The Blue Oval’s ailing Australian arm revealed a pre-production study previewing the third-generation of the Everest midsize SUV, which in its current form, is produced in Thailand and sold in Southeast Asia and India.
Created by Ford’s design and product development team in Australia, the Everest study will share its underpinnings with the Ranger pickup truck when it goes into production in 2015, but will not act as a direct replacement for the Territory, since Ford says the Everest will be a “true off-roader”. The Territory will be discontinued in 2016 along with the Falcon sedan upon which it is based.
The previous two generations of the Ford Everest (known as the Endeavour in India) have been produced in Thailand since 2003. Although Ford didn’t say it explicitly, the third-generation Everest will most likely be sold in Australia as well.
It may also reach other markets around the world, as Ford’s Chief Operating Officer hinted. “This is our vision for a large, seven-seat off-road SUV to allow our customers to take on the world and it was created by our world-class design team here in Australia,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s COO.
However, the Everest is unlikely to go on sale in the U.S., as Ford already offers the similarly-sized Explorer SUV in its home market. Furthermore, the Ranger pickup truck upon which the Everest is based is not available in the United States. Europe, on the other hand, could be another story.
The concept features Ford’s new global face, with the inverted trapezoid grille placed high on the front of the car and embraced by the thin, aggressive headlights. Ford hasn’t offered any technical data on the new model.
Finally, to end on a personal note, I have to admit that when I first saw the front view picture of the Everest concept, I immediately thought about the Dodge Durango. In my view, the shape of the grille and the position of the headlights in relation to it are very similar to what one can see on the Dodge. So what do you think; does the Everest’s styling evoke the Durango?
Story References: Ford via Caradvice
