dad just bought a new escape with this engine. so far, he loves it, (only 24xx mi so far) to me, it sounds a little "diesel-y" lots of top end noise, probably loud injectors or something.
his has a build date of sometime last sept. and some time last fall, (i've not been able to pin down a date yet) they expanded production of this Engine to Cleveland, OH*, where Previously they had all come from Valencia, Spain.
and i have yet to have anyone give me a definitive answer on how to tell if it's a Spanish, or American motor. (not that it matters i'd just like to know.)
* alongside the EB3.5, and 3.7NA for RWD applications(NA 3.5, and FWD 3.7's Made Here In Lima, along with the New 2.7EB)