Dave Schoch, president, Ford Asia Pacific reckons, “The new Ford Everest is an exceptionally versatile vehicle, equally prepared for the everyday commute as it is for the most extreme off-road terrain.”
Ford mentiones rugged quite a few times in their press release and indeed, compared to the previous generation which had the uncanny ability to resemble an equivalent seven-seater from China, this all-new model certainly pulls off the Built Tough bravado we’ve come to expect from Ford, but have only really seen in the US markets.
With a body-on-frame design, assuring the torsional strength required for challenging terrains. Together with an intelligent four-wheel drive system (gives drivers four preset settings – Normal, Snow/Gravel/Grass, Sand and Rock– that alter the vehicle’s throttle response, transmission, intelligent four-wheel drive system and traction control to confidently), an active transfer case with Torque on Demand, Terrain Management System, and claimed best-in-class ground clearance of 225 mm and water-wading capability of 800 mm, the Ford Everest should dispatch your favourite off-road route with ease.
The latest generation of Ford’s in-car connectivity solution, SYNC 2, lets drivers use natural voice commands to control the car’s entertainment system, climate controls and connected mobile devices more easily than ever before. SYNC 2 also boasts an 8-inch touchscreen with color-coded corners for easy menu navigation.
A whole host of driver aids not seen on a SUV wearing the blue oval make their appearance in the new Everest, including Curve Control, designed to help drivers maintain control when approaching turns too quickly, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Aid, two technologies that help prevent drivers from unintentionally drifting out of a lane; and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert, which informs drivers when there is a vehicle in their blind spot while driving or when preparing to reverse out of parking spots.
Powering the new Everest to new heights three petrol and three diesel engines, mated to either six-speed automatic or manual transmissions. There’s no final word on exactly which derivatives we’ll get here but expect at least one top of the range auto diesel with cheaper alternatives getting the manual shifter.
