2015 Ford Everest (Endeavour) is almost ready for the road

After showcasing it in concept form at this year’s Bangkok Motor Show, Ford has officially given a sneak-peek into the development of the 2015 Everest. The next-generation model of the SUV, which is also sold in India as the Endeavour, is scheduled for an early 2015 launch. Interestingly, the vehicle will be sold outside ASEAN countries for the first time.   

Ford says the new Everest will redefine its segment and play a major role in the automaker’s global growth strategy. Claimed to be the most comprehensively researched vehicle Ford has ever conceived in the Asia-Pacific region, the 2015 Everest has been designed to meet the needs of buyers in the said region. 

Over the course of the real-world tests, Ford has produced 200 prototype models, which together have completed more than 1 million kilometres during the testing on public roads and at Ford’s global test facilities. Now that the vehicle is nearing the end of the development process, the automaker is gearing up for an official reveal.

The new Everest is expected to be powered by heavily updated versions of the existing 2.5-litre and 3-litre four cylinder diesel engines albeit with a new 6-speed manual and a new automatic gearbox. The car is expected to be launched in India (as the Endeavour) soon after its global launch. At present, the Endeavour is sold in India through the completely knocked down (CKD) route and the 2015 model will continue to follow suit. When launched, it will go up against the Mahindra Ssangyong Rexton, Hyundai Santa Fe and the current segment leader – the Toyota Fortuner.