Everest offers the best of 3 worlds
Ford's latest offering is a large SUV and driving it will, for most people, take some getting used to. But, you will love it and the confidence it exudes will empower you to explore your sense of adventure.
“When we started imagining the next-gen Everest, we started not at the beginning but at the end: with our customers,” said Ian Foston, chief platform engineer for Everest. “They’re people who like adventure, recreation and being able to go out with family and friends. Whether they’re conquering sand, rocks or city life, these customers appreciate the utility, capability and spaciousness of an SUV.”
The Everest will be available in three grades: Sport, Titanium+ and a new flagship grade, Platinum.
Rugged outside, a sanctuary within
This new Everest offers a wider track and longer wheelbase. The front end also has a mix of horizontal and vertical elements, which add to the stable appearance.
“One of the first things you’ll notice when you get into a new Everest is how quiet it is,” Wolff said. “We’ve all been in vehicles with multiple rows of seats, where you have to twist your head around and almost shout to be heard by passengers in the second or third rows. That’s an issue we wanted to solve for Everest, so the interior would be a quiet place in which you can easily talk to your family or friends and enjoy the journey together.”
Everest’s sense of spaciousness is amplified by the full-width coast-to-coast instrument panel and centre console with dual cupholder recesses, plus dash-mounted “pop out” cupholders for front-seat occupants. High-series models are equipped with integrated wireless charging, a svelte new leather trimmed e-Shifterii and an electric parking brake.
Depending on the variant, heated and ventilated 10-way power adjustable memory function seats are available for the driver and eight-way for the passenger. Heated seats are also available for the second row, depending on the variant.
To stop items falling out of the back when the tailgate is lifted, Wolff’s team created a small lip, affectionately known as the “apple catcher” valley, at the rear of the cargo area. The team also created an underfloor storage space that helps keep the rear of the Everest organised.
Customer-focused technology
Depending on trim level, Everest comes with 8- or 12.4-inch digital instrument panels that replace the traditional analogue clusters. Everest also features large, high-resolution portrait 10.1- or 12-inch touchscreens.
Next-gen Everest is loaded with Ford’s latest SYNC 4Aiii system, which comes customer-ready with its voice-activated communications, entertainment and information systems.
The portrait-orientated screen also is linked to a 360-degree camera with split-view display to make parking a breeze in tight urban spaces or to assist when negotiating particularly tricky terrain while out exploring. In addition, customers can control Everest’s new exterior zone lighting system via the touchscreen or the FordPass.
New and proven engine line-up
Everest customers told Ford that they wanted more power and torque for towing, carrying heavy loads and off-roading, so the team selected Ford’s proven 3.0L turbodiesel V6 engine and refined it for the Everest. It is one of three turbodiesel engine options available at launch, depending on the market.
“Regardless of engine, our customers can be confident that they have the power and torque they need whether they’re towing, heading off-road, or just heading off on a family adventure,” Maharaj said.
Engineered for adventure
Want to do some exploring? Next-gen Everest is ready to go, with a choice of two four-wheel drive systems, underbody protection and off-road selectable drive modes plus rear locking differential, two functional tow hooks upfront, and upfitter switches for accessories.
The two 4WD systems available are: A two-speed electronic shift-on-the-fly transfer case, also known as a part-time 4WD system; and an advanced, permanent four-wheel drive system that uses an electronically controlled on-demand two-speed electromechanical transfer case with selectable drive modes.
Depending on the market, Everest also is available with two-wheel drive.
Next-gen Ford Everest has a water wading ability up to 800mm and a maximum braked trailer towing capability of up to 3 500kg (braked), while space in the engine bay allows for a second battery to power aftermarket accessories.
New to Everest is Ford’s adaptive cruise control system, available in three versions depending on market and model.
To view the global reveal video of the next-gen Everest, visit Ford South Africa’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/8bz6q8JnY3M
Source: QuickPic
