Ford teases Australian Ford Everest, could come to India as next-gen Endeavour
Ford has revealed pictures of it upcoming Everest concept. A mid-size SUV, the Everest is part of a refreshed line of cars that Ford plans to launch in the Australian market by 2017.
A few months back, owing to high exchange rates, heavy losses, increasing production costs and market slowdown, Ford had announced the closing of its manufacturing units in Australia. But the carmaker will launch around 11 new products by 2017, and the Ford Everest will also be part of that all-new cache. This is also the model that may make it to Asian markets like India, Thailand and Indonesia as the next-gen Ford Endeavour.
Although there has been no official announcement about the specs, the seven-seat SUV is based on Ford's Ranger UTE. It could get one of the Ranger engines, maybe the 2.2-litre or 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbocharged diesel. Considering market response, the Everest could also go the EcoBoost way.
The Everest gets the Ranger's ladder frame chassis and the front grille get the bulbous look as part of Ford's new design strategy. Also adorning this new-gen SUV will be sharper creases, just like the Ford EcoSport and Territory, to increase aerodynamic efficiency.
The Everest could come to the Indian market as the new Endeavour by the end of 2014 or in 2015. The Ford Endeavour competes with the Toyota Fortuner, Mahindra SsangYong Rexton and the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport in India.