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Australian-Developed Everest Range Packs Capability and 10 Key Customer Benefits (484)

Ford has confirmed the key features, model line-up and recommended pricing for eagerly awaited Australian designed and developed Everest SUV range, as the centrepiece of Ford’s almost $2 billion R&D investment in Australia the past six years.

Australia took the lead in the design and engineering development of the all-new Everest, which will be sold in a range of Ford markets globally.

The Everest range is a fully capable 7-seat SUV that uniquely combines a rugged, sculptural design with capability and there are 10 key customer benefits available in the range that are not offered in the Toyota Prado.

These benefits are:

• 3,000 kg towing capacity#
• Emergency Assistance
• Active Noise Cancellation
• SYNC with Voice Control
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Auto High Beam
• Active Park Assist (Titanium)
• Lane Keeping System (Trend, Titanium)
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (Titanium)
• Power Lift Tailgate (Trend, Titanium)

The standard 143 kW TDCi diesel engine delivers 16 kW more power and 60 Nm of torque more than Prado Diesel for more towing, payload and roof-carrying capability; also offers water wading ability of 800 mm^ unsurpassed by other SUVs.

The newest Ford SUV delivers the latest Ford in-car technology and advanced driver assist features like the standard four-mode Terrain Management System and a suite of new safety features to deliver a state-of-the-art SUV driving experience.

With a Manufacturer’s List Price opening at $54,9901 for the Everest, $60,9901 for the Everest Trend and $76,9901 for the range-topping Everest Titanium, the Everest range will headline Ford’s leading SUV portfolio, which includes the EcoSport, Ford Kuga and acclaimed Territory.

“The Everest SUV represents the very best of Ford’s Australian design and engineering capabilities,” according to Graeme Whickman, Ford President and CEO. “Our customers have been waiting for this smart and highly capable SUV but what they didn’t expect was the level of technology, standard features and contemporary design. It is a high-tech SUV built for adventure, with a perfect blend of strength and style.”

Everest exceeding expectations

Ford’s ”Guess Who?” campaign late last year for the Mondeo, Mustang and Everest, generated great interest in all three vehicles, making it one of the most successful pre-launch campaigns Ford had done in Australia.

“After our ‘Guess Who’ campaign, we had almost 6,000 hand raisers requesting to be kept informed of the details about the Everest range. There is a clear customer need for this type of vehicle,” Whickman said.

“Many of these customers are looking for the ultimate SUV that is tough off-road vehicle without compromising on refinement, comfort, packaging, features, performance and fuel efficiency. The arrival of the Everest range will be a great addition to our Ford SUV portfolio.”

Whickman said the vast experience of the Ford Australia design and product development teams in designing and building vehicles for the tough conditions customers experience in Australia – as well as the rest of the world – had been at the very core of the Everest story.

“They have delivered a vehicle that has luxury passenger car levels of refinement on-road while being highly capable off-road,” he said.

Power and capability

Ford will offer three stylish Everest models – Everest, Everest Trend and Everest Titanium – all available with turbo-diesel power mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with sports shift mode.

Powering the Everest SUV range is Ford’s proven 3.2-litre TDCi engine, delivering a robust 143 kW and 470 Nm while returning a combined fuel efficiency figure of just 8.5 litres/100km2. The Everest range will also manage up to 1,100 km3 on one tank of fuel.

The 3.2-litre TDCi will also be mated to a sophisticated four-wheel drive system via a four-mode Terrain Management System with the ability to tackle conditions as varied as the snowy highlands of South-East Australia to the rugged, dusty tracks of the Australian Outback.

The Everest four-wheel drive is the perfect companion to any outdoor adventure. The advanced four-mode Terrain Management System delivers a balance of off-road capability with refined on-road driving characteristics. The TMS settings are: Normal; Snow/Mud/Grass; Sand; and Rock. Each setting provides the optimum traction for the road conditions. Combined with an electronic locking rear differential and torque-on-demand via an active transfer case that detects wheel speeds with clutches controlling torque split front to rear, the Everest SUV is a perfect match for tackling the Australian Outback.

This new TMS technology, partnered with Dynamic Stability Control, Traction Control and Roll Stability Control systems, will provide a reassuring ride across a wide range of Australian roads.

Apart from the 10 benefits available in the Everest range that are not found on the Prado range, the Everest SUV range will also be equipped with Curve Control Technology, designed to maximise security on winding roads. Curve Control senses when a vehicle is entering a curve too quickly, and can apply four-wheel smart braking to reduce vehicle speed.

As well, the Everest range has Hill Descent Control (HDC) for those tricky off-road trails. The HDC system automatically applies the brakes to hold a controlled and steadied pace down a steep descent, allowing the driver to focus on steering and assessing the terrain ahead.

Capability is what the Everest range of SUVs is about. It boasts a towing capacity of up to 3,000 kg and water wading depth of up to 800 mm^, which will make it one of the more capable SUVs in its class. Complementing this impressive wading ability is a generous ground clearance of 225 mm, approach angle of 29-degrees, ramp-over angle of 21-degrees and departure angle of 25 degrees.

Apart from its impressive off-road features the Everest SUV range is also city friendly. The Ford Everest Titanium model features Active Park Assist to help guide the car into tight car parks as well as Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) to aid in lane changing and blind spots.

To make highway driving easier, the Everest Trend and Titanium models add Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning, a feature normally reserved for premium passenger cars. This system senses traffic moving slower and slows down with it, after the traffic clears the vehicle will work its way back up the preset speed.

With a contemporary exterior, the Everest range has a modern and spacious interior with seating for 7 people, as well as 30 cleverly designed interior storage areas with a total storage volume of 48 litres. The glovebox is capable of holding a 16-inch laptop.

The exterior has robust front end styling and signature LED daytime running lights on the Titanium that helps accentuate the wide stance to make for powerful road presence.

The Everest Titanium model boasts a panoramic sunroof that covers more than 50 per cent of the roof, bringing the outside in for that ultimate feeling of the great outdoors.

To ensure exceptional cabin quietness, Ford equipped the new Ford Everest with Active Noise Cancellation technology in addition to optimising cabin sealing and sound-absorbing materials throughout the vehicle.

Similar to the systems used in noise-cancelling headphones, Active Noise Cancellation uses three strategically placed microphones inside the cabin to detect and measure sounds. A smart control module instantaneously generates opposing sound waves, which are then fed through the Everest’s audio system to cancel out unpleasant noises. The result is a quiet interior that lets the driver comfortably speak with third row passengers without shouting.

Convenience and flexibility is also important, with seven seats that can easily be folded down to provide up to 2010 litres of luggage space for weekend getaways, or with the seven seats in place, do the school run. Flexibility is provided with a 50:50 split-fold 3rd row seat while Everest Trend and Titanium models also feature a powered lift-gate for convenient loading and unloading.

Infotainment remains a highlight of the Ford Everest range, with Ford’s acclaimed SYNC connectivity system available as standard across the range. Ford’s SYNC system is voice controlled so that the driver remains in control of the car and can use the Bluetooth-capable infotainment with ease.

Another feature is the Ford MyKey system, available on Everest Trend and Titanium models.

MyKey is an industry-first technology that allows parents to program a key that limits top speed, reduce maximum radio volume, disables the radio until the seatbelts are fastened and prevents deactivation of the driver assistance and safety technologies.

It works by recognising different keys for the same car and adjusting the vehicle settings according to the owner's requirements.

The all-new Ford Everest range goes on sale from October.