I’ve covered the new 2011 Ford Explorer on here a few times, but this might be the most interesting post that I’ve done on the new SUV yet! Testing a new vehicle is crucial before you release it to the public, but Ford is going one step further by testing the new Explorer in the deserts of Dubai. The temperatures are about 125-degrees, so the redesigned SUV should be able to handle anything after that.
Here’s a video and some information below on this extreme testing:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-VqzSdaH5M
Ford has decided that the deserts in the U.S. just aren’t quite hot enough, so they decided to take the 2011 Explorer over to Dubai for some off-road, hot-weather testing. The company released some pictures (and a cool video below) testing the SUV the 125-degree weather.
As Ford noted, the Dubai desert climate provided “an ideal environment to test and validate vehicle performance in some of the world’s most extreme conditions.”
Chief Engineer for Vehicle Engineering Don Ufford adds that testing the seven-seater Explorer in Dubai also allowed them to listen to what local customers have to say about it. “We regularly sell close to 10,000 Explorers per year in the Middle East market,” Ufford said. “SUV drivers in this part of the world regularly use the broad range of capabilities these vehicles offer. Our rationale for testing in Dubai is simple: If we can perform well here, we can do well anywhere.”
The testing in Dubai let them check the effectiveness of the AC unit, but the terrain also allows them to test the four-wheel drive capabilities of the SUV in real-world conditions.
Ford’s 2011 Explorer will be offered with two engine choices including a 290 hp 3.5-liter V6 or a 235 hp 2.0-liter EcoBoost Turbo four-cylinder. — from Off-Road.com
