Ford has brought out a fascinating range of vehicles for the new year, which is bound to captivate the motorist, says Paolo Rossetti
Would you like to drive our full line-up of new cars in the desert? When these kinds of questions are asked to me, it is hard not to jump for joy!
For their Ford SUV and Truck Line-up Ride & Drive, Ford set up a camp in the middle of the desert, south of Dubai near the village of Al Lisaili and Bab Al Shams.
A promising test area with enough different types of terrain such as small nasty sand dunes to test the wheel articulation in narrow bowls, medium sand dunes for the long power climbs, wide-open flat sebkha and graded tracks to check at speed the comfort factor and vibrations (if any).
All in all, a very promising set-up, and a feeling that Ford was going all-out to provide a realistic and no-holds-barred experience, rather than wrapping everything up in cotton-wool, and limiting the drive to being a passenger on a strictly-controlled route - this means one thing to me: Ford believes in its products enough to throw them into the desert and let what will happen, happen.
The SUV line for 2007 consists of the newly-released Edge (crossover SUV), Escape (compact SUV), Explorer (mid-size SUV), Sport-Trac (Sports Utility Truck) and Expedition (full-size SUV), of which the latter has also the EL version with its extended wheelbase offering even more space.
A very impressive range, bearing in mind that Ford at the same time also offers its truck line, with the F-150 (big-size truck) and the Ranger (compact size truck/pick-up).
I was in test-drive bliss, and afraid that I would suddenly wake up and find myself home in bed. Where to start?
2007 Ford Edge: An attractive cross-over, sporty and more urban than its siblings, the newly released Edge is a fast car with a bold design and an interesting high-tech angle - it is not really built for the off-road, but its fabulous V6 3.5-litre engine offers a best-in-class 265hp, and sporty handling.
2007 Ford Escape: With its responsive engine the drive with the Escape was fun and pleasant. I liked the design lines and felt the youthfulness of the overall philosophy.
Being a compact SUV, the Escape does have limited leg space in the rear, but for the front passengers there is sufficient space to stretch their legs and enjoy the ride.
In order to keep costs down, the Escape does not carry many gadgets and gizmos, limiting options to an excellent sound system and its sunroof.
Despite its designation as "compact SUV", don't assume it is sluggish in performance! Power and grunt are more than sufficient with an exceptional output of 229bhp/212 lb ft of torque with its 3-litre V-6 engine.
This is not a 4-cylinder warbler - this is a young falcon!2007 Explorer and Expedition: Due to the immense high-powered torque available just off idle, combined with the "Control Trac Four Wheel Drive System", driving off-road with the Explorer and Expedition becomes a whole new experience.
While keeping the rpm barely above the 1,500 mark, the cars just drove straight up dunes effortlessly! The 335bhp/400lb ft of torque of the Expedition means tough-nut business!
And they cruised or, shall I say, "floated like hovercraft" at fairly high speeds over the harsh graded tracks while keeping vibrations and road noise to an absolute minimum.
Very impressive, then, both the engine response and suspension systems - meaning the comfort of driver and passengers is paramount.
Although these cars do perform well off-road, the driver should keep in mind the relatively low front bumper and spoiler when reaching the bottom of the dunes.
After all, these are not desert-modified beasts, but civilised beasts that can eat up miles of highways, daily commuting traffic, as well as off-road terrain; and all of this in comfort, safety and style.
2007 Ford F150: The 5.4 Triton V8 engine impressed me no end, but it was its luxurious and spacious interior that just blew me away! No wonder this truck is the bestselling truck in the world!!
And the enormous wheel articulation, despite the long wheel base, makes it a serious off-road contender. These qualities are not readily appreciated just looking at the truck, so jumping inside and actually trying it out was an eye-opener.
When driving this truck, it is hard to resist the urge to lower the windows, rev the mighty engine to listen to the V8 symphony, and enjoy the feel of raw power ripping up sand.
The excellent off-road capabilities are perhaps not so surprising if we consider that Ford's first truck, the F-1, known locally as the 'wan-et', actually appeared in the Middle East as far back as 1948, when most of the routes were still sand tracks.
And if you are interested in towing, the F-150 has a towing capacity of 10,500 lbs with a maximum payload of 3,050 lbs - enough to pull your trailer loaded with six quads through the dunes of Liwa!
2007 Ford Ranger: While the F150 is a full-size luxurious truck, the Ranger is a very attractive economical solution for people who are looking for a compact size pick-up.
Having said 'economical', which pick-up comes standard with an MP3 connection? Although a bit bouncy, the Ranger is an easy-and-fun-to-drive pick-up with excellent off-road capabilities.
It is more of a working truck, one that relishes carting loads around construction sites, and one that seems poised to provide years and years of reliable service.
Overall, with this exercise in bringing out the entire stable in one go, Ford has proven that 2007 is a year to look forward to. Its range of vehicles is excellent, and they are perfectly positioned to offer a vehicle for everyone's needs and desires.
You want it, Ford has it.
