DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford refers to the Explorer America as a "smarter utility concept." In fact, it is nothing less than a sea change in thinking. The new model is actually a preview of the company's ambitious plan to shift its once best-selling ute from a truck-based SUV platform and turn it into a car-based crossover.
In addition to its unibody configuration, the six-passenger Explorer America concept is designed to accommodate Ford's new EcoBoost turbocharged gasoline direct-injection engines — a 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 275 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque and a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 340 hp and 340 lb-ft. The production version of the 3.5 V6 will make its debut on the Lincoln MKS and later on the Ford Flex.
In the Explorer America, the engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with auto shift control, which enables the driver to select and hold a lower gear by turning a dial. Ford said the 2.0 EcoBoost engine has the potential to boost fuel economy in the Explorer America by as much as 30 percent over the current Explorer V6.
The new-generation Explorer crossover is designed primarily for on-highway use. It could also serve as a sporty substitute for the minivan because of such family-friendly features as a sliding rear door. Ford said the Explorer America will have "moderate towing and off-roading capabilities."
The new model will feature electric power-assisted steering, which Ford said it plans to install on 80-90 percent of its U.S. passenger vehicles by 2012.
Other features include wraparound rear glass, stackable sliding seats, a rear work table and a three-dimensional compass and navigation unit with a topographical map built into the instrument panel.
What this means to you: If the Explorer America gets the green light for production, you could see it in Ford showrooms as early as 2010. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
In addition to its unibody configuration, the six-passenger Explorer America concept is designed to accommodate Ford's new EcoBoost turbocharged gasoline direct-injection engines — a 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 275 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque and a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 340 hp and 340 lb-ft. The production version of the 3.5 V6 will make its debut on the Lincoln MKS and later on the Ford Flex.
In the Explorer America, the engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with auto shift control, which enables the driver to select and hold a lower gear by turning a dial. Ford said the 2.0 EcoBoost engine has the potential to boost fuel economy in the Explorer America by as much as 30 percent over the current Explorer V6.
The new-generation Explorer crossover is designed primarily for on-highway use. It could also serve as a sporty substitute for the minivan because of such family-friendly features as a sliding rear door. Ford said the Explorer America will have "moderate towing and off-roading capabilities."
The new model will feature electric power-assisted steering, which Ford said it plans to install on 80-90 percent of its U.S. passenger vehicles by 2012.
Other features include wraparound rear glass, stackable sliding seats, a rear work table and a three-dimensional compass and navigation unit with a topographical map built into the instrument panel.
What this means to you: If the Explorer America gets the green light for production, you could see it in Ford showrooms as early as 2010. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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