Sime Darby Auto ConneXion has announced the availability of the updated Ford Everest, which rolls in wearing a slightly tweaked exterior and an array of new features.

The front end in the seven-seater SUV, which is assembled in Rayong, Thailand, has been given a reworking, and the new look front incorporates a new multi-bar chrome grille and chrome-accented lower grille, and completing the reworked face are new wraparound headlamps.

The vehicle is available in two engine guises, these being the 141bhp 2.5l and 154bhp 3.0l DuraTorq TDCi common-rail turbodiesels, and you get a choice of either a five-speed manual transmission or five-speed automatic if you go with the Everest 2.5L.

The 3.0L model, meanwhile, comes with only a five-speed auto tranny. Both variants offer electronic shift-on-the-fly system for the convenient selection of 2WD or 4WD mode.

The retail prices for the new Everest in Peninsular Malaysia are RM145,888 ($59,931) for the 2.5L XLT (Manual), RM156,888 for the 2.5L XLT (Automatic) and RM169,888 for the 3.0L XLT (Automatic).

In Sabah and Sarawak, they are RM149,388, RM160,388 and RM173,388 respectively. All prices are excluding road tax, insurance and registration, and the vehicle comes with a 3-year/100,000 km warranty, whichever comes first.

Now, if you're thinking of bagging one, the news is that you'll have to wait a little bit. Due to strong demand from fleet customers, the first batch of the new Everest has already been pre-booked, and units will only be available from Sept onwards.