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It’s no secret Ford Australia is busy developing the next-generation Everest for buyers both here and abroad, but the yet-to-be-revealed large SUV has now been spied testing on Victorian public roads while wearing its lightest camouflage yet.
Spotted in Hawthorn East by a CarsGuide reader, the Everest prototype in question has the same full-body decals, including QR codes and #SeekYourExperience hashtags, as the example shown in the teaser images and video Ford Australia released last December.
However, this particular Everest prototype appears to be a different variant to the one that was teased, as evidenced by its smaller alloy wheels, which have a six twin-spoke design instead of the larger set’s more stylish 12 individual spokes.
Assuming the new Everest has similar grades to the current model, the prototype seen above could be an example of the mid-range Trend, while the one pictured below might a flagship Titanium.
Either way, it’s clear the Everest separates itself from the related ‘T6.2’ Ranger ute from behind, where it has a two-box design, complete with angular tail-light clusters with a segmented ‘hockey stick’ signature and a linking bar, which is blacked-out on both prototypes.
As reported, up front, there’s less differentiation from the Ranger, as the Everest has the same headlight clusters with a C-shaped signature, and grille with a bisecting double bar – albeit in chrome on the suspected Titanium. The bumper is unique, though.
We’re yet to cop a glimpse of the Everest’s interior, but it’s safe to assume that aside from its five- or seven-seat configuration, it will be eerily similar to that of the Ranger, including a digital instrument cluster and a portrait touchscreen measuring up 12.0 inches in size.
The Everest is also expected to share its turbo-diesel engine line-up with the Ranger, including its flagship 3.0-litre Power Stroke single-turbo V6, which should develop about 190kW of power and 600Nm of torque – outputs that would reset the segment benchmark.
Yep, the Isuzu MU-X, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Toyota Fortuner and other ute-based large SUVs are on notice, with the Everest set to also offer a familiar but upgraded 2.2-litre EcoBlue twin-turbo four-cylinder engine with around 157kW/500Nm.
Either way, a 10-speed torque-converter automatic transmission should be fitted in the Everest, with the four-cylinder getting a part-time four-wheel-drive system, while the V6 instead goes with a permanent all-wheel-drive set-up, as per the Ranger.
Ford Australia is yet to confirm local timing for the Everest’s release, but expect its launch to go down later in 2022, following the Ranger’s mid-year arrival. In the meantime, its reveal is scheduled to go down later in the first quarter – so it’s only weeks away now. Stay tuned.
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