The “Internet Celebrity City” of Chongqing: A Dynamic and Charming City
Once, I described Chongqing as a city full of “江湖气息” (roughly translated as “swashbuckling atmosphere” or “underworld vibe”). But now, we prefer to call it the “Internet Celebrity City”. Regardless of how we refer to it, it can be considered a vibrant and uniquely charming city, much like Chongqing’s famous hotpot with its delicious and fragrant local ingredients that draw many people to its aroma.
On June 12th, the Chongqing Auto Show officially kicked off, presenting a lively spectacle akin to a “Chongqing Hotpot”. Among them, Changan Ford stunned everyone with a dazzling lineup featuring the “鲜香” (delicious fragrance) of their vehicles.
Understanding Chinese Consumers: Changan Ford’s “鲜香” Design
In fact, looking at the many new models Changan Ford has released in recent years, whether it’s the Edge Plus that has been named with the word “PLUS” or the high-performance Ruiji that embodies a stylish and modern design, one can see that Changan Ford has increasingly understood the needs of Chinese consumers. However, the most direct reflection of this understanding is embodied in their newest high-end mid-size SUV, the Ford EVOS.
During the Chongqing Auto Show, the most unique and individualistic model in the Ford EVOS family, the “酷盖” ST-Line, also made an appearance and was available for limited pre-orders. As the representative model of Ford’s understanding of Chinese consumers, the EVOS not only exhibits intelligence and technology, but also embodies the “freshness” and “fragrance” that Chinese consumers seek.
Firstly, let’s talk about why Ford has become increasingly understanding of Chinese consumers. One only needs to look at the exterior design to see that the design ethos of having a luxurious appearance continues to be Ford’s main focus. However, as the proportion of younger consumers increases, Ford EVOS embodies the latest “kinetic aesthetics” design concept that perfectly captures the essence of their modern taste for dynamic exterior styling, innovative details, and powerful design.
With the addition of the ST-Line design that comes from the Ford Performance team, the overall styling not only shows a harmonious blend of power and softness but also showcases the dynamic image with smooth body lines that flow down to the “fastback” tail design. The red trim that surrounds the cabin, unique seat materials, and dynamic red textures create a high-tech and dynamic atmosphere that is unique to the ST-Line.It is worth mentioning that when Chinese car buyers purchase cars, the sense of ceremony is also extremely important. This is also the key point of the innovative “Rising Dragon” welcome induction system of the Ford EVOS. When the owner approaches the vehicle, the front and rear lamp groups will light up from inside to outside in sequence, the 3D parameterized scale design grille will rise and fall back and forth, and the hidden door handle will slowly pop out. Who else but the Ford EVOS has such an intelligent and full sense of ceremony?
More Advanced! EVOS That Can Beat Smart and Technical
In the context of major automakers talking about technology and intelligence, technology and intelligence have actually become the “standard configuration” of many car models. So, how to define technology and intelligence for the future? With the official debut of the Ford EVOS, we already know the answer. The external performance of the “Rising Dragon” welcome induction system carried by the Ford EVOS has shown its attention to detail and difference.
When you open the door, the Ford EVOS’s 12.3-inch high-definition instrument panel and the only 27-inch 4K high-definition central control large screen of the same level in the industry will play a welcome animation, and the atmosphere lights inside the car will also light up. EVOS is such a car that is more advanced, more intelligent, and has more “temperature”.
In addition, this “high-definition 4K IMAX giant screen cinema” can integrate a large number of physical buttons in the car, and can also freely switch the screen between full-screen and split-screen. The most noteworthy thing is that as Ford’s first model equipped with VPA intelligent partner, EVOS can make the car’s passengers feel relaxed and comfortable by using animations and anthropomorphic expressions to match different driving scenes, and it is a car that “knows you better” instantly “at the front of the driver and passengers.According to official sources, the Ford EVOS is based on the Ford FNV intelligent interconnected architecture and features the SYNC+2.0 Intellilink system, which integrates Baidu’s AI technology and a series of domestic Internet applications. It also supports over 70 kinds of fuzzy semantic recognition, which effectively meets the user’s needs. As a car model equipped with this architecture, the Ford EVOS has the capability of over-the-air (OTA) upgrades, which can guarantee uninterrupted vehicle usage during the upgrade and can be completed silently, or “without being noticed”, within 30 minutes at the longest. Therefore, the Ford EVOS is the perfect car for endless upgrades, making every moment “fresh and fragrant”.
In summary, the Ford EVOS not only pays attention to details, but also brings a unique sense of ceremony to users, and combines intelligent technology to create a luxurious and advanced feeling that is unique to Ford. Inside the car, the EVOS has a 27-inch 4K display screen that is matched with a full LCD instrument panel, that enhances the visual effect and creates a sense of shock. Thanks to the support of the VPA intelligent partners and FNV intelligent interconnected architecture, the EVOS achieves something unprecedented.
In the wave of transformation towards electric vehicles, electric cars have always been known for their high performance. However, buying a pure electric vehicle may not always be the wisest choice for consumers. Therefore, for now, the potential for plug-in hybrid models in the market is enormous. The biggest advantage of these types of vehicles is that they eliminate the driver’s range anxiety while still enjoying driving pleasure.
During the 2021 Chongqing Auto Show, Ford also brought a new member of the sharp family, the Ford Sharp plug-in hybrid SUV, which has a suggested retail price of RMB 208,000 yuan after subsidies. At the same time, the policy support during this period is also quite tempting: purchasing a Sharp plug-in hybrid model can also enjoy a series of government subsidies, which can help users from restricted license plate areas get excited about purchasing the car.Actually, the advantages of the Ford Edge plug-in hybrid are not limited to this. Thanks to its perfect continuation of the high performance of the gasoline version, and based on the Ford global fourth-generation hybrid platform, the Edge PHEV is equipped with an upgraded EcoBoost turbocharged dual-injection engine and power hybrid technology. Its maximum power can reach 178 kW, and it can accelerate from 0-60 km/h in just 4.5 seconds, which is the most commonly used speed range for urban commuting.
In addition, the PHEV model also has an ultra-long range of nearly 1000 km. As a can-be-refueled electric car, its fuel consumption is as low as 1.2 L/100 km. By perfectly solving the mileage anxiety of electric cars and the fuel consumption anxiety of gasoline cars, having such a car is enough for every user to easily and confidently embark on a worry-free journey.
As the large high-performance flagship SUV of the Ford family, the Ford Explorer has been precipitated for more than 30 years. Since the new sixth-generation Ford Explorer was launched on June 16, 2020, its cumulative sales have exceeded 33,000 units in the first year. Among them, the mid-to-high-end models account for more than 60%, stably ranking as the sales champion of joint venture mid-to-large SUVs costing 350,000 RMB or more.
From behind it, we can see that since the Changan Ford Explorer adopted the CD6 rear-drive platform and was equipped with a 2.3TEcoBoost engine across the entire series, with a maximum power of 276 Ps and a peak torque of 425 N·m, such power performance coupled with the comprehensive strength of L2-level Co-Pilot360 intelligent driving assist system that supports lane keeping and following in queues.
Overall, the sixth-generation Changan Ford Explorer can indeed win the favor of Chinese users with its large size, 7-seater spacious interior, strong power, high intelligence, and safety configuration. And entrepreneurs in this era do need an explorer.
Durex Jun’s Comment:Actually, judging from the many new vehicles launched by Changan Ford in recent years, it is clear that Ford understands Chinese consumers better. With its “customer-centric” philosophy, it is gradually fulfilling its brand promise of “More Ford, More China.” At this year’s Chongqing Auto Show, the EVOS ST-Line and Ruiji plug-in hybrid models made their debut, demonstrating the real strength of Ford’s century-old brand through a more complete product lineup and cutting-edge technology that meets the needs of all-in users.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.