Ford confirms rear-drive Everest

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Ford has responded to a strong trend in the SUV market by revealing its plans to sell a two-wheel-drive version of Drive's 2015 Car of the Year, the Everest.

According to Ford's own figures, some makes and models are split evenly between all and two-wheel-drive, including its own Territory SUV, making the two-wheel-drive Everest an easy business case to make.

But crucially, Ford is also up front about a two-wheel-drive Everest offering buyers something its arch-rival, the Toyota Prado, does not.

Ford Australia CEO and president, Graeme Whickman, told Drive that some new-car buyers wanted the Everest's seating capacity, space and towing ability, without the capability of all-wheel-drive.

"This model will make the Everest a bit more accessible and gives more people the opportunity to buy a Ford," he said.

The new variant will be rear-wheel-drive and will use the Everest's existing 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

The rear-drive Everest will only be available in Trend specification, rather than the entry-level Ambiente variant.

Mr Whickman also told Drive that the reduced hardware in the two-wheel-drive version would allow Ford to cut the price by about $5000 over the all-wheel-drive Trend model, bringing the base price down to around $56,000.

The two-wheel-drive Everest should hit showrooms in September.

The reduced driveline friction and weight of the newcomer could also spell a fuel-consumption reduction.

Development of the rear-drive Everest was undertaken by the same Ford Australia team that originally designed and engineered the Thai-built Everest, but Mr Whickman would not be drawn on what, if any, other markets would sell the rear-drive model.

There's also no suggestion that Ford would elect to install the less expensive 2.2-litre four cylinder turbo diesel driveline from the Ranger XL models in the Everest.

"You always have to balance range complexity against demand," Mr Whickman said, hinting that a 2.2-litre Everest was not on the agenda.

That said, the engineering would be relatively straightforward as the Everest is heavily based on the Ranger.

At the same time as the two-wheel-drive Everest goes on sale, Ford will also upgrade Everest Trend models and above to its Sync3 connectivity package which will enable Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto connectivity and an improved version of voice recognition.

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2016 Ford Everest Titanium price and specifications

On sale: September, 2016

Price: from $55,900 (plus on-road costs)

Engine: 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo diesel

Power: 143kW at 3000rpm

Torque: 470Nm at 1750-2500rpm

Transmission: Six-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Fuel use: TBA