- 2011 Ford Explorer's optional EcoBoost engine earns 30 percent better fuel economy.
- EPA ratings are 18 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway.
- The outgoing 4.0-liter V6 earned 14/20 mpg.
DEARBORN, Michigan — Ford has announced that its redesigned 2011 Explorer, which shifts from a body-on-frame design to a lighter unitized platform, will come with an optional EcoBoost turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline direct-injection four-cylinder that will provide at least 30 percent better mileage than the 4.0-liter V6 in the current 2010 Explorer.
The 4.0 V6 makes 210 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque and is rated by the EPA at 14 miles per gallon in city driving and 20 mpg on the highway.
A 30 percent increase in fuel efficiency translates to EPA ratings of 18 city and 26 highway.
Ford said the EcoBoost 2.0 four-cylinder engine will deliver "the power of a normally aspirated V6," without specifying the output. The company said that, when equipped with the EcoBoost 2.0, the 2011 Explorer "will be the new class leader in the midsize SUV segment."
The 2011 Explorer will feature such fuel-saving hardware as electric power-assisted steering, battery management, variable-displacement air-conditioning compressor and "aggressive deceleration fuel shutoff," as well as a six-speed automatic transmission.
Inside Line says: After slowly dribbling out one teaser photo after another, Ford is beginning to release some worthwhile information about this important SUV. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
tdiluv says:
07:28 AM, 07/20/2010
That power and torque pushing a 2 ton plus vehicle does not spell performance. They are just critisizing the Cadillac SRX of similar weight with an all aluminum V6 with more power and torque than this FORD and it stumbles in lack of performance and the transmission is always searching for more power.
Have to wait and see but other engine options will probably win out, of course with fewer MPG's.
They did get some weight out of the redesign but when you go to unibody you wonder what happens with road noise as compared to the Body over frame Explorer. The best set up is to have an engine bay sub-frame to isolate the road from passenger compartment with rubber but will have to wait for a report on the design.
charlesb says:
08:52 PM, 07/19/2010
I'm so excited.
alexstore says:
06:52 PM, 07/19/2010
since engine can produce 275 hp( according to wiki) most likely for Explorer it will be 240 and around same torque. My problem is with many manufacturers switching to turbos how will long term reliability suffer.
tbone85 says:
03:27 PM, 07/19/2010
"For family purposes I would rather get a minivan. More power, better fuel economy, far more practical and I bet it can handle bad weather just as well."
Highly likely better practicality, and probably better power for minvans over the Explorer. If lower to the ground, the crossover will likely have the edge in handling. Bad weather superiority is probably tipped more by AWD v. FWD (I think only the Sienna has AWD amongst minivans.) Is there a minivan with better mileage than 18/26?
ant14 says:
09:23 AM, 07/19/2010
The 4.0L "Cologne" debuted in 1996 with a 5 speed auto. At that time, both at the head of their class on several regards, there's older engines out there. Other than being decently reliable, there was nothing earth shattering about the engine. Glad it's finally getting killed and replaced with the 3.5L/3.7L. It should have occured at '06 fresh. There are plans to integrate the 4 cylinder Ecoboost in other vehicles like the Escape and Fusion, as previously mentioned.
ed124c says:
09:16 AM, 07/19/2010
Perhaps the biggest hurdle will be trying to get people into a 4 cylinder Explorer.
And a very small 4 cylinder at that.
And why put this engine in a fairly large SUV? Why not put it into a new Escape, (if it must go into an SUV), or into the new Focus (perhaps they will) or even into an economical and sportier Fusion?
Perhaps this is all coming with next generation vehicles.
The car world is sure changing.
hero_sina says:
09:01 AM, 07/19/2010
What the hell are these pics?First that crazy teaser and now this.
If you want to show the car just show it , if you don't want just don't show.
skiboy90 says:
08:50 AM, 07/19/2010
"210/254 for a 4 liter V6 seems underachieving."
It wasn't when the engine first came out....oh about 2 bazillion years ago.
jm1212 says:
08:38 AM, 07/19/2010
Good to hear they finally got rid of that ancient V6
i wish they would stop with the game playing though. its getting old fast.
mazda609 says:
08:29 AM, 07/19/2010
For family purposes I would rather get a minivan. More power, better fuel economy, far more practical and I bet it can handle bad weather just as well.