The Ford Everest range now gets the same 2,0-litre Bi-Turbo and Single Turbo engines recently added to the Ranger commercial lineup along with some tweakes to styling, suspension and features.
“The Everest has given Ford an important foothold in the SUV segment, which continues to grow in South Africa and around the world as buyers opt for versatile, family-oriented vehicles that suit their active lifestyles,” says Doreen Mashinini, General Manager Marketing at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa.
“With the New Everest, we have raised the game further by introducing subtle yet effective styling updates for the eye-catching exterior, providing a more refined and luxurious cabin environment, adding several new trend-setting technologies to the already feature-packed range, and building on the outgoing model’s superb comfort and ride refinement with a revised suspension set-up.
“As with the New Ranger, we are delighted to introduce the new-generation 2,0-litre Bi-Turbo and Single Turbo engines to the Everest range, paired with the advanced new 10-speed automatic transmission – a combination that sets new benchmarks for performance and efficiency in this segment.”
The existing 2,2-litre and 3,2-litre Duratorq TDCi engines continue to do duty in certain models, paired with the current six-speed automatic transmission.
The refreshed grille introduces a new level of depth to the design through the layering of three distinctive grille bars while the lower bumper has been redesigned to incorporate a connected horizontal beam.
A new 20-inch wheel has been introduced on the range-topping Everest Limited, featuring a modern split spoke design that gives the vehicle a more upmarket and dynamic appearance.
The Everest gains a selection of new, richer interior materials and design details including the introduction of the Ebony environment colour and contrast stitching on the Everest Limited, along with shadow chrome finishes, perforated leather and high-quality paints that add further lustre to the upgraded interior.
On the Bi-Turbo engine a small high pressure (HP) turbo works in conjunction with a large low pressure (LP) turbo, controlled with by-pass valves that determine the operating mode depending on engine speed. At lower engine speeds the two turbos work in series, enhancing torque and responsiveness, while at higher revs the small HP turbo is bypassed, and the larger LP turbo provides boost to deliver top-end power.
The maximum power output for the 2.0 Bi-Turbo engine is 157 kW, matched to a peak torque figure of 500 Nm – improvements of 10 kW and 30 Nm respectively compared to the existing 3,2-litre TDCi engine. It is available in the Everest XLT 4×2 and 4×4 models, as well as the top-spec Everest Limited.
A new 2,0-litre Single Turbo unit has been added to the line-up, offered in XLT 4×2 specification. It delivers a peak power output of 132 kW, matched to 420 Nm of torque – with up to 340 Nm available from just 1 250 r/min.
The new-generation 2,0-litre Bi-Turbo and 2.0 Single Turbo engines are exclusively available with Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission, which boasts significant improvements in efficiency, fuel economy and all-round performance.
The 10-speed architecture reduces the gaps in available power and acceleration between gears, providing smoother acceleration response, and enabling improved performance at lower engine speeds. The electronic control system features real-time adaptive shift-scheduling, engineered to help select the correct gear at the right time, including skip-shift and direct downshift capabilities.
Ford engineering data, based on real-world driving cycles, indicates an improvement in fuel-efficiency of up to nine percent in the case of the 2.0 Bi-Turbo engine mated to the 10-speed automatic transmission, compared to the previous range-topping model.
The Everest benefits from numerous suspension improvements that further enhance ride quality and refinement. Most notably, the front-mounted stabiliser bar has been moved to the rear of the front axle, which allows for greater packaging and design freedom, along with an increase in diameter and stiffness to give the Everest improved roll control and handling performance.
The revised layout has also enabled a reduction in front spring rates, thus achieving an even more comfortable and pliant ride. Additionally, the jounce bumper, which softens the impact when the suspension is fully compressed over severe bumps, has been relocated from the lower control arm to the damper rod at the top of the suspension, thereby reducing the load on the suspension bushes. This gives an improved ride and reduced noise levels.
Overall suspension compliance has been improved, with three damper tunes being adopted for the New Everest range in place of the single set-up used previously. This ensures the ride characteristics are better tailored to the engine and drivetrain configurations, resulting in a plusher ride over rough surfaces without impacting the Everest’s maximum towing capacity of 3 000 kg on the 2.2 TDCi, 3.2 TDCi and Single Turbo models. The Bi-Turbo is rated to tow a maximum of 3 100 kg with a braked trailer.
The extensive suspension refinements have also enabled a reduction in tyre pressures from 240 to 210 kPa, further enhancing overall comfort and isolating the occupants from road imperfections. At the same time, steering precision and control has also been improved.
A new addition to the features is the Passive Entry and Passive Start (PEPS) system, fitted as standard on the XLT and Limited models. The keyless entry and passive start uses an intelligent access system that allows the driver to unlock the vehicle and start the engine without removing the key fob from their pocket or bag.
The Everest Limited offers Semi-Automatic Parallel Park Assist (SAPPA) that uses ultrasonic sensors on the front and rear bumpers to search for and identify parking spaces that are big enough to parallel park the vehicle. A combination of the Everest’s electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) and sensors are used to steer the vehicle safely and perfectly into place, while the driver simply operates the gears, accelerator and brake.
Additional standard appointments on the Limited include Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Collision Alert (which now recognises pedestrians, in addition to its ability to detect other vehicles), Lane Keeping Aid and Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and Auto High Beam Control.
The standard safety package across the line-up extends to Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system with Traction Control (TC), Trailer Sway Control (TSC), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Hill Descent Control (HDC) on the 4×4 models, Load Adaptive control (LAC) and Roll Over Mitigation (ROM).
Tracks4Africa is included in the SYNC3 package, as well as access to maps for 20 countries in Africa. Free annual map updates are included for a period of five years, and the text and voice guidance functions are available in a multitude of languages, comprising Afrikaans, Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and isiZulu.
Model Range and Recommended Retail Prices:
2.2 TDCi XLS 6AT 4×2 R499 900
2.0 SiT XLT 10AT 4×2 R584 900
2.0 BiT XLT 10AT 4×2 R607 600
3.2 TDCi XLT 6AT 4×4 R626 900
2.0 BiT XLT 10AT 4×4 R669 500
2.0 BiT Limited 10AT 4×4 R741 100
All models come standard with Ford Protect, comprising a four-year/120 000 km comprehensive warranty, three-year/unlimited distance roadside assistance and five-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty. A six-year/90 000 km service plan is included, with 15 000 km service intervals.
