2005 Ford Equator Concept

With a sporting tone set by its racy exterior, it wouldn't be too much to expect a sporty interior, which is exactly what Ford

The interior of the Escape has been completely redone, split into two by the centre cabin divider. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

has delivered. The interior of the Escape has been completely redone, split into two by the centre cabin divider. Four deeply bolstered bucket seats look as if trimmed in expensive leather, however, they're lined in a new kind of luxury 'PC Vinyl' for extra durability and resistance to wear. The three-spoke sport steering wheel and centre console are new, the latter reworked completely to include what looks to be an intuitive navigation system and digital climate control. Accent trim pieces are finished in Chrome Shadow and Cobalt Blue for additional flair.

Given

The current Escape could use an interior update like the Equator's cabin. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

that the next Escape will most likely be based on a modified version of the global Ford P1 platform, which has been suggested to underpin the next Land Rover Freelander, Mazda Tribute and the upcoming Volvo XC50, it's unlikely that the styling and interior previewed on the Equator will be applied to production before 2008. Nevertheless, like the Ford Sport Trac concept, the Equator, no doubt, provides us with a good idea of where Ford would like to take its popular compact sport utility vehicle in the near future - and at first glance, that's a good thing.


Specifications:

Body Type: 5-door SUV
Layout: front engine, 4WD
Engine: 193-hp, 265 lb-ft of torque, 3.0L, 24-valve V6
Transmission: 6-spd auto
Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS
Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 4424 / 1780 / 1798 / 2620 mm (174.2 / 70.1 / 70.8 / 102.4 in.)
Acceleration (0 - 100 km/h): less than 7 seconds
Seating Capacity: 4 (2+2)
Wheels: 19-inch
Web Site: www.ford.ca