Photos by Ardie Lopez
THE NEW Everest promises unprecedented offroad and onroad capability since the first-generation Everest in 2002.
CHIANG RAI, Thailand—On a 140-kilometer drive on seamless highways and roughest back roads, over two dozen journalists from the Philippines tested the all-new Ford Everest in anticipation of the SUV’s launch across Asia-Pacific markets in the coming months.
Ford provided 19 Everest units of several variants for the group to try out. From concrete roads to dirt roads and stretches of loose rocks and muddy trails, the Everest’s versatile terrain management system ably negotiated all the stages, including wading through some creeks, with ease. The Everest has a water-wading capability of 800 millimeters and 225 mm of ground clearance.
On the road, the new Everest did not disappoint in terms of ride comfort and handling, thanks to its coil spring suspension with Watt’s linkage system.
The new Everest promises an unprecedented offroad and onroad capability since the introduction of its first generation Everest in 2002 as Ford spent over four years to develop by packing new technology, a bolder design and interior refinements.
“The new Ford Everest is a hugely versatile vehicle that is equally at home in busy urban traffic and in the most extreme offroad environments the world has to offer,” said Trevor Worthington, vice president for product development, Ford Asia-Pacific. “Its unique blend of tough capability and exceptional on-road comfort will go far beyond what our customers have come to expect from a seven-seat SUV.”
He also said that the Everest was primarily developed by taking into account and intently listening to its customers across a wide range of profiles so they can provide a product that will satisfy one of the most competitive segments in the market.
TECHNOLOGY is what sets this new Everest apart.
Its advanced, first-in-class Terrain Management System has four preset modes—normal, snow/mud/grass, sand and rock—that adapt the vehicle’s throttle response, transmission, intelligent four-wheel drive system, and traction control to allow drivers to confidently navigate through various onroad and even extreme offroad conditions.
The 4×4 enthusiasts will appreciate that they can manually lock the transfer case in low-range four-wheel-drive mode for increased control.
Ford representatives from its Asia Pacific design and product development teams were present to discuss the new Everest design and features. Available in both rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive variants, it will have for the Philippine market both the four-cylinder, 2.2-liter, and the five-cylinder, 3.2-liter diesel engines. Only the China market will have the Ecoboost gas engine variant.
Ford Philippines president Kay Hart, who was also present during the event, said that when the Everest was unveiled at the 2015 Manila International Auto Show last April, they were very pleased with the initial market feedback.
THE CUTAWAY version of the Everest shows the kind of engineering work done for safety and convenience.
Its tagline “Engineered for extraordinary” aptly defines the all-new Everest, which was initially developed from an AUV platform using its Ranger pickup truck chassis design to an SUV that was developed from the ground up. The Everest’s rugged, sculpted exterior offers a fresh new take and welcome evolution to match an SUV that is more capable and refined that its predecessor.
Technology is what sets this new Everest apart with a wide array of intuitive and practical innovations that make it one of the smartest vehicles in its segment. It is equipped with the latest generation of Ford’s in-car connectivity solution, Sync 2, that allows drivers use natural voice commands to control the car’s entertainment system, climate controls and connected mobile devices more easily than ever before. The Sync 2 system also features an 8-inch touchscreen with color-coded corners for easy menu navigation.
Another segment-first technology is its Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert, which informs drivers when there is a vehicle in their blind spot while driving or when preparing to reverse out of parking spots. Other advanced features include roll stability control and an electronic stability program that works with traction control to help the driver stay in control. Its active park assist enables drivers to parallel park hands-free, requiring only accelerating, shifting and braking from the driver.
Some variants feature a dual-panel moon roof, a powered liftgate, more than 30 cleverly designed stowage spaces, multiple power outlets, and flexible seating and cargo arrangements. One practical and versatile feature is its fold-flat second- and first-in-class power-fold third-row seating, allowing it to hold up to 2,010 liters of cargo.
While driving the Everest, one can enjoy luxury sedan-like cabin quietness made possible by an Active Noise Cancellation system in addition to optimizing cabin sealing and using sound absorbing materials throughout. The vehicle also had very low levels of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Worthington said that Ford spent a lot of resources to ensure the Everest achieves an unprecedented level of refinement before rolling out the final production model.
EVEREST variant ready for testing in Chiang Rai, Thailand
“Early on in the development of the Everest, we set very aggressive targets for vehicle refinement,” said Ian Foston, chief program engineer for the Ford Everest. “Through extensive computer modeling, smart engineering and real-world testing, we’ve been able to achieve dramatic reductions in interior NVH levels for a truly refined driving experience.”
The new Ford Everest offers two Duratorg diesel engine models for the Philippine market that is mated to either a six-speed automatic or manual transmission. The latest generation 3.2-liter Duratorq five-cylinder TDCi diesel engine is rated with 147 kw of power and 470 Nm of torque. It features an updated exhaust gas recirculation system to boost efficiency.
The other variant is the latest generation of the 2.2-liter Duratorq four-cylinder TDCi diesel, which is rated at 118 kw of power and 385 Nm of torque.
What is unique about the new automatic transmission is its advanced driver recognition software. This allows the transmission to adapt to the current driving style by analyzing acceleration and deceleration rates, brake and throttle applications, and cornering speed.
After driving for about 100 kilometers, the Everest intelligently learns and adapts the driver’s style and adjusts the transmission settings to balance performance and optimizing fuel efficiency. The system will also be able to detect if the driver has a more economical- or performance-oriented style.
The introduction of the all-new Everest comes at a time when its major competing brands in the highly competitive mid-size SUV segment have announced new model changes.
Prices for the Everest range between P1.339 million to P1.999 million.
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