Test Drive Ford Galaxy since 2010 Minivan
Luxury space
It is this style (The Luxury of Space) elected Ford Motor Company designers at restyling minivan Galaxy, withdrawing it from the ambition twins VW Sharan and Seat Alhambra, produced on a joint venture with Volkswagen AG.The simultaneous appearance in 1995 three minivans Ford Galaxy, VW Sharan and Seat Alhambra was designed to break the Renault Espace monopoly on the European market. To this end, the American and German companies even went to create a joint venture on the assembly of models.
The high degree of unification, naturally, put on them their imprint cars were similar to each other as brothers.
However, the competitiveness of Galaxy is not only in a series of troops, but in general, in the medium of minivans in the European market, forced the leadership Ford seriously think about the individualization of his car. Then, in 1997, the concept of luxury space began to develop. Moreover, under this luxury itself, not only a decent organization of the internal volume of the car, but also the sensations that the person who chose the galaxy should be experienced.
The interior of the Ford Minivan has radically recycled, amplifying the classity of the traits. This is especially noticeable of torpedo with its calm geometric shapes. The use of plastics with the texture and color of the metal added the design of the openwork, also contributing to the feeling of space. Naturally, all this entailed the change in the instrument panel, the steering, the seats and the god of the news of something else. But in general, it should be noted, the inner entourage of the new Galaxy really causes positive emotions.
The minivan, with whom we acquainted, had the execution of GHIA (luxury), which imposed its obligations to complete the car with additional equipment. The buyer is offered to choose from, navigation system of two brands, a game console (monitor displays are placed in the head restraints of the front armchairs), a mobile phone and the ability to enter the Internet (another aspect of the Fords concept of the luxury of space).
Consciously lowered the story about the abilities of the Galaxy salon transform for minivans today is the norm today. I will only note that a car and in a more modest execution (Trend) is very humoring all sorts of shelves, containers, nets, holders, even shoulders for clothing are designed to make passengers as convenient as possible. When traveling for the city, the middle seats of the second row can take a spacious refrigerator, however, it is already from the equipment under the order.
Outside, Galaxy carries a Ford NEW EDGE imprint. The designers successfully closed the mock layout blade. The image was memorable. Absolute novelty features a beading of the radiator and the head optics. And the optics based on lenses is much more efficient than the former. In Galaxy, if you want, you can enlist the xenon optical elements.
The back is less than winning, although it has undergone significant changes: starting from the configuration of overall lanterns and ending with a surprisingly soft and light opening mechanism with massive with the appearance of the back door.
The list of passive and active elements of the safety of the car is significantly expanded that the most directly affects the comfort and driving qualities of the minivan.
Overview of the driver's seat, handling, smoothness of the undoubted advantages of Galaxy. In any case, from these parameters of the car you enjoy.
But the bunch of the transmission engine is puzzled. For example, at the most likely version of us, equipped with a V-shaped-shaped 3.8 liter working volume and a 6-speed KP, crushed an unnatural shiver on the handle of the gearbox when the gas is discharged. And this is despite the fact that the cable drive is applied here.
It was not inspired by a tandem of a 2,3-liter gasoline motor and a 4-speed automatic transmission, complemented by the SELECT-SHIFT function. It seemed the impression that the machine for another engine. At least this, for there is also a similar five-speed. Acne does not add the machine and switch to manual control mode. (With such focus, we have already dealt with other manufacturers.)
Disappointed and interaction of a 115-strong diesel engine with a 6-speed box. We encountered uneven operation of the engine in some modes and absence of elasticity. Attempting developers to find a gold middle between dynamics and fuel economy, in our opinion, the desired result did not reach.
Of the variety of power units and gearboxes, I wanted to fold my combinations (2.8V6 + 5-speed automatic, 2.3 + 6-speed box, etc.). It is clear that this is the subjectivism of pure water, but you see, and the impression of the car would be completely different.
Updated Ford Galaxy will soon go on sale. Now, as we were told, there are intensive work on eliminating shortcomings. In the basic configuration, the machine will cost at VW Sharan ($ 27,000). Everything else in accordance with the possibilities of the buyer.
For our Ford Galaxy market will not earlier the beginning of the next year. First, minivans Russian dealers are attracted to the discharge of exotic, which is confirmed by the sales volume of not more than 0.7% of the total number of sold foreign cars. Secondly, Volkswagen has not yet discarded the package of Galaxy with its V-shaped six to its full adaptation to our operating conditions.
Specifications Ford Galaxy 2.8 V6 GHIA
Square. Mass (MAX), kg 2014 Dimensions (length / width / height), mm 4641/1810/1759 Max. speed, km / h 217 overclocking time up to 100 km / h, with 9.9 fuel consumption (mixture), l / 100 km 10.6 Engine VR6, gasoline.; slave. volume, cm3 2792; Power, hp at min-1 204/6000; Cool. moment, nm at min-1 268/3214; Power system distributed. Injection Transmission Mechan., 6-stupas. Tire size 215 / 55R16W Suspension wheels Unqualified; Type McPherson / Unclear, with oblique Rych. Brakes disc., Vent. RULES. Rack mechanism, with an effort.
Text: Sergey Zhukov
A source: Magazine 5 Wheel [08/2000]