Bigger = better?
To better suit Chinese tastes, lots of automakers make styling and hardware changes to their cars when they decide to bring them from North America or Europe to the People’s Republic. The most obvious example is the conversion to a long wheelbase, which for many years used it to be a sedan-only affair, but it has recently expanded to SUVs as well.
Speaking of SUVs, the third generation of the Ford Escape / Kuga that debuted earlier this week has been officially introduced in China. It looks almost the same as the international version, but we did notice a couple of changes at the front fascia. The most obvious is the glitzy grille, which not only has a different pattern, but it has also been enlarged and it now meets the bottom corner of the headlights. The grille itself might not be that much bigger, but its borders are visibly thicker to create what Ford refers to as an “iconic front grille” that “provides a sleek and majestic look.” We’ll let you be the judge of that.
The grille’s pattern we mentioned above has an actual name, Nebula Shield, featuring a hexagonal mesh with chrome and black accents that make the CN-spec Escape stand out from its American and European siblings. The grille now holds the Blue Oval badge, which on the other versions of the compact crossover is positioned above the grille. Also slightly different are the housings for the fog lights, but why would you care about that anyway?
At a first glance, the only difference we’re noticing at the back – and it’s a pretty important one –is the placement of the tailgate’s handle. It sticks out like a sore thumb on the U.S.- and Euro-spec models whereas on the Chinese version is (presumably) nicely hidden above the license plate, near the rearview camera.
The overhauled Escape is part of Ford China’s “330” product plan, which refers to 30 new Ford and Lincoln models set to be launched over the next three years. To keep up with the times, more than 10 of them will be electrified and Ford says it will tailor the vehicles to Chinese customers.
Attached below is a full gallery of all three versions – American and Chinese Escape, European Kuga.
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