2015 Ford Everest Makes Its ASEAN Debut In Production Form

Ford’s new Everest SUV has made its return to the ASEAN region at the 2015 Bangkok International Motor Show, this time not as a concept, but as a production model. Unlike the previous generation Everest, Ford says that the new Everest shares very little with the Ranger pick-up truck, and it is far from utilising a Ranger frame with a different body on top, as it was with its predecessor. Being a completely ground-up development, the Everest is a body-on-frame SUV with seating for seven, and is said to be more cantered towards occupant comfort whilst maintaining its rugged and capable nature.

Differences that lie beneath the skin of the new Everest, as compared to the Ranger, includes the use of a more comfortable and sophisticated independent rear coil sprung suspension with a Watt’s linkage for the Everest, as well as employing the use of a Terrain Management System.

Instead of a simple toggle to engage the low- and high-range gearbox and differential, the Terrain Management System takes over the task of managing the car’s parameters. With the system, drivers can switch between four settings, “Normal”, “Snow, Gravel, Grass”, “Sand”, and “Rock”, which would adjust the Everest’s throttle response, transmission, traction control, and intelligent four-wheel drive system accordingly. However if you still insist of keeping its mechanicals set to your preference, the Everest’s electronic locking rear differential can still be activated at the press of a button.

More Than a Truck

Whilst it may not boast the kind of features that is fitted to the facelifted Ranger, the Everest isn’t short on its share of unique features such as:

• Curve Control – Reduces engine torque and applies four-wheel braking if it detects that the driver is entering a corner too quickly
• Active Park Assist – Autonomous parking feature that uses the Everest electric power steering to steer the Everest into a parking spot, only requiring the driver to shift the gear selector, brake, and accelerate.
• Roll Stability Control – Uses gyroscopic sensors to detect fast cornering or sharp swerving, selectively applying individual brakes to reduce the likelihood of a rollover.
• Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert - Uses sensors to keep you aware of vehicle approaching in your blind spots, in both on the road, and coming out of parking situations.

Its refined passenger-oriented cabin comes with neat features such as an Active Noise Cancellation system with three interior microphones to pick-up interior noise, dual-zone climate control with air conditioning vents in every row, a flexible second-row seats with 60-40 split and power-folding third-row seats with 50-50 split, an 8-inch touchscreen fitted to a 10-speaker sound system with an integrated subwoofer, SYNC2 with voice control, a dual-panel powered moonroof over the first and second rows, and seven airbags.

Diesel Power only

Like the Ranger pick-up truck, the Everest will come in two guises. Topping the power offering is the 3.2L 5-cylinder Duratorq turbocharged diesel that produces 200PS and 470Nm of torque, and the 2.2L 4-cylinder Duratorq turbocharged diesel that makes do with 160PS and 385Nm of torque. Both engines can be paired with either a six-speed automatic or manual.

Bookings Open in Thailand

Bookings for the Everest is now open in Thailand with prices starting at THB 1,269,000 (RM 142,446) for the 2.2L Titanium 4x2, and up to THB 1,599,000 (RM 179,488) (for the range-topping 3.2L Titanium+ 4x4), with customer deliveries set to start in Thailand in the third quarter. According to Sime Darby Auto Connexion, the Everest will be making its Malaysian introduction around August, along with the facelifted Ranger.