THE NEXT-GENERATION FORD EVEREST makes its global debut on March 1, blending adventure-ready capability with exceptional comfort and customer-focused technology in a rugged, refined and fun to drive SUV.
Inside, premium levels of craftsmanship have created a quiet and refined environment for up to seven, while new technology and safety features make every journey more memorable.
“When we started imagining the Next-Gen Everest, we started not at the beginning but at the end: with our customers,” said Ian Foston, chief platform engineer for Everest. “They’re people who like adventure, recreation and being able to go out with family and friends. Whether they’re conquering sand, rocks or city life, these customers appreciate the utility, capability and spaciousness of an SUV.”
Armed with more customer input than ever before, Foston said the objective for the new Everest was clear: tough on the outside, a sanctuary on the inside, amazing capability underneath.
Ford Australia will offer four variants of the new Everest. The Australian range will start with Ambiente, followed by Trend. Sport joins the range as a full-time model, while the new flagship variant Platinum tops the range.
Platinum features a premium flagship interior, and new for Everest are 21-inch wheels finished in a special tri-coat paint with machined accents. Platinum is exclusively powered by the new 3.0L V6 turbo-diesel, backed with a 10-speed automatic transmission and permanent four-wheel drive. The 3.0L V6 turbo-diesel will also be available on Sport.
Platinum’s unique grille design with hot foil accented mesh and silk chrome accents creates a sophisticated look and premium feel. The luxury interior features heated and ventilated premium leather accented front seats, with 10-way power adjustment and memory function for the driver. The front seats are finished with quilted inserts and signature Platinum badging. In Platinum, second-row seat occupants can also enjoy heated seats. A panoramic roof adds to the luxurious and spacious feel of the interior.
Rugged Outside, A Sanctuary Within
Everest’s wider track and longer wheelbase enabled designers to create a more progressive, muscular appearance. Ford’s global design DNA is reflected in the C-clamp head lamps and strong horizontal upper grille bar. The front end also has a mix of horizontal and vertical elements, which add to the commanding appearance.
On the sides, there is a strong shoulder line front to back, while the wider track resulted in a more dramatic swell over the wheels, enhancing the strong and modern look.
“We showed customers the Everest at several points during the design process, and their feedback was consistent: They loved the exterior with the strong and rugged design, but they also thought it was sleek and modern,” said Max Wolff, design director for China and International Markets Group. “They said that the Everest would give them the confidence to go off-road; they wouldn’t have to second guess if it could go off-road whilst camping – it looks like a proper 4WD.”
What customers wanted on the interior was a different story. Inside, they wanted a sanctuary.
“One of the first things you’ll notice when you get into a new Everest is how quiet it is. We’ve all been in vehicles with multiple rows of seats, where you have to twist your head around and almost shout to be heard by passengers in the second or third rows,” he said. “That’s an issue we wanted to solve for Everest, so the interior would be a quiet place in which you can easily talk to your family or friends and enjoy the journey together.”
Designers also put a lot of thought into the function and feel of the interior, taking inspiration from modern homes and bringing in plush materials, premium finishes and ambient lighting all in areas where customers can appreciate them the best.
Everest’s sense of spaciousness is amplified by the full-width instrument panel and centre console with dual cupholder recesses plus dash-mounted ‘pop out’ cupholders for front seat occupants. 4×4 models are equipped with a new leather trimmed e-Shifter and all variants get integrated wireless charging and an electric parking brake. 4×4 models are equipped with a new leather trimmed e-Shifter and all variants get integrated wireless charging and an electric parking brake. Heated and ventilated front seats are standard on Sport and Platinum, and optional on Trend.10-way power adjustment and memory function for the driver is standard on Platinum. Platinum also receives heated second row seats and a heated steering wheel.
Access to the third-row seats is now easier thanks to second-row seats that slide further forward than before. Additionally, all occupants now have places to store their things and in Trend, Sport and Platinum variants, are able to charge their devices with power outlets in all three rows.
Ford has prioritised flexible seating in the new Everest; the second-row slides with a 60:40 split seatback while on Platinum the 50:50 split third row in seven-seat configuration can be folded at the touch of a button. Importantly, both the second and third row seats have been designed to fold flat to allow for long loads to be carried safely.
To stop items falling out of the back when the tailgate is lifted, Wolff’s team created a small lip, affectionately known as the “apple catcher”, at the rear of the cargo area. The team also created an underfloor storage space that helps keep the rear of the Everest organised.
Customer-focused Technology
In addition to a more refined and comfortable interior, Ford focused on incorporating the latest connectivity and technology features into the new Everest. Everest comes with a large 8-inch (Ambiente, Trend and Sport) or 12.4-inch (Platinum) digital instrument panel that replaces the traditional analogue clusters. Everest also features large, high-resolution 10.1-inch (Ambiente) or 12-inch (Trend, Sport, Platinum) portrait-oriented centre touchscreens.
Everest is loaded with Ford’s latest SYNC 4A system, which comes customer-ready with its voice-activated communications, entertainment and information systems. Additionally, there’s an embedded factory-fitted modem, allowing customers to connect to Everest when linked with the FordPass App. FordPass enhances the ownership experience with features like remote start, vehicle status check and remote lock and unlock functions via your mobile device.
The portrait-orientated screen is also linked to a 360-degree camera with split-view display to make parking a breeze in tight urban spaces or to assist when negotiating particularly tricky terrain while out exploring. In addition, customers can control Everest’s new exterior zone lighting system via the touchscreen or the FordPass App, which means they don’t have to park, work, camp or do anything in the dark.
New and Proven Engine Line-Up
The new 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel spearheads the line-up, and is joined by the proven 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo diesel. Both engines are backed by Ford’s efficient 10-speed automatic transmission.
“The 3.0L V6 turbo-diesel really delivers that big-engine torque and power customers want,” said Pritika Maharaj, Everest Program Manager. “It feels really tough in the sense that it’s got endless power and torque, but it is also refined and quiet on the road.”
“Regardless of engine, our customers can be confident that they have the power and torque they need whether they’re towing, going off-road, or just heading out on a family adventure,” said Maharaj.
Engineered For Adventure
A 50mm increase in Everest’s track helps deliver a more controlled ride on-road, while tweaks to damper settings allowed the team to inject more ‘fun’ and control into the way Everest rides both on- and off-road.
“Everest was always well regarded for its plush ride on- and off-road, but the track increase allowed our dynamics team to create a greater connection between vehicle and driver, with a more controlled ‘fun to drive’ ride around town and on the highway,” said Foston.
Want to do some exploring? Everest is ready to go, with underbody protection and off-road selectable drive modes plus rear locking differential, and two functional tow hooks upfront.
Everest is offered with two drivetrain options – 4×2 RWD is only available on Ambiente and Trend; while 4×4 variants across the range feature an advanced, permanent four-wheel drive system that uses an electronically controlled on-demand two-speed electromechanical transfer case (EMTC) with selectable drive modes.
Where available, Everest’s dedicated off-road screen displays vehicle information and on variants fitted with a 360-degree camera – a front camera view of the terrain ahead, with predictive overlay guidelines designed to help the driver negotiate obstacles. With a single press of a button, the driver can view their driveline and diff-lock indicators, steering angle and guides, and vehicle roll and pitch angles.
Everest has a water wading ability of up to 800mm and a maximum trailer towing capability of up to 3500kg (braked) when fitted with the optional factory Tow Pack, which now boasts an integrated trailer brake controller. All variants receive a trailer light check function and trailer connection checklist, as a well as a new Tow/Haul drive mode to improve gearshift response when towing. Space in the engine bay allows for a second battery to power aftermarket accessories.
Everest’s impressive towing capability is supported by smart technologies that make towing easier. A dedicated Tow/Haul drive mode has been tuned to optimise gear shift timing to maintain the best power delivery and engine braking when carrying loads, either in a trailer or in the cargo area. In addition, the optional factory Tow Pack’s integrated electric trailer brake controller helps deliver smooth and effective control of a trailer’s brake system. Everest’s new camera views help owners guide their SUV into position to connect a trailer, while integrated SYNC features such as trailer connection checklist and trailer light check help make the job easier. Where available, FordPass app users can also test the trailer lights with their smartphone.
The new integrated roof rails – or Platinum-specific stand-off roof rails – are more than just a design detail. The Everest rooftop can now support static loads of up to 350kg and dynamic loads of up to 100kg, providing increased versatility that enables Everest to carry bikes, canoes, cargo pod or roof-top tent. A universal mounting system allows customers to equip their vehicle with a range of accessories.
Confidence-Inspiring Driver Technologies
Everest comes loaded with new and enhanced driver assist technologies and safety features that are designed to take the stress out of driving and help drivers to remain focused.
In the new Everest a new centre airbag positioned between the driver and front passenger provides additional protection in the event of a side impact. The addition of the far-side airbag and dual knee airbags brings the number of airbags up to nine, including front driver and passenger, dual seat side thorax airbags and dual side curtain airbags which cover all three rows.
Everest Platinum is equipped with Active Park Assist 2.0. This can assist the Everest driver to fit safely in tight spaces at the press of a button. The system takes care of the steering, shifting, acceleration and braking to navigate into parallel or perpendicular parking spaces with ease. It will also drive itself out of a parallel parking spot when prompted.
Everest’s Matrix LED headlamps, exclusive to Platinum, offer greater visibility thanks to a raft of clever features, including auto dynamic levelling and speed dependent lighting that can adjust the intensity of the beam in front of the vehicle depending on the vehicle’s speed. The headlamps also offer both static and dynamic bending capability as well as glare-free high-beams, which help provide maximum visibility for the driver without dazzling other road users.
New to Everest is Ford’s intelligent adaptive cruise control system with lane centring, which helps you maintain the correct speed and with Stop & Go, can slow down your Everest if traffic ahead has stopped or slowed. Lane Centring scans lane markings to help alert you to move safely back to the centre of your lane. iACC also adds speed sign recognition to help you stay at the right speed.
New and enhanced driver assist and safety features available in the Next-Gen Everest also include:
- New – Lane-keeping system with road-edge detection, which helps keep the Everest from drifting from the lane or road surface on rural roads.
- New – Evasive steer assist, designed to operate at city and highway speeds, evasive steer assist uses radar and a camera to detect slower-moving and stationary vehicles ahead and provides steering support to enable drivers to manoeuvre around a vehicle when the vehicle senses a collision is imminent.
- New – Reverse brake assist helps drivers to reverse into parking spots and other tight spaces by providing audible and visual warnings. It can detect vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians crossing behind the vehicle. The system can even bring the Everest to a complete stop if the driver doesn’t react in time.
- New – Blind spot information system with trailer coverage monitors blind spots around the vehicle, and when fitted with an optional factory Tow Pack, monitors blind spots around the trailer, alerting the driver of any perceived hazards. The system supports trailers up to 2.4 metres wide and 10 metres long.
- Enhanced – Pre-collision assist with intersection functionality can automatically apply the brakes to avoid or mitigate the effects of an accident where the driver is turning across the path of oncoming traffic, and the system detects an imminent collision.
Creating a Remarkable Ownership Experience
“Our customers’ feedback on what they loved about the current Everest, and what they didn’t, has helped us create a truly remarkable vehicle – one that is very capable, safe, smart and powerful,” said Dianne Craig, president of Ford’s International Markets Group. “But just as importantly, their feedback has helped us create a remarkable ownership experience as well.”
“Everest customers lead busy lives, juggling work, family time, a social life and recreation,” Craig added. “They need their vehicle ownership experience to be easier and more rewarding, so we are creating a collection of services that are designed to help do just that.”
At participating dealers, and subject to availability, these services include:
- Online Service Booking: To allow customers to schedule servicing at a time convenient to them, both online and via the FordPass app.
- Service loan vehicle: Customers can receive a loan vehicle while their own vehicle is being serviced.
Other customer benefits include:
- Everest Expert: Whether customers have questions about their vehicle or need assistance, Ford has an Everest Expert that will walk customers through their enquiries via the channel that best suits them.
- Master Your Everest: Designed to support and encourage Everest customers to continue to learn more about their vehicle’s features and capabilities through their ownership journey. If customers have a question or want to learn more about how to best use their Everest’s high-tech features, we’ve got them covered, with virtual and hands-on education.
“We see the moment you buy your vehicle as the beginning of our journey together, not the end,” Craig said. “Our commitment is that we’re here for you throughout the time you own your vehicle.”