CARS OF THE WORLD

Ford Explorer 2023.

The restyled Ford Explorer is ready to go on sale: new «face» and superdisplay.

The three-row crossover of the American brand noticeably transformed both outside and inside.

While the modernized SUV is presented only in the Chinese market, and it is possible that this restyling will be exclusive.

Updated Explorer lit up in China last year, and branded images of a joint venture Changan Ford, which is responsible for local production of the crossover, has distributed in March 2022.

Public premiere was expected in April, it was to be held at the Beijing Motor Show, but the show was canceled because of an outbreak of covid.

And finally, in China held a full presentation of restyled Ford Explorer.

By the way, the Chinese market is declared by Ford the largest for the SUV outside of North America, although the results are not particularly impressive: in 2021 in China sold about 28,500 units, while the Volkswagen Teramont for the same period sold 54,500 copies.

Perhaps that’s why the Ford Explorer in China «required an understanding of local peculiarities» (quote from a press release).

That is, restyling of «their» version could be exclusive.

Well, let us remind you that in the States, the current generation Ford Explorer debuted in 2019, but to the Middle Kingdom, such a model reached only in 2020 (pre-reform Chinese cross from the global does not differ much).

So, intended for the PRC Explorer got a new «face»: replaced the radiator grille and headlights, and the headlights now unite glowing strip; in the front bumper appeared chrome «corners».

The bumpers are new. The rear lights are new — the tailgate now has additional sections.

This version has its own grille and black inscriptions instead of shiny.

The length of the upgraded SUV is 5063 mm, which is 12 mm less than the restyled local Explorer.

The other dimensions are the same: width — 2004 mm, height — 1778 mm, and wheelbase — 3025 mm.

Inside — the new front panel and chairs, and instead of a vertical touchscreen multimedia system installed horizontal display 27 inches, as in the last Chinese sedan Mondeo and related to it crossover liftback Evos.

But at the same time the Explorer still has a separate virtual «dashboard» under the visor.

Multimedia — with voice recognition and gesture control functions, there is also a system of facial recognition.

The list of equipment also includes a projection display and a set of safety systems Co-Pilot 360 (adaptive cruise control, auto braking and lane-holding systems, etc.).

Technology has not changed: in China, Ford Explorer is available with a gasoline turbo engine 2.3 EcoBoost rated at 276 hp (425 Nm), which works with a ten-speed «automatic».

Orders for restyled crossover will be accepted from August 10, «live» sales start on August 24. Prices have not yet been named. The pre-reformed SUV in the Celestial Empire costs from $46,000.