400HP '20 Explorer ST Proves Popular

[68fastback]

Explorer ST doing well!

https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2020/02/04/ford-performance-explorer-st-xlt-sport-appearance-package.html

I saw online where an Explorer ST with $800 mods and tune (550+HP) outruns 460HP Mustang GT by in the 1/4!
Amazing for a 5000+ pound SUV.

[Tommy Gun]

:nonono:

Ford has lost vision.

[68fastback]

I think the teams still have vision but it's being stifled somewhat, imo, by an office furniture CEO at the helm trying to stem the bleed seemingly without a true understanding of how many feel about cars.

Meanwhile Ford is trying to lead the known universe on autonomous mobility -- as if it's something where being at the forefront will matter in a decade or two. Imo, it won't. Autonomous mobility will inevitably go through numerous iterations and where it will be as it matures in 10-20 years (and likely not even in the USA first) will look nothing like where it will be in the next few years.

I think Ford is [unfortunately] trying to boil the ocean a bit -- hoping that early leadership will carve out a reserved place in a potentially burgeoning revenue stream of a new ecosphere. Yes, Ford needs to keep inventing (and thereby reinvent itself continuously). But early leadership in a constrained solution space rarely lends itself to sustained revenue leadership when everyone is essentially using the same technologies as is the case today.

Such can be true for true breakthrough technologies in unconstrained solution spaces -- but that's not where the transportation space is and no true breakthrough technologies are even on the horizon -- or even seem likely -- unless one truly believes politics will enable reinvention of the physical space of our existing large cities -- or believe teleportation is likely -- the former only marginally more likely than the latter in the next 2-3 decades -lol

This is why a meaningful (beyond a tech showmance) roll-out is unlikely in the places that need the help most -- the big cities -- that, instead, need modern mass transit which is already well beyond the service capabilities of autonomous vehicle solutions.

Places of intense physical growth -- India, China, SE Asia -- that is literally growing massive populations into new physical spaces at breakneck speed are just much better candidates for in-fight adoption, which is why Ford is working intently there -- where it will be a physical and generational technology absorption -- not a forced retrofit that doesn't fit.

If the huge investments Ford is making are aimed at truly capturing those potentially burgeoning markets, great! If they're aimed at fixing NY, Chicago, Paris and Rome, fugetaboutit ...for quite some time!!

Jmho.

:soapbox: lol

[Tommy Gun]

I hope this autonomous thing goes the way of the Blu-ray player. Lol

[68fastback]

:spitcopy:

:wtg:


...let them 'prove' it somewhere else first ..and maybe it will stay there -lol

[68fastback]

Nice and thorough walk around on 2020 Explorer ST. Net: way better than Edge ST and worth it's rather loaded $59K:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrSOoh-D4VU