Ford set to scale Everest

[R-Design]

Originally Posted by 29 December 2011
By RON HAMMERTON

Ranger-based SUV wagon named as Everest in Ford Australia test web page
Mountain climber: The new-generation Ford Everest as seen in a rendering published by Car and Driver Brazil.

FORD Australia has provided the best hint yet that it will opt for the international nameplate Everest for its locally developed, Thai-built, Ranger-based SUV that is likely to break cover in 2012.

The name and possible model line-up was revealed in what might have been an accidental glimpse of web development for its future model on Ford’s Australian consumer website.

Spotted by GoAuto, the cached snippet shows an all-diesel range with 4x4 and 4x2 variants and two specification levels, LTD and XLT, under the Everest banner.

The LTD was listed as a 4x4 automatic, while the XLT was shown as manual with 4x2 and 4x4 choices.

The diesel engine to be used on all models was shown as 3.0 TDCI – presumably the same 115kW/380Nm four-cylinder diesel that powers the all-new Ranger that hit Australian showrooms in September.

No pictures, performance figures or features were shown.

Ford Australia today cautioned that the name might have simply been used randomly by web developers building a new section of web site, and that not too much should be read into it.

Ford Australia has never officially confirmed the existence of the five-door SUV, to be built on the same T6 platform as the Ranger ute that was also developed for global markets by Victorian-based Ford Australia engineers and designers in league with counterparts from Mazda who used the platform for their own new-generation ute, the BT-50.

But as GoAuto exclusively reported in July 2010, the SUV program followed the Ranger into development at the Broadmeadows design and engineering centre, with American Ford engineer Todd Hoevener transferring to Australia to head up the project after signing off on the latest Ford Explorer.

Left: The current Ford Everest. Below: The Ford Ranger.

The SUV is expected to be manufactured in Thailand, and possibly known alternatively as the Endeavour, as the current model is known in India, and Everest, as it is known in other countries, including Brazil.

The first two generations of Everest/Endeavour were built on Mazda B Series and BT-50 platforms, but never sold on in Australia.

A direct competitor for other rugged ladder-chassis SUV wagons such as the Nissan Pathfinder, Mitsubishi Challenger, Toyota Fortuner and Isuzu MU-7, the Everest is likely to become more widely available under the Blue Oval’s One Ford global model policy, which is about to spawn another new model, the Indian-built, Fiesta-based EcoSport mini SUV to be revealed at the New Delhi motor show next week.

While the EcoSport has been all-but confirmed for Australia, where it will slot into the range below the European-built, Focus-based Kuga compact SUV that goes on sale in March 2012, a Ford Australia spokesperson reportedly said in 2010 that the company had no plans to sell Everest in local showrooms.

The evidence on the Ford web site would appear to suggest otherwise, and Ford’s hand might have been forced by rivals who are lining up to dive into the tough wagon market.

In particular, Holden has confirmed it will import the all-new Colorado 7 – a Brazilian-developed seven-seat SUV spun off the Colorado ute architecture.

Also known as the Chevrolet Trailblazer, the Colorado 7 was revealed in concept form at the recent Dubai motor show.

Armed with a 132kW/470Nm 2.8-litre Duramax diesel engine in its show guise, the Colorado 7/Trailblazer is set to go into production in the second half of 2012 on the same Thai assembly line as the upcoming Colorado ute that is due to arrive in Australia late in the second quarter of 2012.

The next-gen Isuzu MU-7 – to be built on a platform shared with the new Colorado but with different powertrains – is also a contender for Australia.

A certainty is Nissan’s all-new Pathfinder that will be revealed at the 2012 Detroit motor in January, although ironically that vehicle is set to dispense with the truck-style body-on-frame Navara chassis and move to a lighter car-like platform.

Newcomer to the ute scene, Volkswagen, is also said to be considering an SUV spin-off of its Argentine-made Amarok.

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257975000F9ED3

[Kryton]

At first i thought the PR dept had actually got off their butts and decided to do something epic like drive a new Ford product up a mountain.
Guess not.

[Rastus]

Someone better tell these journo's that the 3.0L Diesel is no more, and now there's the 2.2 & 3.2 Diesels! Unless they were looking at was the old overseas Everest specs?
Cynical me says they just didn't want it shown that the new Ranger has 147kw/470nm Vs the obligatory mention of the Holden future product's 132kW/470Nm
Then again, Mellor aren't normally like that.

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by Rastus

Someone better tell these journo's that the 3.0L Diesel is no more, and now there's the 2.2 & 3.2 Diesels! Unless they were looking at was the old overseas Everest specs?
Cynical me says they just didn't want it shown that the new Ranger has 147kw/470nm Vs the obligatory mention of the Holden future product's 132kW/470Nm
Then again, Mellor aren't normally like that.

Spot on. They're pretty lazy sometimes.

[jpd80]

The diesel engine to be used on all models was shown as 3.0 TDCI – presumably the same 115kW/380Nm four-cylinder diesel that powers the all-new Ranger that hit Australian showrooms in September.

Except that Ranger doesn't use a 3.0 Diesel anymore , it now comes with the 2.2 I-4 and 3.2 I-5 diesels

[AWD Chaser]

TM 1425458
FORD EVEREST
Lodged 17th May 2011

TM 1399925
EVEREST
Lodged 15th Dec 2010

[raptorv8]

The SUV version of the ranger/courier has always been called Everest

[jpd80]

Pity they didn't use the name "Explorer",
I bet that would have curled a few lips on both sides of the Pacific....

[nstg8a]

has to be bad news for territory... and falcon.

[Road_Warrior]

Hells to the yes. Bring it.

Originally Posted by nstg8a

has to be bad news for territory... and falcon.

Why? It's Ford Motor Company, not Falcon Motor Company. This is an extra product that will bring consumers in the doors instead of to Toyota for a Prado or Nissan for a Pathfinder. Falcon and Territory already have their niche in the marketplace and I think this will complement the Territory quite nicely in Ford's SUV lineup:

Ecosport (sub-compact SUV)
Kuga (compact SUV)
Territory (mid-large SUV and shopping trolley for families)
Everest (hardcore 4x4)

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Hells to the yes. Bring it.



Why? It's Ford Motor Company, not Falcon Motor Company. This is an extra product that will bring consumers in the doors instead of to Toyota for a Prado or Nissan for a Pathfinder. Falcon and Territory already have their niche in the marketplace and I think this will complement the Territory quite nicely in Ford's SUV lineup:

Ecosport (sub-compact SUV)
Kuga (compact SUV)
Territory (mid-large SUV and shopping trolley for families)
Everest (hardcore 4x4)

i dunno, i think its a little too close to territory, i agree its the more 'hardcore' suv, but given the choice i wonder how many would choose a terri over the everest?

i do see what your saying, and i hope your right.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

i dunno, i think its a little too close to territory, i agree its the more 'hardcore' suv, but given the choice i wonder how many would choose a terri over the everest?

i do see what your saying, and i hope your right.

Think less Dualis/Xtrail and more Kluger/Prado and it makes more sense.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

has to be bad news for territory... and falcon.

Yet Toyota is able to sell Prado and Kluger alongside each other,
I see no problem with Ford having an off roader and a soft roader.

Actually, the fuller Ford's showroom gets, the more monthly sales they'll get,
and those sales will be less dependent on Falcon and Territory lifting the numbers...
That has to be a good thing in that Ford can keep proft margins up on the locals.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Yet Toyota is able to sell Prado and Kluger alongside each other,
I see no problem with Ford having an off roader and a soft roader.

i hope you guys are right.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

i hope you guys are right.

Hope has nothing to do with it, the market has been waiting for
Ford to fill some huge gaps, Everest is one of them..

Ford is only like 2,500/mth behind Holden and with all the new products coming,
it's entirely possible that Ford's monthly sales will be neck and neck with them,
that has to be good for business..

[Buntz]

Ranger uses a 3.2L 5 cylinder diesel. 150kw/470nm. Why can't articles get proper facts?

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by raptorv8

The SUV version of the ranger/courier has always been called Everest

Its called Endevour in some countries.

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Its called Endevour in some countries.

They also had the Raider some years ago that was the same sort of product.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

They also had the Raider some years ago that was the same sort of product.

True, based on Ford Courier/Mazda Bravo I think.

But it was pretty agricultural, as all commercial vehicles and their offspring were back then.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

Ranger uses a 3.2L 5 cylinder diesel. 150kw/470nm. Why can't articles get proper facts?

Calling an article out for getting facts wrong when you got the power output wrong yourself. Its 147kw.

[Ben73]

Since it's based of teh ranger I do hope they make it a proper offroader.
To many of the new offroaders are going too soft.

[Road_Warrior]

The objective of this whole exercise is pursuing Toyota and stealing market share from them - because they have plenty to steal :-)

Forget Holden, we get too bogged down with the whole Ford v Holden thing and it does Ford no favours. Toyotas Kluger/Prado tag team have been pounding the Territory for ages, now we've got a chance at some payback courtesy of Terri's cousin that was born here but raised overseas :-)

[Rodge]

Ranger just won the most coveted vehicle of the year award in N.Z. the Autocar "Car" of the Year. They are usually very discerning so it must be a good peice of kit.