Not surprising that it looks a lot like the all-new Ranger
The current generation Ford Everest is very long in the tooth now, having been introduced back in November 2014. But the Blue Oval says a replacement is imminent as it shows the next-generation model in its final testing phase ahead of its reveal in the first quarter of 2022.
The prototype is still fully clad with camouflage wrap but we can clearly see a front fascia that is very similar to that of the all-new Ranger and the Maverick. It features C-shaped headlights and a twin-bar running across the entire width of the rectangular grille and into the headlights.
The lack of a bed makes things at the rear a little bit more interesting. Unlike its pickup truck siblings which have vertical tail lights, the Everest sets itself apart with horizontal tail lights with L-shaped graphics and a segmented light signature. The lights are connected by a bar.
Touching a little bit on the camouflage wrap, Ford says it was designed by Lee Imrie, exterior designer at Ford Australia. The digitised graphic comprises reflective strips that will make the Everest stand out at night as well as a series of rectangles tilted on a 45-degree angle that were inspired by mountain peaks.
According to Imrie, the wrap is based on three colours, namely Meteor Grey, Black and White. These could be among the exterior colours available for the pickup truck-based SUV when it goes on sale.
There are no photos of the interior at the moment but it is safe to assume that it will look a lot like that of the Ranger, which means it will have a huge portrait-oriented infotainment screen and a fully-digital instrument cluster.
As for what’s under the hood, expect the Everest to carry the same 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 and 2.0-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder engines, with the 10-speed automatic as the sole transmission option.
