FORD will quickly take the wraps off its next-gen Everest. The big SUV, primarily based on the brand new Ranger, will likely be revealed early in 2022 and will arrive in Australia just a few months thereafter.
Ford has launched pictures of (what will likely be) the third-generation Everest because it enters the ultimate testing part of Ford’s international testing program. The finer particulars of the brand new mannequin’s exterior execution, which was penned by Lee Imrie, exterior designer at Ford Australia, stays hidden underneath a cloak of digitised camouflage that includes “intelligent reflective strips”.
What is clear, nonetheless, is that the brand new Everest shares the brand new Ranger’s outstanding new grille (with a strikethrough crossbar) and C-clamp headlight remedy, its wheel arches appear extra pronounced, the rear three-quarter lights seem bigger and, lastly, the tailgate options wraparound LED tail-light clusters (with a boomerang-shaped lighting signature) which appear to be related by what’s both a light-weight bar or a beauty trim strip.
“We created a creative sample that hints at journey,” Mr Imrie mentioned.
“The camouflage consists of a sequence of rectangles tilted on a 45-degree angle that had been impressed by mountain peaks.
“We made certain the automobile’s design stays hidden by designing the camouflage items in isolation. This implies when it’s utilized to the automobile, it’s a totally random sample,” he added.
Though the outgoing Everest was the third best-selling massive SUV underneath $70k in Australia in November 2019 (based on VFACTS), it has historically been outsold by the (additionally new) Isuzu MU-X, though by way of year-to-date gross sales numbers it was at the least forward of its fellow ute-based rivals – the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, LDV D90 and Toyota Fortuner.
The brand new mannequin’s flagship is more likely to be powered by the Ranger’s new 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine, which produces peak outputs of about 186kW/597Nm, whereas extra reasonably priced derivatives will characteristic Ford’s YN2S-series 157kW/500Nm twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel.
All engines will likely be paired with a 10-speed automated transmission.
It’s possible that the impartial front- and stable rear-axle (with Watt’s linkage) suspension will likely be retained; AWD variations will once more supply Terrain Administration off-road drive modes.
Inside, the brand new Everest’s cabin will once more characteristic a roomy seven-seat configuration, however its presentation will likely be extra upmarket, due to the fitment of a totally digital instrument panel, and a ten.1- or 12.0-inch SYNC4-equipped touchscreen infotainment system (which operates most of the features that had been selectable through laborious buttons the on outgoing mannequin’s fascia).
The setup additionally incorporates cell web connectivity and a brand new off-road show mode that gives driveline, steering angle, pitch and roll angles and different information. A 360-degree digital camera and the power to start out, examine varied features of-, in addition to lock/unlock the automobile through the FordPass Join cell app will most likely be carried over from the brand new Ranger.
Ford Australia plans to launch the brand new Ranger in direction of the center of 2022, by which level the brand new Everest would have been totally revealed. It’s doubtless the seven-seater will arrive right here quickly after its ute sibling; specification and worth information will likely be revealed nearer to the launch date.
