The India bound, next generation 2015 Ford Endeavour/ Everest was launched in the Chinese market recently. Production of the new SUV will start in Rayong, Thailand and Nanchang, China, early next year, according to Ford. India will get Thai-made CKD kits which will be assembled at Ford’s Chennai plant by sometime next year.
Designed and developed by Ford’s Asia Pacific design and product development teams, the production version stays true to the Everest concept showed by Ford an year back in Sydney, apart from the addition of a few production friendly elements like the tires and head-lamp washers. The 7-seat SUV will go on sale next year, in markets like China, Australia, New Zealand, India (Endeavour), Sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa.
For those who like to get their SUVs dirty, the new Endeavor boasts a 225 mm ground clearance and capable is of 800 mm of water-wading. Ford’s newest crossover SUV can also hold its own when the going gets a tad mountainous, thanks to a commendable 29 degree approach angle and 25 degrees of departure. With a towing capacity of 3,000 kilos (6,613 lbs) and a payload of 750 kg (1,653 pounds), the 2015 Endeavour shows some good hauling prowess.
Inside, the 2015 Endeavour benefits from an all-new dashboard design and the latest generation of Ford’s in-car connectivity solution, SYNC 2, which lets one use natural voice commands to control the car’s entertainment system, climate controls and connected mobile devices more easily. SYNC 2 also boasts an 8-inch touchscreen with color-coded corners for easy menu navigation.
