870 Ford Everest SUVs to
replace Mindef's ageing Land Rovers
Straits Times, The
(Singapore)
Home, Pg H4
December 3, 2007
Author: Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent
A FAMILIAR sight in military camps and training grounds here, the
Land Rover Defender will be making way for a new generation of
sports-utility vehicles, the Ford Everest.
The Ministry of Defence has placed an order for 870 Thai-made Fords
as part of a programme to renew its ageing fleet of some 3,000 Land
Rovers.
The recently sealed deal with Sime Darby's Regent Motors - the Ford
agent here - is said to be worth around $85 million, with an option
for 500 more vehicles.
The Straits Times understands that more than 50 Everests - painted
in the army's camouflage green - have already been delivered.
The purchase comes after plans to
launch a novel scheme - to have civilians co-own and drive military
SUVs during peacetime - was shelved. The Everest is
Ford's made-in-Asia, made-for-Asia product, based on the Ranger
pickup truck. It is assembled in Thailand, Malaysia, India, Vietnam
and the Philippines.
In civilian form, it is marketed as a seven-seater SUV. Regent
Motor had wanted to add it to its passenger car range two years
ago, but decided against it as it felt Singaporeans might want a
more refined vehicle.
But the robust SUV is expected to be a hit with the military.
Mr Lee Nian Tjoe, editor of Torque, a motoring magazine published
by Singapore Press Holdings, said: 'The Land Rover Defender may be
cool, but from a practical point of view, the Ford Everest is
better.'
Mr Lee, an avid off-roader, said being an Asian car, the Everest is
'easier and cheaper to maintain'.
The SUV is also more user-friendly for our soldiers. It has a
three-litre diesel engine mated to a five-speed automatic
transmission. It can be driven as a four-wheel or two-wheel drive -
hence saving fuel when it is not required to negotiate rugged
terrain.
Most of the Land Rover Defenders here are 2.5-litre diesel manuals
with permanent four-wheel drive.
The purchase represents Mindef's first major move away from Land
Rover.
Mindef spokesman Colonel Darius Lim said: 'After an extensive
evaluation, the Ford Everest was selected...to replace the ageing
Land Rovers, some of which have been in service for more than 20
years.'
Besides meeting 'operational requirements'. he said the Everests
were 'more cost-effective than the Land Rovers'.
Copyright, 2007, Singapore Press Holdings Limited