Ford Explorer Is Best Midsize SUV at the 2012 Middle East motor awards

Ford Explorer received the ‘Best mid-sized SUV’ title at this year’s Middle East Motor Awards (MEMA), the biggest independent car awards of the Middle East.

The Middle East Motor Awards, an initiative by Expo Centre Sharjah, with support from the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, acknowledges leaders of the automotive industry. Running for the third consecutive year, the awards were judged by an extensive panel of judges comprising 17 expert automotive journalists from 10 countries representing the GCC, Levant and North Africa.

“Since its launch, the all-new Explorer has received recognition and praise from industry leaders as well as customers, and the addition of the 2012 Middle East Motor Awardstitle is another testament to the success of this superior product,” said Paul Anderson, Ford Middle East's Marketing director. “This recognition is yet another proof that Ford is delivering vehicles that customers want, with industry-leading technologies, attractive design, as well as superior quality and driving dynamics.”

Ford Explorer the vehicle that defined an entire segment was completely reinvented for 2011, challenging conventional notions of three-row SUV capability, on-road dynamics, fuel economy, safety, technology, design and craftsmanship. The Explorer’s standard 3.5-liter V6 with Ti-VCT provides as much as 25 mpg (10.6 km/litre) on the highway, which is class-leading.

The key to Explorer 4WD capability is Ford’s new terrain management system.Replacing the traditional SUV transfer case configuration, the new system takes the guesswork out of maximizing 4WD and the capabilities it enables. Rather than employment of four-high, four-low and auto settings, Explorer terrain management is selectable by situation. The settings available by shift-on-the-fly include normal, mud and sand.

Named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Explorer brings a stiff unibody structure and a class-leading suite of active and passive safety features and technologies, plus another Ford safety innovation the world’s first second-row inflatable rear belts.