Ford to build Everest in China

CHINA will get its own domestically built version of the Australian designed and developed Ford Everest SUV, complete with a choice of petrol engines that is expected to include the Blue Oval’s lauded 2.0-litre turbocharged EcoBoost powerplant.

Ford Australia was the first in the world to engineer the 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine for a longitudinal, rear-drive layout so it stands to reason that local engineers applied their experience from that project to the petrol Everest, which shares its T6 platform, mechanical and structural components with the Ranger one-tonne ute.

Like Japan and North America, the Chinese market prefers petrol over diesel, and the Chinese-built Everest is also expected to be offered with a 2.5-litre normally aspirated petrol and a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel.

Ford Asia Pacific product communications director Sinead Phipps confirmed to GoAuto that the Everest – which will be sourced for Australia from the same Rayong production facility in Thailand as the Ranger – will also be built in China to supply that market under Ford’s joint-venture with Jiangling.

However she said drivetrain details will be kept under wraps until the Everest has its global unveiling in Beijing on November 13.

For the four-pot Falcon, Ford Australia installed the EcoBoost in 179kW/353Nm tune, using the same basic engine that debuted Down Under in mid-2011 on the front-drive Mondeo EcoBoost, where it produces 149kW and 300Nm.

In October 2012 this engine was pumped up for the Australian launch of the Focus ST hot hatch, to produce 184kW with up to 360Nm available in overboost mode.

The other petrol engine in the Chinese market Everest is expected to be the entry level option and is likely to be the same 122kW/226Nm unit that was available in low-spec Australian-delivered T6 Rangers from launch and quietly discontinued in late 2013.

Unlike the sophisticated 110kW/375Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel that now serves as the low-output option on the Ranger and its Mazda BT-50 twin, Chinese Everests are understood to be getting a more basic and less powerful 2.4-litre unit.

Jiangling also builds Transit vans in China, but Ms Phipps said little was to be read into the recent presence of left-hand drive versions at the You Yangs as many vehicles are brought to Australia for testing and calibration work that cannot be done elsewhere.