RO, RO, RO YOUR FORD AS THE SONG GOES, or at least it sounded something like that. A couple of weeks ago, Ford Group Philippines took two dozen motoring journalists to Cagayan de Oro and the island of Camiguin on a nautical highway bringing with them Ford’s fantastic four by Fords and then some.
The RORO nautical highway was primarily designed as a conduit for food supplies consolidating and facilitating delivery to designated main provinces that mostly includes transport of grain and fishery products. On a parallel note, the RORO is now fast becoming a conduit for local tourism. This is where Ford’s fantastic fours come in. With an arsenal of four wheel drive and two wheel drive variants, each Ford vehicle is designated to have its own characteristic driving utility and pleasure.
Like the four main characters of the upcoming Marvel Comics Movie, I would like to look at the Expedition as the “Thing”. The massive and powerful 260hp V8 Triton engine and almost 4,000kg towing capacity makes it the ultimate in luxury on and off-road trips.
The Explorer plays the role of “Mr. Fantastic”, with a flexible passenger seat configuration, the seats can compress or “stretch” to a capacity of 8 persons. Its 4.0liter V6 engine ensures sufficient power and its 4X4 shift-on-fly ControlTrac System makes it an ideal serious as well as fun off-road transport. During a night-around-town in Cagayan, the Explorer comfortably seated eight of us with luggage space to spare.
The Escape takes the form of Invisible Girl. Compact and nimble on the road and off-the-road, the Escape is good for short-haul trips with small cargo. Size does come with an advantage having a shorter wheel base means more maneuverability by negotiating in and out of traffic and as well as on tough, hilly terrains. Being the smallest in the family, this vehicle virtually becomes invisible specially if it zips through the highway with its muscular 3.0liter V6 engine.
If “flame on!” would be a cliché, then the Everest would be the Human Torch. We took a 4X2 2.5liter intercooler turbo diesel variant on manual transmission in the back roads of Cagayan and the island of Camiguin with very limited expectations. But we got a surprise when we started pressing the gas pedal that gave us a torque of 268Nm and 110PS of power with enough reserve to catch up with its more muscular V-engine configured siblings during our convoys. This model also gave the most mileage with the fuel gauge barely moving every time we travel from place to place.
Ford is best known for their SUV’s and trucks in the US. “We could almost say we invented this sort of vehicle. Prior to our introduction of the Bronco in 1965, trucks were used as transporters of goods and equipment, rather than as people carrying vehicles. As the first high volume truck, the model was highly successful, and the first real SUV was born. Since then, we have gone and designed and marketed all kinds of SUV, with different physical dimensions and characteristics, powertrains and drivetrains, at basically every price range. If it’s an SUV you need, you’ll need a Ford,” added Ms. Tonette Lee, ASEAN Brands, Ford Group Philippines.
With the adage “Built Tough”, these vehicles befits both an adventurous and rugged outdoor lifestyle synonymous to its “No Boundaries” experience that Ford is best known for. The Ford Expeditions on-road, off-road and roll-on-roll-off “No Boundaries” three-day test drive not only gave us a memorable outdoor experience but it became a very welcome respite against the tumultuous and rugged political landscape in Metropolitan Manila.
By Alvin Uy | Photos by Alvin Uy
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