The Ford Everest is more than just a sport utility vehicle (SUV) with good looks, says sales executive at Jan Gey Ford, Otjiwarongo, Bernard van den Berg.
The Ford Everest Wildtrack is a connected car featuring advanced technology, and has won the best adventure car of the year accolade.
The seven-seater SUV comes with a powerful 184kW, 600nm, 3,0l V6 diesel engine, with a 10-speed auto gearbox. Surely a stern warning for other cars in its segment to make way when on the roads.
For those Ford lovers who still want to get behind a manual gearbox, the Wildtrack gives you that option.
It also comes with the Wildtrack identity, such as seating, steering wheel and e-shifter, which is new from Ford.
This is a complete new gear shifter and not a lever any more, Van den Berg says.
“It enables you to leave the car in drive and to switch it off and the car will automatically put itself in park,” he says of the park assist version two, which is now available in all next-generation vehicles and gives owners the ability to park autonomously.
The SUV comes with a panoramic sunroof and 18-inch rims with all-terrain tyres.
The car allows the driver to preset the vehicle to different terrain settings.
“The Everest features four auto modes, which is like an electronically controlled all-wheel drive system, and will decide where torque splits are needed between the rear and front wheels,” Van den Berg says.
The car also has a built-in modem which works with a SIM card, referred to at Ford as “fully connected vehicles” which are permanently connected to the internet, he says.
This feature offers many benefits for owners, as the car continuously shares diagnostic information with service providers.
As long as there is reliable network, Ford can assist the driver with any troubleshooting.
The car can be remotely started.
Through Bluetooth several functions like tyre pressure, fuel range, oil and service history are monitored.
Upcoming services can be booked from your car or cellphone, says Van den Berg.
The manufacturers claim a combined fuel consumption of 8,5l/100km.
The eight-inch digital instrument cluster which replaces the traditional analogue dials can be customised to suit the driver’s preferences.
Another nice-to-have feature is the climate control function, which works all the way right through to the third-row seats.
Ford plays it safe to ensure its brand rakes in some good Euro N-Cap ratings, with 10 airbags, of which one is fitted between the driver and front passenger to alleviate injuries between the two front occupants.
Apart from all the standard safety features expected in cars of this calibre, the vehicle comes with Evasive Steering Assist.
Van den Berg says the Everest helps drivers to avoid a crash in the event that a person, object or animal moves towards the vehicle.
Even the blind spot warning has been upgraded to accommodate a towing trailer.
This system is simple but effective, as the driver can program the trailer’s specifications, like length, and the car will warn the driver of any danger or miscalculation when overtaking other vehicles.
Find Jan Gey at Otjiwarongo, Oshakati, Grootfontein, and Walvis Bay.
Windhoek’s Novel Ford also stocks the vehicle.
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