Ford Escape Hybrid "Truck of Year"

The world's first gas-electric hybrid sports utility vehicle won the North American International Auto Show's 2004 North American Truck of the Year.

Ford's first production hybrid vehicle was picked by about 50 American and Canadian automotive journalists.

Vehicles, such as the award-winning Ford Escape hybrid are judged on design, safety, handling, and innovations, plus driver satisfaction and value.

The North American International Auto Show is one of the auto industry's most important stages, and will be attended by almost 7,000 journalists from more than 60 countries.

The Escape hybrid, in addition to being the first gas-electric hybrid sports utility vehicle, is also America's first production hybrid automobile. Based on hybrid technology similar to the Toyota Prius hybrid car, the Escape hybrid was released late last summer.

Ford is also planning to create a Mercury Mariner SUV hybrid later this year.

Only Honda has multiple hybrid vehicles at this point in time. The Accord hybrid is already Honda's third hybrid.

This year, Toyota will be adding two additional hybrids. In April, the Lexus RX 400h Hybrid will be released, and the Toyota Highlander hybrid will follow a few months later.