Both vehicles are already reaching dealers, although a plug-in hybrid Escape won’t arrive until 2020.

The company doesn’t have much choice when the EU and other governments will require sounds in the name of pedestrian safety. At the same time, it’s evident that Ford is using this as a marketing opportunity. The creation of a unique sound could make Ford vehicles recognizable by sound alone, which could be vital as Ford expands into pure electric cars and can’t count on a burbling engine to reel in buyers.