Blinged Platinum grade replaces Titanium as Ford details overhaul inside and out for new Everest SUV
A blinged-up new flagship dubbed the Platinum highlights a complete overhaul of the exterior and interior of the new-generation 2022 Ford Everest large SUV.
Unveiled globally this evening, the Thai-built Ford Everest is expected on sale in Australia early in the second half of 2022.
The Australian-developed wagon family will come with a tougher, squared-off exterior designed to better emphasise the 4×4 version’s off-road capabilities and a more upmarket interior intended to cosset its passengers better from the elements.
As we’ve covered separately, the mechanical and technical package is being significantly overhauled with items like the Lion V6 turbo-diesel engine and highly customisable new-gen digital instrument panels and portrait touch-screens shared with the new Ford Ranger, as well as its own unique items such as the Watts link rear suspension and third-row seating.
The Platinum, which is a badge already offered in the US with the likes of the Ford F-150 pick-up and Expedition, comes complete with 21-inch chrome wheels that are the largest ever offered with Everest, bonnet lettering and ‘lamplique’ linked tail-lights.
It heads a range that internationally continues to include the Titanium, Sport, Trend and Ambiente.
Of that lot, only the Titanium won’t make it to Australia.
Aiming higher
“We feel this [Platinum] is going to be more desirable, it aims even higher [than Titanium],” said Ford Australia chief designer Max Tran.
“We offer Platinum in America on our SUV and truck range, so it is a known nameplate. Obviously for us this brings in some of that.”
The new Ford Everest’s square and muscular exterior stance is made feasible by the T6 platform’s 50mm extended wheelbase and 50mm wider track that also comes with Ranger (although the latter’s wheelbase is longer).
“People didn’t really realise how capable this [current] Everest was. You can take this thing and go off-road, go adventuring, take the family and really go after it,” said Tran.
“It’s something with the design of the exterior [of the new Everest] we really wanted to reflect.
“It’s something we heard from our customers, it had to be more rugged, more masculine. Had to communicate a more SUV appearance.
“There are a few characteristics that do that; it’s more formal, a little more squared up.
“The proportional enhancements of the wheels being pulled out, especially the front ones being pulled forward, actually works amazingly on the Everest. They really sit in the corner.
“They make you feel like you can drive through that creek, drive over that bump. Piece of cake.”
‘Gains everywhere’
The new Ford Everest shares no sheet-metal or glass with its predecessor and only the front door skins, bonnet and fenders are shared with the new Ford Ranger.
C-clamp headlights are also Ranger-esque and come in three spec levels including top-spec matrix LED with dynamic bending lights.
Inside there’s been a drive to upgrade soft-touch materials and equipment.
The Platinum tops that out with heated and vented premium leather-accented front seats with 10-way power adjustment and memory function for the driver.
These seats are finished with quilted inserts and signature Platinum badging. Platinum also receives heated second-row seats and a heated steering wheel and a panoramic sunroof. This is also the only model to get the largest 12.4-inch instrument panel.
The new Everest’s squared-up exterior helps create more interior space for both people and luggage.
Ford says there is more elbow-room, legroom and shoulder-room for those in the front and the back, while accessing the third-row seats is now easier thanks to second-row seats that slide further forward than before and fold flat.
“There are gains everywhere,” said Ford Australia interior design manager Nick Eterovic.
“Internally it’s not a tonne dimensionally different to today’s car. No-one really asked us to make Everest bigger; we wanted to make it wider, we wanted to make it look more durable and agile, we didn’t want it to look like today’s car which is quite tall from the rear.
“We wanted to make the interior very democratic. We didn’t want to make it driver-focused, for instance. There’s no tilting of the screen, no special features that are on that [driver’s] side of the car only.”
The Everest’s centre console comes with dual cup holder recesses while there are also dash-mounted ‘pop-out’ cup holders for front seat occupants.
The 4×4 models are equipped with a new leather-trimmed e-Shifter and all variants get integrated wireless phone charging and an electric parking brake.
New features Eterovic proudly pointed out included an iPad holder in row three and an ‘apple catcher’ in the luggage area that is a lip stopping items from rolling out when the tailgate is released.
Another interior detail is the doorhandle release that now sits within the arm rest like the bigger-brother Ford F-150 in the US.
“We made the instrument panel wider, we nested it into the doors, we then encroached into the space that was previously taken by the release handle,” explained Eterovic.
“It gave us an opportunity to be more efficient with the door package and it gave us a better switch position. It gave us a more positive release.
“The customers love the horizontal lines and the almost-sedan like layout of the door. For us, it was win-win-win.”
Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at [email protected]
Keyword: New Ford Everest: Platinum flagship tops range