These days, the Ford Raptor line is all about tackling just about any off-road scenario without sacrificing comfort and performance. The Raptor line can be traced back decades, and one such model was the 2000 Ford Equator concept – which is a far cry from the modern Raptor, focused more on camping than sheer performance, but it helped The Blue Oval explore the “spirit of adventure.”
The 2000 Ford Equator was heavily inspired by off-road racers, and was touted as being “ready to take on the harshest elements” from whitewater rafting to snowboarding and rock climbing. It was based on the Ford F-150, borrowing the real-life pickup’s 128-inch wheelbase, while its width was more akin to the Ford Super Duty F-350 of the time. That setup granted ample interior room for passengers and a wide, aggressive stance for overlanding.
An off-road-racing-inspired independent suspension carried the 2000 Ford Equator, and included cutting-edge features like adjustable 32-inch coils and a custom machined steering linkage. Its bumper, fender wells, and lower trim panels were composed of Kevlar, warding off stone damage from tough off-road situations.
Inside, the 2000 Ford Equator cradled passengers with leather bucket seats. The rear seats could fold down, creating a six-by-five-foot cargo space. The instrument panel was geared toward a driver-preferred setup, featuring clamp-on gauges, which could be swapped out according to the driver’s desire. Overhead map lights, a visor-mounted GPS, high-volume console-mounted storage compartments, and removable flooring further emphasized its off-road capabilities, making navigation a snap.
“Equator screams adventure,” said J. Mays, Ford Motor Company vice president of Design at the time that the 2000 Ford Equator was released. “It can take on the most rugged outdoor challenge while carrying its passengers in maximum comfort.”
Essentially, the 2000 Ford Equator was a not-so-distant relative of the modern Ford Raptor line – which just celebrated its 15th anniversary this year.
Which could enhance audio based on where people are standing.
He was pretty excited about it, too.
The agency wants automakers to incorporate impaired driving prevention tech.
The Blue Oval is already using that tech in various ways.
A great way to protect the SUV's vital components when off-roading.
Things remain quite inflated, though inventory is turning.
View Comments
... looks like an old Nissan Pathfinder. Even back then, I wouldn't have
sought this model out for camping. It's more like an Explorer Sport Trac imo.
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It's still a great looking Model, The Equator Raptor. Let's go Ford, to bad Big Jim wasn't around back then or he would have loved the idea. It's still a good looking vehicle.