As with pickup trucks in the Philippines, the midsize SUV segment is an important part of the lineup. The seven-seat, diesel engine formula is a cash-raking combo for these car brands, thanks to rising fuel prices and the incessant appeal of more seats to Filipino consumers.
That’s especially truer with Ford Philippines. The Blue Oval has already ditched the small cars in its lineup to make way for the big guns and crossovers. The bestsellers so far are the Territory and the outgoing Ranger pickup, the position once held by the Ford Everest.
Not that the Everest is a bad SUV. It’s actually one of the best in class in many aspects, but one can say many things about its age in the market.
Thankfully, Ford teased the next-generation Everest right off the heels of the next-generation Ranger’s global reveal. For those who follow the auto industry, we all know that the Everest is the SUV version of the Ranger, both based on the same platform.
Ford said that the Everest has entered the final testing phase of the automaker’s global testing program. Dressed in digital camouflage designed by Lee Imrie, exterior designer at Ford Australia, important design aspects are still hiding in plain sight, leaving most parts to everyone’s imagination.
But for what it’s worth, things are looking good for the next-gen Ford Everest based on the official prototype images and the teaser video that it comes with.
As expected, the Everest adopts the Ranger’s newfound Maverick-esque design language, including the massive C-shaped DRLs. There are some deviations, though, such as the application of chrome. The combination of heft and luxurious cues should do well for the midsize SUV, especially since this type of vehicle has become synonymous with being a status symbol. The SUV looks squared-off, as well, which should add to its authoritarian aura.
The rear also shows promising details, including new graphics for the LED light ensemble. The side profile and the greenhouse are largely unchanged, though we have to point out that the prototype is wearing a huge set of wheels that actually look fine. Of note, with the increase in the size of the Ranger, we’re also expecting a marginal adjustment in the Everest’s overall dimensions, which should translate to increased interior space.
There isn’t any information released about the next-gen Everest’s powertrain, but we all know that the Everest traditionally adopts the setup employed on the Ranger. Depending on the market, a small four-cylinder 2.0-liter diesel mill with a single- and twin-turbo setup options should arrive. However, the headliner would most likely be the 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel, reserved for the top variants with 4×4 drivetrains.
If we’re to call it now, we expect the V6 diesel to arrive in the Philippines for the 4×4 Titanium trims, while the single- and twin-turbo 2.0-liter diesel mills will power the base and mid-variants.
Ford said that the next-generation Everest will be revealed in the first quarter of 2022. Until then, expect more teasing campaigns from the Blue Oval brand in the weeks to come.