Ford Everest (Endeavour) spied in China; Interiors revealed

The Ford Everest, which will be launched in India as the Endeavour, has been spotted testing in China. This time though, the photographer has managed to take a snap of the interiors too. The car has been spotted a few times in China and Australia now and by the looks of it, the new Endeavour seems very close to production.

 

The new Endeavour made its global debut in Sydney last year and despite being based on the same ladder frame chassis, looks strikingly different from the current model. The front gets a trapezoidal front grille and projector headlamps, while the side profile shows new alloy wheels and OVRM mounted indicators. Even driving dynamics are expected to be improved over the current car, owing to the new coil springs and rear disc brakes.

The interiors of the car get a major overhaul and it features a new centre console with a large multimedia screen, a redesigned four-spoke steering wheel, new door trims and vertical AC vents. The eight-inch touch screen will be updated with Ford’s latest version of the SYNC infotainment system.

The powertrain options for the Endeavour are expected to be retained for the Indian market. It will be powered by a 2.5-litre TCDi engine producing 141bhp and 330Nm of torque and a 3.0-litre unit producing 154bhp and 380Nm of torque. While the 2.5-litre unit comes only with a six-speed manual gearbox, the 3.0-litre unit is expected to get a six-speed automatic.

The new Endeavour was expected to be unveiled in India at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo, though Ford instead showcased just the facelift. The Endeavour is currently brought to India through the completely knocked down (CKD) route and the new car is expected to follow suit. The Endeavour, thanks to its robust looks and massive road presence, had a successful run in India, but since the entry of the Fortuner, its sales numbers have been dwindling. The car’s other rivals are Isuzu MU-7, Ssangyong Rexton, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and the Chevrolet Captiva.