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Tinashe Makichi Motoring Reporter
Taking a bold step to redefine the SUV market in Asia Pacific and beyond, Ford is celebrating the global unveiling of the new Ford Everest, a technologically advanced, capable and refined seven-seat SUV to be launched in 2015.

In Asia Pacific, the Ford Everest will be available in nine markets that is China, Australia, New Zealand, India, and markets across the Asian region.

Ford is set to introduce the rugged SUV to Sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa in 2015.

The new Ford Everest is a versatile vehicle, equally prepared for the everyday commute as it is for the most extreme off-road terrain.

The Everest’s unique blend of tough capability and exceptional comfort is going to resonate with drivers across Asia Pacific and around the world.

With a rugged, sculptural design that reflects its unshakeable toughness and technological prowess, the Everest blends strength, smart features and style to bring consumers a tough and versatile SUV with true off-road capability.

In addition to surprising and delighting fans of rugged off-road SUVs, it embodies Ford’s fun-to-drive DNA to deliver rewarding and dynamic on-road handling, offering no compromises on refinement and comfort.

“The Ford Everest will help to expand our product footprint in the region with a tough and refined vehicle that enables drivers, their families, friends and colleagues to go anywhere comfortably, whether on urban roads or far off the beaten track,” said Ford Asia Pacific Product Development vice president Trevor Worthington.

“From the EcoSport to the Everest, our SUV portfolio in Asia Pacific offers something for everyone,” he said.

Led by Ford’s Asia Pacific design and product development teams, and making use of Ford’s global SUV expertise, the new Ford Everest builds on the reputation of the current Ford Everest, which is praised for its durability and versatility.

The new Ford Everest will be available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive variants depending on specific market demand. Ford Everest represents an epic commitment on the part of the Ford Motor Company to meet and exceed high customer expectations. The new Everest was designed from the ground up with the durability to take on the most inhospitable environments. One of the toughest SUVs in its segment, the vehicle has a true body-on-frame design, assuring the torsional strength required for challenging terrains.

Together with an intelligent four-wheel drive system, an active transfer case with Torque on Demand, Terrain Management System, and best-in-class ground clearance of 225 mm and water-wading capability of 800mm, the Everest helps drivers navigate difficult terrain with ease.

For ultimate capability, the advanced terrain management system gives drivers four pre-set settings normal, snow/gravel/grass, sand and rock that alter the vehicle’s throttle response, transmission, intelligent four-wheel drive system and traction control to confidently tackle any situation. For extreme off-road environments, drivers can manually lock the transfer case in low-range four-wheel drive mode for increased control.

These impressive off-road credentials are paired to a new level of ride quality and dynamic handling beyond what consumers have come to expect in a rugged SUV.

Thanks to its coil spring front and rear suspension and a Watt’s linkage on the rear axle, the new Ford Everest provides a comfortable, stable ride with agile and predictable handling on the road, keeping the promise of Ford’s fun-to-drive DNA.

Ingeniously packaged with “up for it” functionality enabling extraordinary journeys, the Everest is one of the most technologically advanced off-road SUVs ever made, and builds on Ford’s global expertise in the utility segment.

The latest generation of Ford’s in-car connectivity solution SYNC 2 allows drivers to use natural voice commands to control the car’s entertainment system, climate controls and connected mobile devices more easily than ever before.

SYNC 2 function also boasts an eight inch touch screen with colour-coded corners for easy menu navigation.

The new Ford Everest also offers a number of segment-first technologies, including curve control, designed to help drivers maintain control when approaching turns too quickly; lane departure warning and lane keeping aid, two technologies that help prevent drivers from unintentionally drifting out of a lane; and Blind spot information system with cross traffic alert, which informs drivers when there is a vehicle in their blind spot while driving or when preparing to reverse out of parking spots.