Bigger = better?
Many automakers make hardware and styling changes to their cars to better fit Chinese tastes when they bring them from North America to China. One obvious example is the conversion of a long wheelbase. This was for many years a sedan-only affair. But it has now expanded to include SUVs.
The third generation of the Ford Escape / Kuga, which debuted earlier in the week, has been officially introduced to China. Although it looks nearly identical to the international version, we noticed a few changes in the front fascia. The most noticeable is the extravagant grille. It has a new pattern and has been extended to meet the corner of the headlights. Although the grille is not much larger, its borders are visible thicker to create what Ford calls an “iconic front Grille” that “provides elegant and majestic looks.”
The grille’s design, which we have already mentioned, is actually called Nebula Shield. It features a hexagonal mesh with black accents and chrome that makes the CN-spec Escape different from its European and American counterparts. The Blue Oval badge is now on the grille. It can be found above the grille in other compact crossover models. The housings for fog lights are slightly different, but that’s not what matters.Chinese modeEuropean mode
The only thing we notice at the rear – and it is a very important one -is where the handle of the tailgate is located. On the U.S. and Euro-spec models, it sticks out like a sore thumb while on the Chinese model, it is nicely hidden near the rearview camera.
Ford China’s “330” product plan includes the overhauled Escape. This refers to 30 new Ford models and Lincoln models that will be introduced over the next three-years. Ford claims that more than 10 will be electrified to keep pace with modern times and will adapt the vehicles for Chinese customers.