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Archive for June, 2010

The unibody 2011 Ford Explorer, based on the D3 platform used on the new 2010 Ford Taurus, will go into production in 2010 at the company’s Torrence Avenue plant. Expect an EcoBoost model to follow after the standard gasoline engine choices make their debut.

Sales of the Explorer have seen a drastic decline since the model’s popularity in the 1990s. In its peak year in 1999, FoMoCo sold 507,091 Explorers and 49,281 Mountaineers.

In 2008, sales of the Explorer declined to a staggering 78,439, while Mountaineer sales were 10,596. Both nameplates are down more than 50 percent so far in 2009.

A new style of test mule has begun running around Ford’s development centers, perhaps offering the first signs that testing has begun on Ford’s car-based Explorer. The rough test mules (we’ve now seen several running the streets of Dearborn) are a mix of Ford Taurus X and Ford Flex, but there are some telling alterations, raising the prototype’s ride-height, along with a higher cowl, and rigged A-pillars to accommodate what appears to be a more steeply-raked windshield. There are also clear signs around the rear hatch and roof rails that the platform has been widened. While the front clip is pure Ford Flex, the lowest slat of the Flex’s three-bar grille has been removed, perhaps to better approximate airflow of the next Explorer’s grille.

The 2009 Ford Explorer is largely unchanged. This midsize SUV uses a traditional, truck-type design. It offers rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, or 4-wheel drive that can be left engaged on dry pavement and has a low-range gear for off-roading. Trim levels include XLT, Eddie Bauer, and Limited. All are available with a 210-hp 4.0-liter V6 engine or a 292-hp 4.6-liter V8.

V6 models have a 5-speed automatic transmission; V8s have a 6-speed automatic. Maximum towing capacity is 5375 lb for the V6 and 7285 lb for the V8. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. Offered on all is a 3rd-row seat for seven-passenger capacity; it’s available with a power-folding feature.

Explorer’s capless fueling system allows owners to fill their fuel tanks without having to remove a gas cap. Ford’s Sync voice-activated cell phone and MP3 player control system is available. The available navigation system includes real-time traffic alerts, weather, gas prices, sports, and movie information. Ford retrims the Explorer for sale as the Mercury Mountaineer.

The 2010 Ford Explorer lineup is largely unchanged for what is likely its final model year in its current design. This midsize SUV uses traditional, truck-type construction. It offers rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, or four-wheel drive that can be left engaged on dry pavement and has a low-range gear for off-roading. Trim levels include XLT, Eddie Bauer, and Limited. All have a 210-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 engine.

Optional on Eddie Bauer and Limited is a 292-horsepower 4.6-liter V8. V6 models have a 5-speed automatic transmission; V8s have a 6-speed automatic. Maximum towing capacity is 5,375 pounds for the V6 and 7,285 pounds for the V8. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. Offered on all is a 3rd-row seat for 7-passenger capacity; it’s available with a power-folding feature.

Explorer’s capless fueling system allows owners to fill their fuel tanks without having to remove a gas cap. Ford’s Sync voice-activated cell phone and MP3 player control system is available. The available navigation system includes real-time traffic alerts, weather, gas prices, sports, and movie information. Ford re-trims the Explorer for sale as the Mercury Mountaineer.

The 2009 Ford Expedition adds more power and a few new features. This is Ford’s largest SUV and is available in regular length as well as the Expedition EL, which is 12 inches longer in wheelbase and about 15 inches longer overall. Both versions seat up to eight. The sole powertrain for all models is a 310-hp 5.4-liter V8 engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. This represents an increase of 10 hp over 2008 Expeditions.

All 2009 models now have the ability to run on E85 ethanol-blended fuel. Maximum towing capacity is 9200 lb. Rear-wheel drive is standard. Available is a full-time 4-wheel-drive system that can be left engaged on dry pavement and includes a low-range gear for off-roading. XLT, Eddie Bauer, King Ranch, and Limited trim levels are offered. Available safety equipment includes ABS, traction control, antiskid system, front side airbags, and curtain side airbags. New for 2009 is Ford’s Sync, which is a voice-activated interface for cell phones and digital music players.

The available navigation system now has real-time traffic, weather, and entertainment information. Heated second-row seats are standard on the Limited and King Ranch. Available on XLT and standard on Eddie Bauer, Limited, and King Ranch is a power-folding 3rd-row seat. Ford’s new SOS Post-Crash Alert, which flashes the turn signals and honks the horn to alert first responders to the vehicle’s location, is also available. Note that the Lincoln Navigator is a luxury version of Expedition with different styling, features, and pricing.

The 2010 Ford Expedition is largely unchanged. This is Ford’s largest SUV, and it is available as a regular-length wagon and as the Expedition EL, which is 12 inches longer in wheelbase and about 15 inches longer overall. Both versions seat up to 8. The sole powertrain for all models is a 310-horsepower 5.4-liter V8 engine paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Expedition can run on E85 ethanol-blended fuel.

Maximum towing capacity is 9,200 pounds on standard-length models and 8,900 pounds on the EL. Rear-wheel drive is standard. Also offered is full-time four-wheel drive that can be left engaged on dry pavement and includes a low-range gear for off-roading. XLT, Eddie Bauer, King Ranch, and Limited trim levels are offered. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, front-side airbags, and curtain-side airbags.

Ford’s Sync, which is a voice-activated interface for cell phones and digital music players, is optional on the XLT and standard otherwise. A navigation system with real-time traffic, weather, and entertainment information is also available. Heated 2nd-row seats and heated and cooled front seats are standard on the Limited and King Ranch. A power-folding 3rd-row seat is optional on the XLT and standard otherwise. Note that the Lincoln Navigator is a luxury version of Expedition with different styling, features, and pricing.

The 2009 Ford Escape receives more powerful engines following its freshening for the 2008 model year. This compact SUV is a five-passenger, 4-door wagon that includes a liftgate with opening glass. It shares its basic design with the Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute. Four-cylinder models have a 171-hp 2.5-liter engine. V6 versions have a 240-hp 3.0-liter engine.

Compared to the 2008 Escape, that’s an increase of 18 hp for the 4-cylinder and 40 hp for the V6. The 4-cylinder engine is available with a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission, the V6 with a 6-speed automatic only.

A gas/electric Hybrid model is available. It teams a 153-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gas engine with an electric motor. It requires no plug-in charging. Hybrids have a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

Towing capacity for 4-cylinder models is 1500 lb. V6 models can tow up to 3500 lb. The Escape is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. Also available are leather upholstery, heated front seats, rear-obstacle detection, and a navigation system.

The 2010 Ford Escape receives some new features. This compact SUV is a 5-passenger, 4-door wagon that includes a liftgate with opening glass. It shares its basic design with the Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute. Escape comes in XLS, XLT, and Limited trims, each with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. All have a standard 171-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. Optional on XLT and Limited is a 240-horsepower 3.0-liter V6. The front-drive XLS has a standard 5-speed manual transmission. Optional on those and standard on all others is a 6-speed automatic.

A gas/electric Hybrid model also returns in Base and Limited trims. It teams a 153-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gas engine with an electric motor. It requires no plug-in charging and uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that behaves much like an automatic. Maximum towing capacity for the 4-cylinder is 1,500 pounds. V6 models tow up to 3,500 pounds. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags.

Also available are leather upholstery, heated front seats, rear-obstacle detection, a navigation system, and Ford’s Sync voice-activated control for cell phones and MP3 players. A rearview camera is one of the new features. MyKey allows owners to program a key that can limit the vehicle’s top speed and audio volume. Also new is Ford’s Active Park Assist, which uses ultrasonic sensors to help automatically guide the vehicle into a parallel-parking space.