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The 100% Reinvented Ford Explorer 4x4
“Ford has reinvented the all-new
Explorer with significantly improved
on-road driving dynamics and an
effective – yet intuitive- terrain
management system."
“Explorer customers asked us to improve
the on-road driving experience,” said
Jim Holland, chief nameplate engineer.
“Yet they want the ‘any road, anytime,
anywhere, in all weather’ confidence and
capability Explorer always has
delivered. With its unique and
intuitively operated terrain management
system, the 4WD model offers easily
accessed, selectable modes for maximum
traction and control in a variety of
off-the-beaten-track situations.”
“One of the most exciting attributes of
the new Explorer is its expert balancing
of on-road handling with intelligent 4WD
terrain management system,” Stated the
spokesperson. “ And this is because the
Ford Explorer has been reinvented from
the ground up to provide drivers with
significantly improved on-road driving
dynamics, new four-wheel-drive (4WD)
capabilities and an intuitive-to-operate
terrain management system.”
The new Explorer offers an intelligent
four-wheel-drive (4WD) technology to
provide optimised traction in mud,
slippery, sand, gravel, grass terrains
and Class III trailer-towing capability.
Apart from this, its on-road driving
dynamics are improved with four-wheel
independent coil-spring suspension,
specifically tuned electric
power-assisted steering (EPAS) and
dampers. It is also equipped with
Terrain Management, Hill Descent
Control™ and front-mounted recovery
hooks.
Explorer road dynamics
The Explorer shift to a uni-body
platform has enabled significantly
improved on-road dynamics. Fully
independent front and rear suspension,
EPAS, a robust front stabiliser bar, and
careful suspension development and
tuning provide confidence-building
vehicle behavior and handling
characteristics.
In front, Explorer features a short- and
long-arm suspension configuration, with
progressive springs designed to give a
smooth ride across a variety of road
surfaces and load conditions. Unique
dampers are specified to enhance dynamic
driving and handling. A 32-millimetre
front stabiliser bar helps keep Explorer
stable in cornering situations.
EPAS enabled the Explorer dynamics team
to tune steering for a variety of
conditions. In low-speed parking
maneuvers, the system adds boost for
easy negotiation of tight spots, with a
segment-competitive turning radius.
Power assist is reduced at speed to
provide increased communicative steering
feedback. Variable assistance allows
Explorer to optimise steering behaviour
to boost driver confidence across a wide
variety of driving conditions.
EPAS – in addition to saving weight and
helping increase fuel economy because of
reduced parasitic drag on the engine –
also enables optional active park assist
functionality. Explorer rear suspension
consists of SR1 – so-named for its 1:1
shock absorber ratio. For each wheel
movement, the dampers make the same
motion in the same cadence. This harmony
enables easier tuning for ride and
handling by vehicle dynamics engineers,
as a stable baseline is inherent to the
configuration. SR1 eliminates
undesirable ride motions from counter
reactions. In fact, Explorer’s on-road
dynamics have now been benchmarked
against luxury SUVs
Intelligent 4WD with terrain
management system
The new Ford Explorer democratises 4WD
technology, previously limited to luxury
SUVs. Models equipped with intelligent
4WD with terrain management use
technology to provide the driver with
security and confidence in a variety of
climate and surface conditions.
Terrain management gives the driver
choice between settings on a center
console-mounted knob. Each setting has a
unique engine calibration, throttle
command, transmission shift schedule,
traction and stability control
calibration – all optimised to a range
of driving situations. The settings
include normal, mud and rut, sand, snow,
Gravel and Grass.
In normal 4WD operation, torque is
biased to the front wheels, sending
power to the rear wheels as necessary as
dictated by conditions and slip. Mud and
rut mode allows cautious torque demand
at the top end of the throttle, getting
more aggressive as needed. The
transmission holds lower gears longer to
prevent unwanted transmission upshifts,
while stability control is desensitised
to help maintain vehicle momentum
through rutted, soft or uneven surfaces.
Sand mode enables an aggressive throttle
to immediately maximise wheel torque,
while causing the transmission to hold
lower gears for as long as possible.
Traction control is desensitised in sand
mode to allow wheel spin.
Snow, Gravel & Grass mode allows less
wheel spin, provides more cautious
throttle control, enables earlier
transmission upshifts, and allows a
higher level of traction control
sensitivity to limit wheel spin.
Intelligent 4WD with terrain management
also includes Hill Descent Control. This
stability control system feature is
intended to control vehicle speed and
acceleration during low-speed descents
off the beaten path, or low-grip on-road
situations. A technology shared with
best-selling F-Series trucks, Hill
Descent Control operates by recognising
downhill gradients and limits Explorer
to a predetermined target speed.
Class III towing
Explorer V6 models can be equipped to
tow up to 5,000 pounds. Trailer brake
control wiring is included, in addition
to trailer sway control – a feature
borrowed from the Ford F-150. Trailer
sway senses side-to-side trailer
movement and uses stabilization controls
to keep the vehicle/trailer combination
in confident control.
A tow/haul mode, engaged by an
instrument panel-mounted button,
optimises the shift schedule to help the
vehicle in hilly situations. A rear view
camera with zoom feature helps the
Explorer driver to line up perfectly for
every trailer hookup. Explorer offers
competitive towing capability combined
with a class-leading array of towing aid
technologies.
Explorer continues the tradition of
capability, with enhanced accessibility
of 4WD empowerment and towing strength
while taking on-road dynamics to a new
level. Ford vehicles are known the world
over for their exceptional safety,
luxury and unsurpassed technological
superiority. Ford ploughs in millions of
dollars into R& D each year to ensure
that every Ford offers maximum safety
and motoring pleasure for its customers.
Ford vehicles are also thoroughly tested
in the tough Middle East conditions to
withstand climatic extremes and terrain
of the region.
In Oman, Ford vehicles are brought to
you by Arabian Car Marketing Co. LLC, a
part of the renowned Saud Bahwan Group.
They come with 6 years unlimited mileage
protection, service and parts network
that stretches across the Sultanate,
over 98% parts availability - and Ford
Privilege Card – which provides 24 hours
On-road assistance from AAA.
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