[Amphibian]

Ford’s New Everest Is the Rugged Seven-Seat Off-Roader We Want But Can’t Have​

caranddriver.com
November 13, 2014
By: Robert Sorokanich

The Ford Everest’s spec sheet is tantalizing for off-road nerds. Body-on-frame construction, a solid rear axle, and a real locking transfer case with a true low range give this truck all the bona fides that have kept Jeep in business with the rock-crawling set. Meanwhile, a high-tech Terrain Management System offers street, sand, snow, and off-road settings, managing throttle response, torque vectoring, and hill control like the systems found in pricey Land Rovers. An electronic-locking rear diff and digital displays for vehicle pitch and roll round out the off-road equipment.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/fords-...-seven-seat-off-roader-we-want-but-cant-have/

Full article at the link. Perhaps more a successor to the 1990-2010 Explorer than the 2011+ Explorer has been. Anyway, Grand Cherokee competitor anyone?

 

[Amphibian]

Ford has a great image and can easily command premium prices when they choose. A NA Everest with the right mix of equipment and engines could easily compete in the Grand Cherokee's range of 30-60K (outside of the SRT). That said, based on photos the Everest does not have the level of detail, outside or in, that the 2014+ Grand Cherokee does, so there would probably need to be some changes. The same is true to an even greater extent for the Trailblazer. But it's completely possible for Ford to address this if they wanted to sell it in NA. And Ford's 3.5L would likely be necessary for a base engine, or the 2.3T I suppose. The EcoBoost V-6 would be a great premium engine option, and they need an 8AT as well. But we won't be getting this vehicle in any form, of that I am sure.

 

[Amphibian]

This was debated in detail at FIN. The problem with the like of Trailblazer, and Everest is that they are built to much lower standard. The upgrades necessary to make them ready for mature markets like US and EU are substantial -- and even then would likely not be as refined as the GC.

Speaking of, what platform does the Everest use? The (global) Ranger platform? Based on the technology available and so on, it looks like something that could compete with a Land Cruiser Prado, which would seemingly be sufficient for the NA market. But seeing as we don't have it here it's difficult to say. Either way it seems to be more refined aesthetically than the Trailblazer is, which looks rather cheap in comparison. I still wonder where a few such SUVs could fit in the American market and greater NA. The Grand Cherokee and 4Runner are the only midsize "trucks" left. The market has obviously shifted away from SUVs that are trucks out of convenience, but based on Grand Cherokee (and even 4Runner, to an extent) sales there's a market for ruggedly elegant SUVs in the 30-60K range.