Test drive the new Ford Explorer, a "land yacht" sailing into the misty Hangzhou

Autumn overturns the palette of nature, and the world is filled with colorful colors. In mid-November, ginkgo trees arrive as scheduled and fall into autumn in Hangzhou. It’s time to make plans for autumn appreciation in Hangzhou. Last year, my best friend called herself a "Buddhist young man" and was keen on worshiping Buddha and praying for blessings. The author accompanied her to check in at Jingshan Temple to pray for a particularly successful career. This time we planned to go to the ancient trails nearby as a wish. After all, it has only been a year since I sat in her co-pilot in a brand new Ford Explorer, also known as a "land yacht"!

Better appearance

The Changan Ford Explorer immediately aroused heated discussion after it was launched in September. Chinese designers participated in the design of the new car, so many details are more in line with ours. Aesthetics and needs.

Inspired by the shape of a luxury land yacht, and applying the new "potential energy aesthetics" design concept, it is full of aura. The front face adopts a large-size grille with dot-matrix diamond-shaped chrome decoration inside. There are also LED penetrating light strips at the front edge of the hood and the edge of the grille, which can present light messages such as welcome and lock, making it look more distinctive. Sense of quality.

The biggest change in this facelift is the use of a new 5-spoke wheel hub in the shape of its wheels. Viewed from the side and rear, the sailboat mast-style C-pillar design is consistent with the ship turbofan style. The tires fit perfectly. In terms of tail design, the shape of the taillights has been mainly re-optimized. The running taillights and headlights can combine different light languages ??to achieve a gradual lighting effect, which is in line with the current popular trend style. In short, for my "face-conscious" best friend, the American appearance of the new Explorer is quite attractive.

Richer configurations

Compared with the interior of the previous generation, the most eye-catching feature of this generation of Explorers is the 27-inch through-type large horizontal screen, and on the left side of it It is also equipped with a 12.3-inch full LCD instrument and a 17-inch high-definition full-color TFT HUD head-up projection display, creating a full sense of technology in the car. The Explorer's gear shifting mechanism uses a knob-type electronic gear shift. There are driving mode adjustment knobs and function buttons such as automatic start and stop, downhill assist, etc. below. The upper storage compartment is a wireless charging panel for mobile phones.

The material has changed from the simple and crude style of the past, using leather materials to cover a large area and embellished with silver trim. The seats are partially covered with suede and genuine leather fabrics, and have seat heating, ventilation and massage functions, which greatly relieves driving fatigue. In addition to being spacious and comfortable, the Explorer's seat frame strength design value exceeds the national standard by 15% and meets both European and American standards. The upper part of the front driver's seat can bear a weight of 800 kilograms, and safety is also Ford's foundation.

The body size is 5063/2004/1778 mm, with a strong aura. My friend's model has a 2+2+2 6-seater layout. Thanks to the wheelbase of 3025mm, a cabin space of nearly 6 square meters can be achieved. The second row has a wider range of forward and backward movement and angle adjustment. The second row of seats can move forward and fold the seat backs with just one button. . There is no need to worry about constantly adjusting the seats in the past, and it is more convenient to enter and exit the third row.

Better control

In terms of power, the new Explorer uses the familiar 2.3T turbocharged engine + 10AT gearbox power system. The engine has a maximum power of 276kW and a maximum torque of 425N·m. It is divided into two layouts: longitudinal rear drive and four-wheel drive.

This time we set off from the hotel and after about an hour of driving on city roads and highways, it was not difficult for the 2.3T engine to drive this "big guy". The initial throttle was relatively sensitive and it could be driven by lightly stepping on the accelerator. It has strong power and is able to drive in the city with ease.

On both sides of the Jingshan Ancient Road, there are steep slopes on one side and cliffs on the other, with continuous sharp turns. The new Ford Explorer’s intelligent four-wheel drive technology and six driving modes ensure that the new Ford Explorer can still pass it smoothly. . Traveling through the ancient bamboo forest, the natural wildness also greatly increased the driving difficulty, but the new Ford Explorer was still able to handle it with ease and performed beyond the level.

At the same time, the 50:50 front and rear axle balance weight and the turning radius of 5.9 meters make it flexible on winding mountain roads. With the double ball joint spring shock strut front suspension and integrated multi-link rear suspension, as well as front and rear all-aluminum alloy lower swing arms, the vehicle will not affect the riding experience of its companions when passing or on potholes. After driving it, the author feels that this is nothing like a medium-to-large SUV with a length of more than 5 meters.

It happens to be autumn, and the forests are all dyed. As you drive up the Jingshan Ancient Road, you can see the lush bamboo forests, cascading tea gardens, patchwork red maples, and falling ginkgo trees...

"Hello Ford, open the window." The new Explorer is equipped with SYNC+2.0 intelligent mobility interconnection system, which supports apps such as iQiyi, QQ Music, Himalaya, Baidu Maps Auto Edition, etc., and supports 7 semantic verticals. category and can control various functions in the car. "Hello Ford" was the most common word we said along the way. Whether it is adjusting the temperature, controlling the sunroof, or turning on the navigation, it is a good tool.

Jingshan Ancient Road was built in the Tang Dynasty. In its long history, this ancient road has not only been a thoroughfare for residents, but also carried an important cultural role: Jingshan’s Zen tea culture has spread to the world from here. Walking on this ancient road again, with lush bamboo forests on both sides, you can still look back at the many relics left by the ancients here. Isn't this the case with Ford? After 32 years of accumulation, 6 generations, and global cumulative sales of more than 8 million units, the new Ford Explorer has a better understanding of the needs and perceptions of Chinese users, using "craftsmanship", uncompromising quality standards, and unambiguous details. , unsparing materials and workmanship, and continuous quality testing further consolidate its status as a luxury flagship SUV.

This article comes from the author of Yichehao, Cheqing Express AC. The copyright belongs to the author. Please contact the author for any form of reprinting. The content only represents the author's opinion and has nothing to do with Bitauto