- Tomorrow, Ford is bringing the new Ford
Explorer to Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Station to demonstrate
industry-exclusive audio technology coming to the iconic SUV
- Ford Explorer Platinum’s premium Sony®
audio system includes two industry-first features previously
offered only in high-end home audio systems – Live Acoustics™ and
Clear Phase™ technologies
- The algorithm in Explorer Platinum’s
audio system was tuned to authentically reproduce the sound quality
and signature ambience of concert halls in Amsterdam, Berlin and
Vienna
- More than 7 million Explorers have been
sold in the United States, which makes the vehicle America’s
best-selling midsize SUV for 25 years
Because every great adventure is made perfect by the ideal
soundtrack, the new Ford Explorer Platinum features an exclusive
Sony® audio system with two industry-first technologies – Live
Acoustics™ and Clear Phase™.
Ford Explorer Platinum's premium Sony(R)
audio system includes two industry-first features previously
offered only in high-end home audio systems - Live Acoustics(TM)
and Clear Phase(TM) technologies (Photo: Business Wire)
As a standard feature for the new Ford Explorer Platinum
edition, this marks the first time high-end Sony home audio
technology has been used in a vehicle. Live Acoustics and Clear
Phase technologies bring realistic concert-quality sound to the new
Explorer.
“Explorer is about pushing boundaries,” says Matt Zuehlk, Ford
Explorer brand manager, “and authentic high-end home theater sound
isn’t just for the living room anymore. The new Platinum series
gives customers everything – including a sound system that will
knock your socks off.”
Introduced as a 1991 model, Ford Explorer debuted with generous
interior space customers were looking for, and was engineered
specifically for people seeking adventure for their families and a
way to express their individuality.
Explorer has reigned as America’s top-selling midsize SUV for 25
consecutive years – marking a quarter century for the vehicle as a
leader both in the segment and in its technology offerings.
Authentic concert hall sound: Live Acoustics
engineering
There’s something magical about listening to music in an
environment that’s been painstakingly designed to deliver perfect
sound.
To develop the proprietary Live Acoustics algorithm, Sony
engineers, led by Giro Shiraishi, also a concertmaster at the Sony
Philharmonic Orchestra, visited great halls in Amsterdam, Berlin
and Vienna, and installed microphones to measure their precise
acoustic qualities. Shiraishi, who began taking violin lessons at
age four and has been passionate about sound ever since, wanted to
re-create the concert hall experience for Sony’s high-end home
audio products.
“This technology was previously available only in our high-end
home audio systems – we’ve now applied the algorithm of Live
Acoustics to Ford Explorer Platinum’s audio system to transform the
listening experience to be among the finest in the world,” says
Shiraishi.
Sony engineers spent more than 100 hours tuning the audio system
in the new Explorer with one goal in mind – to provide Platinum
driver and passengers with the finest audio experience on the
road.
At the core of the system are 12 high-power speakers in 10
carefully selected locations – plus an all-new Class D amplifier to
deliver a lossless power source that drives speaker output without
straining.
Combined, the 12 speakers are capable of a maximum 500 watts.
The speakers are optimized for sensitivity – including the center
and surround speakers, a subwoofer with an 8-inch enclosure for
tight and full base tones, and door woofers and chrome tweeters
with translucent grilles to preserve sound integrity and complement
the upscale Platinum interior.
Even the system’s speaker coils are unique – square coils
instead of the more traditional round ones – resulting in greater
efficiency and heat dispersion.
Every sound in its place: Clear Phase technology
When music is recorded, is live or in a studio, the best sound
engineers always take care to establish a full sound stage. In
other words, they make sure each instrument occupies specific areas
in the “space” in front of the listener.
In the context of a vehicle, imagine occupants are listening to
a live concert with instruments strategically placed in distinctive
and acoustically correct “zones” on the vehicle’s dashboard. Clear
Phase technology optimizes the sound stage inside Explorer Platinum
to make the music sound as though it’s coming from a stage larger
than the vehicle itself. Every instrument is located in its proper
place, and vocals are clarified instead of lost behind distorted
sound.
The technology also eliminates sound dispersion, which allows
music to be properly focused in specific areas of the sound stage.
By flattening amplitude and correcting phase characteristics to
attain linearity, music will open up for a crystal-clear listening
experience.
Now, owners of the new Ford Explorer Platinum can get the Clear
Phase and Live Acoustics experience previously reserved for
customers of Sony’s high-end home audio system.
New Explorer Platinum – the best of Sport and
Limited editions
The high-end Sony audio system is a perfect fit for the new
Platinum edition – which takes the attributes of both Sport and
Limited series for the most refined and upscale offering in the
Explorer lineup. Home audio sound quality meets material and
craftsmanship standards that rival the most premium home
furnishings.
The Explorer Platinum interior incorporates brushed aluminum and
satin-finished ash wood in multi-piece appliqués on all door panels
and instrument panel. The wood-trimmed, leather-wrapped and heated
steering wheel includes unique stitching that matches the stitching
used throughout the interior.
Nirvana leather wraps the instrument panel, armrests, quilted
door bolsters and upper door trim. The instrument cluster features
a large 10-inch digital display supported with analog displays.
“Bringing Explorer Platinum to market is a natural extension of
the Explorer lineup, giving our customers even more of what they
want,” says Zuehlk. “There’s a market for more upscale SUVs, as 90
percent of today’s Explorer Sport buyers purchase the most
expensive package available. That’s a strong signal customers are
ready for Platinum.”
Explorer Platinum also gets advanced technology features
including enhanced active park assist, lane-keeping system and
rain-sensing wipers as standard equipment.
For the exterior, signature lighting surrounds the LED
headlamps, giving Explorer Platinum a continuous glow. Other
standard features include a dual-panel moonroof, premium
silver-painted front and rear skid plate elements, and 20-inch
wheels with bright machine face and tarnished dark painted
pockets.
Explorer sales are up 17 percent, with sales of 20,765 vehicles
last month. This marks the best March sales for America’s
top-selling midsize SUV since 2005.
Ford Explorer is built at Chicago Assembly Plant, as well as in
Venezuela and Russia. It is sold in more than 100 markets across
the globe. Ford expects to export 56,000 Explorers from the United
States this year alone.
The new Explorer goes on sale this summer.
Sony premium audio system specifications
CORE TECHNOLOGIES Clear Phase™ technology
For crystal-clear music as the artist intended Live
Acoustics™ technology For a true concert-hall
experience
KEY FEATURES
Electronic control panel styled by
Sony
Chrome accents, “water droplet” buttons and
silky black finish for elegance and ease of use Dedicated sound
tuning 15 years of experience working with
Ford enabled Sony engineers to bring Clear Phase and Live Acoustics
to the 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum
SYSTEM COMPONENTS 12
speakers in 10 locations Two 1-inch dome
tweeters Two 6x9-inch door woofers One 80-mm center speaker Two
coaxial (1-inch tweeter and 6.5-inch woofer) speakers Two 80-mm
surround speakers One subwoofer system
(12-liter enclose with 8-inch driver)
Amplifier
500-watt high-power amplifier with
high-performance DSP
SYSTEM ATTRIBUTES Domed tweeters
Translucent speaker grilles preserve sound integrity
Square coil wire speakers Square coils for
greater efficiency and heat dissipation Subwoofer system (12-liter
enclosure with 8-inch driver) For tight, full
bass and minimal vibration
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across
six continents. With about 187,000 employees and 62 plants
worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and
Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor
Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its
products worldwide, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
For news releases, related materials and
high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150420006662/en/
Ford Motor CompanyMark
Schirmer313.354.4962mschirme@ford.comorWilliam A.
Mattiace313.815.5449wmattiac@ford.com
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