Bluetooth-capability, hands-free access to personalized traffic reports, driving directions and information, including business listings, news, sports, and weather.

The new 2010 Ford Escape is a “Top Safety Pick” winner from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and received a 5-star government rating in crash tests. The Escape Hybrid was named one of the 2009 Best New Family Vehicles, by Kelley Blue Book.

Standard safety technologies will include AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, Safety Canopy, Personal Safety System, and Tire Pressure Monitoring System.

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