| 777 | Date: Thursday, 28 Oct 2010, 19.31 | Message # 1 |
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| Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, when gasoline was cheap and people lived well above their means, the Ford Explorer was king of the road. A real game changer, the Explorer was more instrumental than any other vehicle in turning the SUV from a special-interest machine into one of the most popular vehicle categories ever created. It was also one of the best-selling SUVs of all time; during its heyday, Ford sold about 400,000 of the mighty sport-utes a year.
But when the economy went south and gas prices soared, the Explorer quickly went from icon to pariah, a gas-guzzling behemoth and a relic of the age of excess. Sales began to nose dive -- last year, the automaker sold just 52,000 -- and there's no end in sight to the free fall.
Instead of tossing in the towel, Ford decided to “evolve” the popular SUV. The result is the all-new 2011 Ford Explorer, which was officially unveiled today by Ford CEO Alan Mulally and Mike Rowe, host of Discovery Channel’s "Deadliest Catch" and "Dirty Jobs" and spokesman for Ford, in front of hordes of onlookers in New York City’s famed Herald Square.
"Customers have evolved, but the SUV has not," Mulally said. "We want to change that. The capability of this vehicle is incredible. You can tow. Go off-road. The craftsmanship is top-notch. And it’s more fuel-efficient than ever before.”
The 2011 Explorer with V6 power is expected to deliver more than 20 percent improved fuel economy compared with the 2010 model. When equipped with the available 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 engine, fuel economy is expected to improve by more than 30 percent (to approximately 18 mpg city/26 mpg highway), exceeding both the 2010 Honda Pilot and 2010 Toyota Highlander V6.
Both engines use a 6-speed automatic transmission. No V8 is planned, though it’s not out of the question -- nor would be the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine in lieu of a V8.
Weight reduction was a key element to improving the Explorer's fuel efficiency. While adding significant amenities to the vehicle, engineers were able to reduce total vehicle weight by almost 100 pounds through the use of lighter materials, with an aluminum hood as one example.
While these engines are more fuel-efficient, capability has been somewhat compromised. Maximum towing capacity drops from 7,115 pounds to 5,000 pounds with the V6, while the 4-cylinder tops out at 2,000 pounds of towing.
Looking Good
On the outside, the production 2011 Explorer combines many of the design ideas found in the latest Taurus, along with some elements from the European Ford's design team. The result is a sleek, modern look that combines ruggedness and athleticism.
That design philosophy carries on inside the vehicle. Over the last several years, Ford has made huge strides in improving the quality of its interiors. Just like the refreshed 2011 Edge and the 2012 Focus, the Explorer's new cabin stands head-and-shoulders above the old model. The interior is filled with soft-touch materials, and the control layout appears both intuitive and ergonomically sound.
Fit and finish are also much improved. Soft-touch materials on the dash provide for tight fits with adjacent panels, while details such as real metal speaker grilles add a premium finish.
Since the Explorer shares its architecture with the Flex, it also has the same type of third-row folding mechanism. With the seats up, there is a deep bin behind that provides ample room for groceries or gear--even with seven people in the vehicle. The seat backs can also be folded forward to retain the bin while adding cargo space on top of the seat. Finally, the entire unit can be flipped back into the bin, leaving a flat, bumper-level floor. With the second row seats folded, Ford says the Explorer offers 80.7 cubic feet of cargo space.
Cool New Tech
The new Explorer is primarily designed for active families on the go, so safety was a top priority during development. Consequently, the new Explorer has the automaker's Roll Stability Control system, in addition to the more typical stability control. Aside from Volvo, Ford says it is the only the automaker to add a body-roll sensor to the usual array of inertial sensors to keep things on an even keel. The Explorer builds on these existing systems with the new Curve Control functionality, which senses when a driver enters a turn too quickly and applies brake pressure to stabilize the vehicle.
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