The Ford Escape – an aging vehicle that looks pretty much like the model that first debuted in 2000 – has quietly become one of the biggest success stories at Ford Motor Co.

Most of the 23 new models Ford plans to launch in China and India by 2015 will be smaller cars priced below $14,500 in China and $8,500 in India, said Joe Hinrichs, head of Ford’s Asia operations said today.