With Ranger uncovered, focus is now on preparing the related sports utility for market.

FAMILIAL styling with the Ranger utility will continue to be a theme for the Everest sports utility wagon in its new generation, going by a preview video shared by Ford.

Shot during the model’s final testing phase, the video keeps the finer details of the new model’s exterior execution hidden under a cloak of digitised camouflage – consisting of a series of rectangles set at 45 degrees, to lend thought of mountain peaks - but gives enough away to confirm that the seven-seater has the same general look as the utility with which it shares so much DNA.

The cross-referencing in terms of styling starts up front, with Everest achieving Ranger’s prominent new grille, with a strikethrough crossbar, and C-clamp headlight treatment. The rear tail light treatment is different to the ute’s, though the boomerang signature includes. As per the one-tonner, Everest achieves pronounced wheel arches.

The model’s design was undertaken in Australia; Ford’s Melbourne design office is the home room for Ranger and Everest.   

There’s every expectation the new model’s flagship is likely to be powered by the Ranger’s new 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine, with peak outputs of around 186kW/597Nm conjected. Other variants will keep on running the 157kW/500Nm twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel. 

All engines will be paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

As with Ranger, this is a re-engineering of the current platform. Overseas’ reports suggest probability that the independent front- and solid rear-axle (with Watt’s linkage) suspension will be retained; AWD versions will again offer Terrain Management off-road drive modes. 

Nothing has been revealed of new Everest’s interior, but thought is it will have a fully digital instrument panel and, in top flight form, a 12-inch SYNC4-equipped touchscreen infotainment system with mobile internet connectivity and a new off-road display mode that provides driveline, steering angle, pitch and roll angles and other info. A 360-degree camera and the ability to start, check various functions as well as lock/unlock the vehicle via the FordPass Connect mobile app will probably also feature.

The Everest will likely be fully revealed soon, but as with Ranger a mid-2022 on-sale is expected.