Oh, ah, the Explorer!

MANILA, Philippines - Last thing first: You could hear gasps and murmurs of astonishment at the Rockwell Tent last week as Ford Philippines president Randy Krieger announced the sticker price of the much awaited new iteration of the American carmaker’s famous mid-size SUV.

The figure: P2,350,000 – not that far off, exchange-rate wise. STAR Motoring’s Uly Ang, who had the fortune of testing the Explorer – driving the capacious SUV from San Francisco to Napa Valley – affirmed that this figure was a practically a steal. “To think that the units are CBUs direct from the US,” he whispered to me.

“This all-new Explorer adds class-leading fuel efficiency to a legendary portfolio of capability, performance, and customer convenience,” said Krieger in his speech before Ford officials, dealers, and motoring media. “SUV customers in general – and Explorer customers specifically – told us they want the freedom and empowerment Explorer has always stood for, with improved performance and significantly increased fuel economy.”

Car and Driver’s Tony Quiroga, in a recent comparison piece between the Honda Pilot, Dodge Durango, and the Explorer, hailed the last as a “tastefully styled, modern SUV. This means it looks more like a running shoe than a station wagon.”

One cannot mistake the Explorer for anything else than one handsome vehicle.

The timing of the Explorer presentation couldn’t have come at a more opportune time for Ford Philippines. In a press release, the company highlights news of its “best all-time monthly performance in September with retail sales rising 57 percent year-over-year to 965 units”. A staggering 345 of these units are Ford Fiestas; running a close second is the Everest with 320 sold.

Obviously, Ford expects the entry of the Explorer to shake up the segment/price range – and ratchet up its robust sales numbers even further.

In these days where your peso doesn’t go very far, Ford gives you fresh perspective and a newfound purchasing power with the incredible showcase of power and features in the Explorer. The front facia with scrumptious grille gives an elegant, hulking presence that will make you think it’s bigger than it actually is. Kudos to the flared wheel arches and classy behind.

Under the aluminum clamshell hood is a 3.5-liter V6 that promises 290 horses and 346 Nm of torque. This capable engine is mated to a six-speed Select Shift Automatic transmission. Inside, the cockpit has been redesigned for driver-centric orientation.

It features the MyFord Touch system which should make entertainment and climate controls a cinch. Phone connectivity (voice activated, no less) plus a Sony single in-dash CD player (blasting on 12 speakers and a subwoofer) that accepts the increasingly standard mp3 format, and features auxiliary input, USB ports, and is SD card compatible bring the vaunted Explorer brand into the here and now.

So, it wouldn’t be far off to say that Ford is on a roll – and will be so in the foreseeable future. Even as the curtains have opened for the new Explorer, Ford’s Krieger asks us to expect eight more products to make their way onto Philippine roads over the next five years.

Ford Philippines AVP Anika Salceda-Wycoco shares that next in line for Ford is the new version of the Ranger pickup. That sounds like more momentum for a car company that’s already rolling pretty quickly and surely.