Ford Exec Reveals An Everest Raptor Could Very Well Materialize In The Future

Ford has revealed that it just might create a Raptor-branded variant of its Everest SUV.

During an interview recently given to Australia’s Drive, Ford Performance head engineer Jamal Hameedi revealed that the popularity of the F-150 Raptor and the hype surrounding the Ranger Raptor could lead to the creation of a third model in the family.

“There’s no reason [we wouldn’t do an Everest Raptor]. The first F-150 Raptor was way beyond our wildest dreams in terms of success, and that success spawned a Ranger Raptor.

“So to do an SUV is a little more difficult, because you have to figure out how to deal with the rear suspension. In the form of a bodyside outer it’s not just a box outer [and that] poses a unique challenge in how you package that,” Hameedi said.

When asked about the feasibility of such a vehicle, Ford Australia product communications manager Damion Smy said it could be the perfect answer to growing demand for performance SUV models.

“Long term, it would make sense if you look at the fact that passenger vehicles were overtaken by SUVs this [2017] year. There’s definitely a case for more performance oriented or at least more sports styled SUVs in the future. I don’t think that’s a crazy question, I think it makes sense.”

If an Everest Raptor does see the light of day, it could use the 2.0-liter twin-turbocharged diesel of the Ranger Raptor, though the 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 of the F-150 Raptor would certainly make for a much more exciting option.

Don’t get too worked up about it just yet, though, as currently Ford is focusing on a petrol engine of the Ranger Raptor that’ll be sold in the U.S. It’s not unlikely that the Everest will be its next project, though.

“We just announced our Edge ST, which was our first sport model in an SUV”, Hameedi commented. “Because you have to have a wide track and long travel suspension, doing it [a Raptor] in the form of an SUV is a little more challenging. It would be a lot of money and a lot of development. Not impossible though.”

Still, even if it does, there’s no indication that the Blue Oval plans to offer it outside the Asia-Pacific region, where the Everest is confined so far.