Ford Everest 4x2 to snatch Prado sales

Ford Australia has set its sights on taking more sales away from Toyota's Prado, President Graeme Whickman revealed to motoring journalists earlier this week. The latest tactic from the blue oval is a 4x2 (rear-wheel drive) Everest to undercut Prado on price and conceding off-road ability, yet appealing to buyers still wanting a tow vehicle that seats seven.

Priced at $55,990 and due to go on sale in September, the Everest 4x2 is specified in the mid-range Trend level of trim.

At that price and specification, the Everest 4x2 can still steal sales away from Toyota's hard-core off-road Prado, argues Ford Australia president, Graeme Whickman.

The decision to introduce the RWD Everest, Whickman says, was based largely on customer feedback and a perceived gap in the market unfilled by mainstream brands. Given those criteria, the nearly $56,000 price tag "seemed to be the natural start point".

"SUVs are growing like topsy," Whickman said, introducing the new Everest variant last week.

"You look at the segmentation at the moment, you look at SUVs in total, year to date they're up around 12 to 13 per cent – in rough terms. So it's really growing pretty strongly, when you think the industry's up maybe three per cent.

"We've been trying to make sure we offer a real suite of SUVs to cater for that growth. The Everest obviously was the latest addition to that, and we'll see the Everest grow in terms of its volume and share over time.

"For us, we're going to announce and put in play for [the] 2017 model year, which will be basically in September, an Everest rear-wheel drive application.

"Obviously that means that it maintains its cabin capability, its driveability, all manner of different exciting attributes that the vehicle has in its own rights.

"But it offers a different derivative for customers that are looking for something in the size and towing capability of an Everest, but not necessarily wanting the full functionality of the off-road [Everest]."

Powered by the same 3.2-litre five-cylinder diesel engine as the 4x4 model, the rear-wheel drive Everest also features a six-speed automatic transmission and boasts seating for seven and a 3000kg towing capacity.

Both variants of the Everest Trend (and the Everest Titanium flagship) will score the new SYNC3 infotainment system from launch of the 4x2 model. New facilities bundled with the SYNC3 system will include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

According to Ford, the system offers "faster performance, more conversational voice recognition, intuitive smartphone-like touch screen and an improved graphic user interface".

Additionally, all Everest variants will gain two new ISOFIX anchorage points for the second-row outboard seats.