By the time of issuance of that number in print, it will not be alone. His blood twin brothers have abandoned prisoner of customs warehouses and dealers' showrooms in the fall of pre-trial detention, which over time become a tour vehicle in the life and tin signs. And yet he was the first who stepped on Novaya Zemlya, and in doing so, he fully justifies its name - «Researcher».

When we were filming for a new journal Explorer, we approached the representative of a special stratum of society whose appearance is quite consistent with the image owner's SUV. By triple bypass the car, he competently drop: «Hmm," Explorer "? Yes, I have traveled to this! »- And with dignity left.

Citizen wrong. Yes, indeed, this is Explorer, but the 2002 first model year, and because such cars in Russia is not yet - the beginning of sales of second-generation model we have scheduled for the end of summer. And we have tested only in a copy of which the company «Ford» brought to certification, thus being among the first who tried the new SUV on the move, and therefore also a kind of «Explorer».

Explorer II is built on a completely new platform, which, unlike the previous one, is far more humane concept. His predecessor, which appeared in 1990, as well as all his later derivatives rose from Ranger pickups because construction is simple and not very light driving qualities.

The new «Researcher» not so primitive - the last from the load has disappeared. Suspension is now fully independent, that the designers intended to improve manageability and increase comfort. Chetyrehlitrovy engine agregatiruetsya with the latest five-«machine», a choice of modes of transmission manages the buttons on the center console. It seems that the transition to the electronic control transmission have become fashionable among Americans, as evidenced by our recent acquaintance with the Chevrolet Tahoe.

It seems that comparisons with competitors will not be avoided, since all overseas off very similar to each other regardless of brand. However, they differ radically from all other representatives of the automobile world, providing a very special category of vehicles that are difficult to compare with the SUV with the other corners of the world.

So, the true American SUV begins with a size XL and ends XXXL (and that neither the year, then these dimensions are added all the new « 'X»), mnogolitrovym engine is not suffering from lack of appetite and torque dlinnohodnoy suspension and always automatic. Who is he, the owner of such an ideal ATVs? Body-«seven-to-eight-on-Seven», full of strength and energy? Or perhaps, tired housewife short-sighted? Yes anyone! These cars are very massive and large very apparent, but the unimaginably light and air.

The exterior is designed with maximum ease of the amount of detail, within the same - huge knobs, buttons and arrows. The main thing that was close to the very idea of an impressive car for all occasions, has a number of specific advantages and disadvantages. And even if the machine is actually not so great, then at least it must seem so - a person pays the money, especially for the size and appearance.

The new Explorer is continuing the tradition predecessors. Since mind is still the same big-wheel Ford, similar to the front all off at once, to one side - on a larger Expedition, and the rear - on the long shot with the same production fordovsky Escort Turnier. Headlamps lead the world in the form of two intersecting circles - exactly the same sport has just introduced Range Rover. All the rest - in the spirit of the genre: a high hood, heavy doors with handles, which can grasp with both hands simultaneously, and the fifth door luggage with separate opening glass. And that's fun, but very easy «whimsy»: in the rear-view mirrors built lamps illuminate the road around the front door.

Inside America's history continues. High leather thrones with elektroregulirovkami, immense central panel, «poker» podrulevogo selector Automatic, pedals and a 48-size shoes and climate control center with music and giant flat buttons. Salon remarkable presence of the third row of seats, access to which is surprisingly easy to use.

The third series is in such a way that the loading area is completely flat, but curved, and the availability of additional seats show only the handle to the floor.

Ezhela look to the interior of the luggage, you can fully understand that the equal rights of passengers fordovskie ergonomist placed at the center. On the ceiling there is a control unit for temperature and fan speed, the average number of service and gallery, and the Milky Way from the air reaches almost to the rear glass.