Source :Autocar
The 2018 Facelift has been spotted undisguised in Thailand. Updates seem to be minimal and cosmetic, like the two slot horizontal grille being replaced with the new Ranger family’s three slot grille. Wonder if Ford will be tweaking any other features for this mid cycle refresh.
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I have been keenly following the Endeavour’s (Everest’s) genesis since its design phase at Melbourne Design Centre. The endy has won my regard and vote since its arrival. After these couple of years of the Endy hitting our shores, I’d like to record small tidbits about the Endy that excited and continues to excite me. Why this long post?
Well, A recent (repeat) test drive on a 3.2 Titanium, has prompted me to sit up and pen some thoughts down. Pardon me, for most of the points might not be new knowledge, to the learned folk here, but for some folks it might be a good read.
The drawing board -Design Nougats- Devil is in the details -
The Everest from America’s Ford was never meant for America. It was affectionately crafted for you and me, the Asia Pacific. This mid size SUV is primarily for the chinese chaps, and those blokes Down Under, and us (and all those ASEAN folk who came for the Republic Day Parade)
(All this , while our US counterparts gladly guzzle away on the full size 7 seater Explorer)
The Everest was the fruit of toil of the good Aussie folk at Broadmeadows, in the northern outskirts of Melbourne. Its design is important sentimentally to the Aussies, as it came at a time when car manufacturing was shutting down in the continent, for good. With production moving to cheaper markets like China and Thailand (where the everest is manufactured now), Ford Australia has more number of designers and engineers than factory workers. The Endy and the other designs from this tiny building behind the now shut down Falcon factory, puts Aussie design talent on the world map. Pat on the back mates.!
image Source- pcmag.com
*FiVE- Ford’s immersive Virtual environment is a VR lab where simulations help in design and interaction with the virtual car and all its components. There are only two in the world, one in Michigan and the other one in Melbourne from where our big boy rolled out. This has kept the precision on the surface of the Endy within the order of thousandth of a millimetre! Thats much thinner than my thinning middle age hair.
image Source:motor1.com
*The front 3D moulded front under shield is a lovely highlight below that bold inverted trapezoidal grille. It does more than hold up and bracket the base of the front fascia, it deflects air beneath the vehicle for better aerodynamics. This, and the small ‘kickers’ in the rear that reduce drag are small nuggets of good engineering to make this ‘box’ punch through the air better. Attention has been paid to minimise the drag effect of the large wing mirrors which stand proud like flappy ears on the otherwise clean side. Every little detail like where the body panel would turn has been meticulously sculpted to give this boxy ‘bluff body’ some unbelievable drag coeffs.(segment best, I hear)
*The Endy’s design lines scream ‘H-O-R-I-Z-O-N-T-A-L’ Every thing is wide and broad and gives the planted imposing stance that it boasts of. Inside and out, these horizontal lines are everywhere.(This was intentional, apparently ,by design, to exude the feeling of spaciousness in the cabin) Me likes.
*While, its peers migrate towards more curvaceous forms with sleek fluidic lines sweeping across the body, the endy is too proud to go with the 'flow'. It stands there, squarish, stubborn and solid, making a bold statement.
Mechanicals: The beast’s beating heart.
With the Chevy’s Duramax packed up with the Trialblazer (MuX runs a lower tune?), the 3.2 Duratorq of the Endy seems to be the torque monster in its segment (470Nm) Thats a lot of pulling power. Makes sense considering the Everest is rated to tow a 3 tonne braked trailer behind it. AND it has Trailer Sway Control which senses if the trailer is swaying and responds by easing the engine torque and braking and warning the petrified chaps behind you on the road by turning on the signal lights.
Do I own a boat ? No. Do I have a trailer? No. Is this good to have and good to know. Yup!
you never know, I might just buy a boat and trail it around for the next time floods hit
Economy, fuel efficiency, noise and all those matters of reason fly out the window, as I floor this 3.2 engine. I ain’t settling for the 2.2! The 3.2 is what this is meant for. That alone, is justice.
Combine this brute engine power with the capability offered by the Terrain Management System, the nice steering and I have found my choice of steed to ride into war with. Im not going to off road and do axle twisters with a 40 lac asset. But I would drive, rest assured that It would pull me out of any sane stuff I put it through. The dial-a-terrain switch make the arsenal more user friendly and ready to go for dummies like self.
Another small detail- the Endy uses a timing chain instead of a belt.
< A timing chain will generally last the life of the engine and is more compact but generally a bit more expensive to engineer and add very marginally to the cost of the engine.
Timing belts are quieter and usually cheaper to design into an engine because basically it hangs off the front (usually under a cover) and doesn't require a lubrication system to be designed for it.
(Source: forums.whirlpool.com)>
Would you Like Some numbers with that? 225mm ground clearance and 800 mm water wading depth. Import that accessory snorkel from Thailand and we are ready to go fishing. Who needs a boat!
I know very well, what happens when that water comes knocking, boys!
A link to my personal experience video:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-d...ml#post3876472 Space... for my thoughts
Coming from the storme, Im spoilt by space. Space for passengers and space for luggage. I have literally shifted most of my household intercity in that huge boot with tumble seats)
The Endeavour with all 7 seats up, still has some space in the boot to carry some bags. Its a relief, compared to some other SUVs which force you to trade those last two chaps for your precious luggage. The third row seats could use a little better ergos.. I could hardly fit. But at 6.0 its not meant for me, and Im glad I would be driving mostly. (The third row is reserved for my second cousins whom I love so much.)
With the seats down, it would liberate 2010 ‘litres’ of boot space. More simply put, the Endy can gobble 750kg load in the boot and 100 kg overhead load capacity on the roof, with all seats up. Would I like a bigger boot? yes, who wouldn’t? Would the Storme carry more luggage than the Endy? Yes, because in the Storme with the side facing seats flipped up, the floor is all mine. While in the Endy, the height of the folded seats is the price to pay for that front facing bench on the third row.
P.S/O.T: While we always talk about ‘X litres’ of boot space, its a unit I’ve found hard to visualise and compare. Especially with some companies quoting their capacity using VDA (German method) and a few others using the SAE(US) method. (Both of these methods, just use different sized wooden planks, to measure usable luggage space) Kilograms ‘weighs’ in the mind better but of course doesn’t account for luggage shape.<O.T Rant stops.>
Creature Features: The goodies, bells, whistles et al.
This is perhaps one topic where the Endy takes the fight to the big T’s door, kicks the door down and looks for trouble above its weight. Here are Some sweet touches I loved:
-Sunroof/Moonroof: ‘Sunroofs are not suitable for India’ Competition salesman and most good folks make this statement. (Its not taxable or antinational, so they get away with it) I love a good swanky panaromic sunroof. Id perhaps have to drive a couple of hundred kilometres before I can open it and lift my moods. But it would be worth it! It opens up the top and my mind. I’ll have one of those please.!
I saw the overdrive video Fortuner vs endeavour in the frozen backdrop. Anyone who thinks he doesn’t need a sun roof, look at that Endy!
-Global Windows Down.: A hot day and you are walking upto the car, you long press unlock, all the windows roll down, sunroof opens and the hot air escapes from that furnace which would have otherwise fried you black, the moment you got in. Big deal…you say, why can’t I live without it? Of course I can. Lived all my life without it. But these are the niceties you see. Just like the remote rear hatch open and push button seat fold features...niceties...you owe yourself.
-Superb safety kit and a perfect 5 NCAP. A knee airbag for the driver!. God forbid, if something untoward happens and the airbags inflate in the crash, the vehicle dials emergency services using your phone and occupants can speak into the microphones that are already listening. People come to help and they see two numbers flashing on the screen to call and inform. Thoughtful, I say.
-Active Noise Cancellation: Works well and keeps the cabin. tranquil. As Jason statham would say ’I like my mornings quiet’ (and thats what I paid for!) I wonder how many cars above this segment have ANC.
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Semi Auto parallel park assist: Do I see myself ever using this? No. Am I too hard headed and narcissistic to let the car park itself while I sit there and do nothing! Maybe. Is it a cool parlour trick? Hell yeah! Would my wife use it.? Yes, definitely. Should the feature be there when you stash so much cash into a car? It better be.
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Is the Endy the perfect car in its segment? No! I can readily point out a host of things that can be improved. (starting from simple things like Pushbutton start, a better key fob (Fortuner’s looks slick!) and some changes to the console....and many more
It’s what it is. As it stands there… just a steadfast, solid and unflinching brute.
Cars.., especially for us autoheads, are more than just matters of the mind. These are matters of the heart and those tiny intangibles need to be respected.
The Fact: Toyota Fortuner is the undisputed king of its segment. With the rock solid resale and bulletproof reliability of the T badge, the cash plonked on its bonnet, can be considered ‘investment’ not expenditure. It is a no brainer to pick up a nice white sweet Sigma4 if you are shopping in that segment.
But….. I wouldn’t buy one yet.
With the expo around the corner and a convoy of exciting vehicles ready to pounce on us, one can hardly wait. Patience is a difficult word to spell. 07 days to go! But It’s a good time to pause time still for a moment, and consider a hypothesis with the existing fleet of cars.
If I had to replace my Storme today...,
It would be the Ford Endeavour 3.2L 4x4 AT Titanium.
(and then there’s the small matter of finances,... how much are kidneys retailing for nowadays?)
Here's an old pic, when we took an Endy for a long drive, on a family day out.