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Next-Gen Ford Everest Is Bold Outside, a Sanctuary on the Inside and Engineered for Adventure

The Next-Gen Ford Everest made its Middle East debut for the first time ever, blending adventure-ready capability with exceptional comfort and customer-focused technology in a rugged, refined, and fun-to-drive SUV.

Engineered to excite, the Next-Gen Ford Everest has been built for the adventurous – with capability at its core. Inside, premium levels of craftsmanship have created a quiet and refined sanctuary for up to seven, while class-leading technology and safety features offer driver and passengers comfort and peace of mind on every journey.

“When we began imagining the Next-Gen Ford Everest, we started not at the beginning but at the end: With our customers,” said Ian Foston, Chief Platform Engineer for Everest. “They’re people who like adventure, recreation and being able to go out with family and friends. Whether they’re conquering sand, rocks or city life, these customers appreciate the utility, capability and spaciousness of an SUV.”

Armed with more customer input than ever before, Foston said the objective for the Next-Gen Ford Everest was clear: Tough on the outside, sanctuary on the inside, amazing capability underneath. To showcase this, three trims of the Next-Gen Ford Everest were presented at the reveal; XLS, XLT and Limited. A range of different variants and models will be available, depending on the market, to meet the needs of Ford customers.

Rugged outside, a sanctuary within

Everest’s wider track and longer wheelbase enabled designers to create a more progressive, muscular appearance. Ford’s global design DNA is reflected in the C-clamp headlamps and strong horizontal upper grille bar. The front end also has a mix of horizontal and vertical elements which add to the stable appearance.

On the sides, there is a strong shoulder line front to back, while the wide track width results in a dramatic swell over the wheels, delivering a strong and modern look.

“We showed customers the Everest at several points during the design process and their feedback was consistent: They loved the exterior with the strong and rugged design, but they also thought it was sleek and modern” said Andrew Gregory, Brand Marketing Manager for Everest at Ford Middle East. “They said that the Everest would give them the confidence to go off-road; it looks like a proper SUV.”

What customers wanted on the interior was a different story. Inside, they wanted a sanctuary. “One of the first things you’ll notice when you get into a Next-Gen Ford Everest is how quiet it is,” Gregory said. “We’ve all been in vehicles with multiple rows of seats, where you have to twist your head around and almost shout to be heard by passengers in the second or third rows. That’s an issue we wanted to solve for Everest, so the interior would be a quiet place in which you can easily talk to your family or friends and enjoy the journey together.”

Designers also put a lot of thought into the function and feel of the interior, taking inspiration from modern homes and bringing in plush materials, premium finishes, and ambient lighting in areas customers will appreciate them best.

Everest’s sense of spaciousness is amplified by the full-width coast-to-coast instrument panel and center console with dual cupholder recesses, plus dash-mounted ‘pop-out’ cupholders for front-seat occupants. The XLT and Limited trims are equipped with integrated wireless charging, while all series receive a svelte new leather trimmed e-Shifter, and an electric parking brake.

Access to the third row is much easier thanks to second-row seats that slide further forward than before. Additionally, all occupants now have places to store their things and depending on the model, charge their devices with power outlets in all three rows.

The Everest Limited trim further elevates the interior and exterior experience with a best-in-class Bang & Olufson 12-speaker system delivering premium audio ambient lighting and a dual-panel sunroof. On the outside, the Limited comes with exclusive 21-inch alloy wheels and a variety of chrome accents.

Customer-focused technology

In addition to a more refined and comfortable interior, Ford focused on incorporating the latest connectivity and technology features into the Next-Gen Ford Everest. It comes with an 8- inch digital instrument panel that replaces the traditional analogue cluster, in addition to large, high-resolution portrait 10.1-inch or best-in-class 12-inch touchscreens.

Next-Gen Ford Everest is loaded with Ford’s latest SYNC® 4A1 system, which comes customer-ready with its voice-activated communications, entertainment, and information systems. The portrait-orientated 12-inch screen is linked to a 360-degree camera with split-view display to make parking a breeze in tight urban spaces or to assist when negotiating particularly tricky terrain while out exploring. In addition, customers can control Everest’s new exterior zone lighting system via the touchscreen, which means they don’t have to park, work, camp, or do anything else in the dark.

The XLT and Limited series include a wireless charging dock, allowing for cable-free top-ups of device batteries and a windscreen mounted USB port to keep your camera charged while videoing your adventures. Additionally, a cooled glove box features in every trim of the Next-Gen Ford Everest.

For drivers of the Limited series, the Advanced Automated Parking System makes it easier than ever to fit their Everest into even the tightest of spots. The system controls the steering, accelerator, transmission and brake – although the driver can take over at any time by applying the brakes or taking their finger off the Park Aid button.

New and proven engine line-up

Depending on the market, the Next-Gen Ford Everest gives customers a choice of two engines to suit their lifestyles. Starting with Ford’s proven, 2.3L EcoBoost® Turbo petrol engine, mated to an efficient 10-speed SelectShift automatic which delivers Best-in-Class 296HP power and 420Nm of torque (more than any competitor V6).

Engineered for adventure

With almost 20 years of history, the Everest nameplate has built a formidable reputation as a safe, trusted, capable, family SUV, winning a multitude of awards across the globe. A 50mm increase in Next-Gen Ford Everest’s track helps deliver a more controlled ride on-road, while tweaks to damper settings allowed the team to inject more fun and control into Everest’s handling, both on- and off-road.

“Everest was always well regarded for its plush ride on- and off-road handling, but the track increase allowed our dynamics team to create a greater connection between vehicle and driver, with a more controlled fun to drive ride around town and on the highway,” said Foston.

Want to do some exploring? Next-Gen Ford Everest is ready to go, with a 4×4 system utilizing a 2-speed Electronic Shift On the Fly (ESOF) transfer case, underbody skid plates, a rear locking differential and off-road selectable drive modes plus two functional tow hooks upfront.

Where available, Everest’s dedicated off-road screens display vehicle information and a front camera view of the terrain ahead, with predictive overlay guidelines designed to help the driver negotiate obstacles. With a single button press, the driver can view their driveline and diff-lock indicators, steering angle and guides as well as vehicle roll and pitch angles.

Everest’s impressive towing capability is supported by smart technologies that make towing easier. A dedicated tow/haul drive mode has been tuned to optimize gear shift timing to maintain the best power delivery and engine braking when carrying loads, either in a trailer or in the cargo area. Additionally, an available integrated electric trailer brake controller3 helps deliver smooth and effective control of a trailer’s brake system. Everest’s new camera views help owners guide their SUV into position to connect a trailer, while integrated SYNC® 4A features such as trailer connection checklist and trailer light check help make the job easier.

The new integrated or stand-off roof rails are more than just a design detail; they’re engineered for adventure. The Everest rooftop can now support static loads of up to 350kg and dynamic loads of up to 100kg, providing increased versatility that enables it to carry bikes, kayaks, cargo pods, or roof-top tents. A universal mounting system allows customers to equip their vehicle with a range of accessories.

“The Next-Gen Ford Everest is a truly remarkable vehicle – one that is capable, safe, smart and powerful,” said Pedro Simões, Marketing Director at Ford Middle East. “But just as important as the vehicle is a remarkable ownership experience.”

“Everest customers lead busy lives, juggling work, family time, a social life and recreation. They need their vehicle ownership experience to be easier and more rewarding, so we’ve created a collection of services that, depending on market, are designed to help do just that.”

“We see the moment you buy your vehicle as the beginning of our journey together, not the end,” Simões said. “Our commitment is that we’re here for you throughout the time you own your vehicle.”

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