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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
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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
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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
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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
Company Website:
http://corporate.ford.com/
NEW YORK -- (Business Wire)
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™ andClear 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 AcousticsandClear 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
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For crystal-clear music as the artist intended
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Live Acoustics™ technology
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For a true concert-hall experience
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KEY FEATURES |
Electronic control panel styled by Sony
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Chrome accents, “water droplet” buttons and silky black finish for
elegance and ease of use
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Dedicated sound tuning
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15 years of experience working with Ford enabled Sony engineers to
bring Clear Phase and Live Acoustics to the 2016 Ford Explorer
Platinum
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SYSTEM COMPONENTS |
12 speakers in 10 locations
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Two 1-inch dome tweeters
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Two 6x9-inch door woofers
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One 80-mm center speaker
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Two coaxial (1-inch tweeter and 6.5-inch woofer) speakers
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Two 80-mm surround speakers
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One subwoofer system (12-liter enclose with 8-inch driver)
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Amplifier
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500-watt high-power amplifier with high-performance DSP
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SYSTEM ATTRIBUTES |
Domed tweeters
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Translucent speaker grilles preserve sound integrity
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Square coil wire speakers
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Square coils for greater efficiency and heat dissipation
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Subwoofer system (12-liter enclosure with 8-inch driver)
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For tight, full bass and minimal vibration
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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/
Contacts:
Ford Motor Company
Mark Schirmer
313.354.4962
mschirme@ford.com
or
William
A. Mattiace
313.815.5449
wmattiac@ford.com
Source: Ford Motor Company
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