Artist impression based on the Ford Explorer.
Found some info regarding the 2012 Full Model Change Ford Everest. In a departure from the current practise of putting a Japanese team (Mazda, Hiroshima) to lead development of U268 Ford Ranger / BT-50, the next generation Ranger, codenamed T6 is developed in Australia.
The T6 Ranger is due to be signed off pending final stages of validation tests in Australian outbacks. Expected launch date for the T6 Ford Ranger is sometime in 2011. Like its current counterpart, a 7-seater ladder frame chassis SUV model will also be spinned off from the Ranger, and sold as Everest or Endeavour in developing markets of ASEAN and India.
While it is being developed by an Australian team based, the T6 SUV team however will be headed by an American, FoMoCo's SUV specialist and vehicle engineering manager Todd Hoevener. Throughout the entire development process of the T6 SUV, Hoevener will be transplanted from his current base in Detroit to the Aussie state of Victoria. Hoevener's most recent work is the all new Ford Explorer.
Pick-up truck based SUVs is a segment that was the direct result of a Thai vehicle taxation regulation. Which makes a distinction between workhorse pick-up truck based SUVs (which are taxed lower) compared to passenger car based SUVs (which are taxed higher). One of the earliest PPV models built to cater to this new segment is the Isuzu MU-7. Competitors from Ford, Toyota and Mitsubishi would later offer similar SUV variants of their truck models.
Under Ford's new OneFord global strategy to capitalise on Ford's assets in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas, the new T6 truck will be offered in the US as well, slotted under the Ford F-150 as a light truck. Details about introduction of the T6 SUV is sketchy though, as the currently Ford is already sufficiently represented across the entire cross-over and SUV segment in USA.
I am curious to know what is the relationship between Ford and Mazda on this project, given that Mazda is now independent from Ford. It seems that input from Mazda is very limited on the T6. However, development work on the T6 must have started years before the credit crunch of 2009 which pushed Ford to sell off all its interest in Premier Automotive Group as well as Mazda and killing the Mercury sister brand. The BT-50 have not sold well anyway, even in Thailand where it is made, and Mazda have not paid sufficient effort (more like don't have the resources) to grow the fleet sales / commercial sales sector. Plus, building a SUV off a pick-up platform will naturally inherit poor ride and handling characteristics. These are natural engineering limitations to the design / structure and there is very little that can be done without compromising the vehicle's work horse performance. These trade-off in ride and handling may not be consistent with Mazda's Zoom-Zoom philosophy. And it is part of the reason why a Mazda version of the Everest was never made.
Update : 2011 Ford Territory hints design of 2012 Ford Everest
Expect to see a lot of styling cues from the Ford Explorer to be incorporated into the T6 Everest.
2 comments:
Great and nice, as long they can make the SUV look alike variants cheaper and fuel efficiency to international market, it will go to the top of all brands of SUV, Go for it!
The artist perspective look much of a crossover and that of a Toyota Fortuner. I hope Ford will not move away from its tough look design and roomy cabin.
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