After revealing the next-generation Ranger, Ford is gearing up for its next big debut.
The 2022 Ford Everest has been teased by the Blue Oval brand ahead of its reveal in the new year.
Launch timing has yet to be announced, though the new Ranger will start to arrive in mid-2022.
The new (again Australian-developed) Everest is in its final testing phase, and Ford has dressed it to hide in plain sight – the camouflage even features reflective strips to help it stand out at night.
Up front, its kinship to the Ranger is obvious with large C-shaped LED daytime running lights and dual chrome bars stretching across the grille and connecting with the headlights.
Overall, the grille of this particular prototype resembles that of the Ranger XLT, albeit with more chrome brightwork.
The sides appear cleaner than that of the current car, with a feature line running from the headlights to the tail lights.
The Everest also now appears to have chrome trim running below the windows and up to the D-pillar.
The tail lights feature chunky LED signatures, somewhat reminiscent of those on the Chinese-market Mondeo, and are connected by a piece of trim.
Judging by the panoramic sunroof, this could be an up-spec Titanium or Platinum.
For the first time, the Everest is expected to offer a plug-in hybrid, although this likely will not be available at launch.
The 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder plug-in hybrid will produce 270kW of power and 680Nm of torque, and is expected to offer a combined fuel economy of 3.0 litres of fuel per 100km.
Our understanding is the plug-in hybrid engine is yet to be used in any Ford products globally. Currently, the Explorer PHEV uses a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 and an electric motor, while the Escape PHEV uses a smaller 2.5-litre four-cylinder in combination with an electric motor.
Launch engines are expected to be the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 from the new Ranger, along with a reworked version of the current Everest’s twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel.
We expect the Everest to offer a choice of 10.1-inch and 12-inch touchscreen infotainment systems plus a standard digital instrument cluster, as on the Ranger.
Whether there’ll be greater differentiation between the Everest and Ranger cabins this time around is unclear.
CarExpert reported in 2020 the redesigned Everest would be offered in six trim levels with a mix of two- and four-wheel drive models, with prices starting around $50,000 before on-road costs and climbing to around $76,000 before on-roads.
- Ambiente (prices starting around $50,000 before on-road costs)
- Available with 4×2 and optional 4×4
- 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel standard engine
- Plug-in hybrid available as a cost option
- Available with seven seats as an option
- Trend (prices starting around $57,000 before on-road costs)
- Available with 4×2 and optional 4×4
- 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel standard engine
- Plug-in hybrid available as a cost option
- Available with seven seats as an option
- Trend Sport (prices starting around $65,000 before on-road costs)
- Available with 4×4 only
- Offered with 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine as standard
- 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel available as an option
- Plug-in hybrid available as a cost option
- Leather seats standard, plus an increase in infotainment specification
- Available with seven seats as an option
- Wildtrak X (prices starting around $69,000 before on-road costs)
- Available with 4×4 only
- Offered with 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel as standard
- Plug-in hybrid available as a cost option
- A leather/fabric mix seat material fitted for rugged appeal
- This model is a Ranger Raptor-esque equivalent of the Everest range
- It picks up Bilstein shock absorbers, BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres similar to the Ranger Raptor, and rock sliders along the sides of the car
- Titanium (prices starting around $73,000 before on-road costs)
- Available with 4×4 only
- Offered with 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel as standard
- Plug-in hybrid available as a cost option
- Leather seats standard, plus high-end infotainment specification
- Comes standard with seven seats that feature electric actuation for third row (up and down)
- Platinum (prices starting at around $76,000 before on-road costs)
- Available with 4×4 only
- Offered with plug-in hybrid as standard equipment
- 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel available as an option
- High-end Windsor leather seats and more leather throughout the cabin
- Seven seats are standard equipment with electric actuation for third row (up and down)
Trend Sport, Titanium and Platinum models can be optioned with an “Extreme Off-Road Package”, which adds similar off-road equipment to the Wildtrak X model.
MORE: Everything Ford Everest
