New Gen Everest wins Wheels COTY

[Bossxr8]

Just got word through that the new gen Everest has won this years Wheels COTY award. Great achievement.


Although in my eyes the award has been tarnished over the last decade and doesn't hold the same stature that it used too, with wins going to some baffling choices that appealed to no one, like the Honda CR-Z and BMW i3. Cars that next to no one bought.

But still a testament to the quality of work done here in Australia getting it to market, and beating some quality competition from around the world.

[DFB FGXR6]

Wow! Did not see that coming.

https://www.whichcar.com.au/events/c...UTFc%3D.S3fpgi

When was the last time won, would have to be the orginal SX Territory from 2004?

Great reward for those Australian engineers who developed this machine, well done.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Wow! Did not see that coming.

https://www.whichcar.com.au/events/c...UTFc%3D.S3fpgi

When was the last time won, would have to be the orginal SX Territory from 2004?

Great reward for those Australian engineers who developed this machine, well done.

Yep this was designed, engineered, developed by Australians.

Hats off to the team here that did this work.

[XR Martin]

Territory was the first SUV to win, and the Everest first 4x4.

[jpd80]

What impresses me most about this generation Everest is looking back at the evolution of this vehicle,
recognising what changes were needed to position Everest not only as a challenger to Prado but also
as a genuine alternative to what Toyota offers and trying to raise the bar on standards, quieter, more refined.

Ford is daring Toyota to fit a V6 diesel to Hilux and Prado……you don’t see that everyday

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Wow! Did not see that coming.

https://www.whichcar.com.au/events/c...UTFc%3D.S3fpgi

When was the last time won, would have to be the orginal SX Territory from 2004?

Great reward for those Australian engineers who developed this machine, well done.

I wouldn't have expected it to win, being a ladder chassis 4x4, but it does everything well and the reason they were impressed with it is because it moves the game forward so far in it's class. It genuinely makes it's competition look 20 years old. Innovation is one of the key criteria for WCOTY, and the Everest certainly adds so many things the competition don't have.

And yes, the Territory in 2004 was Fords last winner.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

I wouldn't have expected it to win, being a ladder chassis 4x4, but it does everything well and the reason they were impressed with it is because it moves the game forward so far in it's class. It genuinely makes it's competition look 20 years old. Innovation is one of the key criteria for WCOTY, and the Everest certainly adds so many things the competition don't have.

And yes, the Territory in 2004 was Fords last winner.

Mazda discontinued it's long running Mazda B series platform and got in bed with Ford for the PX Ranger back in the day, now they've found themselves with no LCV platform and no partnership with Ford so they've jumped in bed with Isuzu, makes you wonder why they made such a clanger of a call to part ways and jump on an inferior platform.

I can't believe I'm saying this because I'm anti-VAG but I'm looking forward to the VW Amarok with the 2.3L Ecoboost.

Do you think the work that the local engineering team did with the PX Ranger is what saved the local engineering team from being executed along with manufacturing?

As much as I'm not a fan of Thailand Specials it's Ford that continues to push the segment along while the rest do absolutely **** all and come along screaming and crying. The PX Ranger made them all look like potatoes back then and the new Ranger has done it again.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Mazda discontinued it's long running Mazda B series platform and got in bed with Ford for the PX Ranger back in the day, now they've found themselves with no LCV platform and no partnership with Ford so they've jumped in bed with Isuzu, makes you wonder why they made such a clanger of a call to part ways and jump on an inferior platform.

I can't believe I'm saying this because I'm anti-VAG but I'm looking forward to the VW Amarok with the 2.3L Ecoboost.

Do you think the work that the local engineering team did with the PX Ranger is what saved the local engineering team from being executed along with manufacturing?

As much as I'm not a fan of Thailand Specials it's Ford that continues to push the segment along while the rest do absolutely **** all and come along screaming and crying. The PX Ranger made them all look like potatoes back then and the new Ranger has done it again.

One things is certain, it wasn't about Ford Australia Farley was criticising when he said the company spends 25% more to develop and products a vehicle as it's competitors....he would be executed but Australia should do more work for the Parent division....

[kevino]

Can I just add

Ford Puma
Drive small suv of the year

[Swordie]

Congratulations Ford.

The Aussie Engineers showing the world how it is done.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by kevino

Can I just add

Ford Puma
Drive small suv of the year

3 years in a row as well. Criminally under-rated by the buying public.

[hackney]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

3 years in a row as well. Criminally under-rated by the buying public.

People still won’t purchase them! The buying public don’t know what they are missing out on! Just a fantastic little car!!

[csv8]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

3 years in a row as well. Criminally under-rated by the buying public.

It is ugly !! Needs a new face!!

[Sprintey]

This is a great win for Ford. Territory being so good and winning COTY back in 2004 was a great way to advertise to me, so I saved and bought one.

However, full ladder frame chassis in COTY - hahaha!

I eagerly await the 2026 Car, E-Bike & E-Scooter of the Year.

[Mulva]

Wasn't aware that Ford were spending so much advertising dollars with Wheels to win COTY.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Mulva

Wasn't aware that Ford were spending so much advertising dollars with Wheels to win COTY.

Well Holden had to cut back it's budget....2 x

[Bossxr8]

Ranger wins Drive's COTY award too. The trophies are racking up.

[BENT_8]

Fantastic result for the Ranger, Everest and local team, well deserved.
I must say though, it shouldn't really come as a surprise as the Everests competition are museum relics and Rangers no1 competitor is still a way off from release of its next evolution.
Still a great result either way and will no doubt stack up well when the oppo do get 'round to a refresh.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Mazda discontinued it's long running Mazda B series platform and got in bed with Ford for the PX Ranger back in the day, now they've found themselves with no LCV platform and no partnership with Ford so they've jumped in bed with Isuzu, makes you wonder why they made such a clanger of a call to part ways and jump on an inferior platform.

I can't believe I'm saying this because I'm anti-VAG but I'm looking forward to the VW Amarok with the 2.3L Ecoboost.

Do you think the work that the local engineering team did with the PX Ranger is what saved the local engineering team from being executed along with manufacturing?

As much as I'm not a fan of Thailand Specials it's Ford that continues to push the segment along while the rest do absolutely **** all and come along screaming and crying. The PX Ranger made them all look like potatoes back then and the new Ranger has done it again.

Mazda had no choice. Ford told them to F off. Ford wanted them out, that's why the BT50 didn't get updates like EPAS and all that stuff, and essentially continued on running without the updates the PX Ranger got. They had to take whatever they could get, and I think Toyota told them to bugger off as well. Isuzu was about their only option. Worked well for Ford because they took Mazda's plant capacity, which has allowed them to build more Rangers in Thailand.

And it wasn't just the work on Ranger that secured the place, it was also the other projects like chinese Taurus, Escort and Indian Figo etc. A lot of the credit goes to Trevor Worthington. As he put it, he wanted to make it so the place was too valuable to replace. And even now there are still projects going on for China etc. And also work for one big name rival auto company. Fan boi's would freak if they knew.

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

One things is certain, it wasn't about Ford Australia Farley was criticising when he said the company spends 25% more to develop and products a vehicle as it's competitors....he would be executed but Australia should do more work for the Parent division....

Does more for less, with the aussie dollar at 0.68c it makes it a hell of a lot cheaper. Ford North America have little experience doing programs for vehicles that sell in just about every country in the world, built at 6 different plants.

A good analogy i've heard is FoA have guys in powertrain who do the whole driveline, while the US has one guy for gearboxes, one for transfer cases, one for diffs, one for tailshafts etc. But in fairness, they probably have a higher workload in Dearborn and can carry guys who specialize. But it makes them less efficient. But clearly they have inefficiency issues that have built for decades. Just left it too long to clean it up, and everyone has got lazy and comfortable and the chickens have come home to roost. They quality of their work is terrible too, they are having massive issues over there atm with recalls and bad vehicle launches. Maybe too many chefs? The only vehicle they have over there that doesn't have all these issues is coincidentally the australian designed one. But let's see if they manage to get the North American market Ranger into production without blowing it like they did Explorer (the most recalled vehicle in america) and updated Edge (had to stop production for weeks due to software issues) etc. It starts from a better base with some bugs already worked through before they start, so if they don't get it right you know they have serious issues going on over there.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Mazda had no choice. Ford told them to F off. Ford wanted them out, that's why the BT50 didn't get updates like EPAS and all that stuff, and essentially continued on running without the updates the PX Ranger got. They had to take whatever they could get, and I think Toyota told them to bugger off as well. Isuzu was about their only option. Worked well for Ford because they took Mazda's plant capacity, which has allowed them to build more Rangers in Thailand.

And it wasn't just the work on Ranger that secured the place, it was also the other projects like chinese Taurus, Escort and Indian Figo etc. A lot of the credit goes to Trevor Worthington. As he put it, he wanted to make it so the place was too valuable to replace. And even now there are still projects going on for China etc. And also work for one big name rival auto company. Fan boi's would freak if they knew.

Curious to the decisions behind that, that partnership between Ford and Mazda was the Thailand plant ('Autoalliance') or what ever its name is/was.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Curious to the decisions behind that, that partnership between Ford and Mazda was the Thailand plant ('Autoalliance') or what ever its name is/was.

Once the Ford/Mazda partnership ended, I think it was a case of why is Mazda being rewarded by our work. And the extra plant capacity is the icing on the cake.

Pretty sure the Flat Rock plant building the Mustang now was also a Ford/Mazda alliance plant.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Once the Ford/Mazda partnership ended, I think it was a case of why is Mazda being rewarded by our work. And the extra plant capacity is the icing on the cake.

Pretty sure the Flat Rock plant building the Mustang now was also a Ford/Mazda alliance plant.

How things have changed with Ford Aust relying on Mazda back in the 80s-90s-00, during the re-badge era.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Mazda had no choice. Ford told them to F off. Ford wanted them out, that's why the BT50 didn't get updates like EPAS and all that stuff, and essentially continued on running without the updates the PX Ranger got. They had to take whatever they could get, and I think Toyota told them to bugger off as well. Isuzu was about their only option. Worked well for Ford because they took Mazda's plant capacity, which has allowed them to build more Rangers in Thailand.

And it wasn't just the work on Ranger that secured the place, it was also the other projects like chinese Taurus, Escort and Indian Figo etc. A lot of the credit goes to Trevor Worthington. As he put it, he wanted to make it so the place was too valuable to replace. And even now there are still projects going on for China etc. And also work for one big name rival auto company. Fan boi's would freak if they knew.





Does more for less, with the aussie dollar at 0.68c it makes it a hell of a lot cheaper. Ford North America have little experience doing programs for vehicles that sell in just about every country in the world, built at 6 different plants.

A good analogy i've heard is FoA have guys in powertrain who do the whole driveline, while the US has one guy for gearboxes, one for transfer cases, one for diffs, one for tailshafts etc. But in fairness, they probably have a higher workload in Dearborn and can carry guys who specialize. But it makes them less efficient. But clearly they have inefficiency issues that have built for decades. Just left it too long to clean it up, and everyone has got lazy and comfortable and the chickens have come home to roost. They quality of their work is terrible too, they are having massive issues over there atm with recalls and bad vehicle launches. Maybe too many chefs? The only vehicle they have over there that doesn't have all these issues is coincidentally the australian designed one. But let's see if they manage to get the North American market Ranger into production without blowing it like they did Explorer (the most recalled vehicle in america) and updated Edge (had to stop production for weeks due to software issues) etc. It starts from a better base with some bugs already worked through before they start, so if they don't get it right you know they have serious issues going on over there.

How many bourbons to loosen your lips...

[EBSXR6]

Ford must be spending big with Fairfax as well. (Sarc)
Ranger gets Drive 2023 Car of the Year.

[GCRXR6]

The Honourable John Cardigan does not agree with his former employer. He loves Ford with almost as much passion, as he does VW.

[EBSXR6]

Originally Posted by GCRXR6

The Honourable John Cardigan does not agree with his former employer. He loves Ford with almost as much passion, as he does VW.

Like everyone when the lively hood is threatened things change.
With the lack of supply of New Cars I don't think the business is going so well.
His emails are spruiking they have located x amount of new vehicle stock, Ford and VW feature prominently in the speil.

[Big_Daz]

Originally Posted by GCRXR6

The Honourable John Cardigan does not agree with his former employer. He loves Ford with almost as much passion, as he does VW.

Any car of the year awards, and anything involving Ford you can bet your bottom dollar JC will be releasing a bloody video going off about it... So predictable. He just wants to attack Ford and print magazines... This is the same block that give Car Expert a heap of crap (the old Car Advise guys) for selling out at $65 million, yet what he DOESNT mention is he made $$$ from the sale also...

Anyway, back on topic. Well done to Ford and Everest. Good to see our local legends work getting awarded. Even my wife, who is not even remotely a car person, saw it on facebook and sent me a message telling me that "it looks american, I love it, can we replace my Kia with one"... Talk about wide appeal...

[CyberWasp]

In the Category of Best Large SUV, Drive gave the award to Toyota Kluger over Everest....like wtf...

[Swordie]

https://www.drive.com.au/drive-car-o...r-of-the-year/

Ranger won Drive car the year. The automotive journalists like the Ford 4x4. So does the public based on sales.