It has been six months since photos of the Ford Equator for the Chinese market first emerged and finally, the SUV is gearing up for its local launch later this month. The Ford Equator is being produced through the Jiangling-Ford joint venture and will compete against the likes of the Jeep Grand Commander and Toyota Highlander. It measures 4,905 mm long, 1,930 mm wide, and 1,755 mm high and has a wheelbase of 2,865 mm.
It will be offered with a single engine,
namely a 2.0-liter EcoBoost petrol four that pumps out 221 hp. This engine can
be coupled to either a five-speed manual transmission or a dual-clutch
six-speed, according to Car News China, and tboth rear- and all-wheel drive
configurations will be available.
Like other Chinese-only models from
Jiangling-Ford, the Equator looks quite different from existing Ford SUV models
sold in other markets. For example, it sports split headlights not dissimilar
to those popularized by Hyundai. As such, the top light unit houses the LED
daytime running lights while the secondary unit, located above the front air
intakes, houses the headlamps. The Equator also adopts a large grille with
black and chrome elements.
The cabin appears plush and includes a
pair of 12.3-inch screens used for the digital instrument cluster and
infotainment system. The Equator also has wooden accents and a rotary gear
selector. It also includes Ford’s Co-Pilot360 system and is sold exclusively as
a six-seater.
