2011 Ford Explorer

[haven]

Ford is preparing a completely re-designed Explorer for 2011. There's no official news from Ford about the new design, but some details have leaked out:
-- truck-based body on frame is out, replaced by a lighter and more space efficient unibody
-- designed to compete with GM's popular GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave SUVs
-- built on the same chassis as Ford's Taurus sedan and 3 row Edge crossover
-- independent suspension at each wheel
-- all wheel drive, using front wheels for normal road conditions
-- three engine options: EcoBoost 4, standard V6 and EcoBoost V6 (no V8 is planned)
-- towing limited to about 3500 lbs

The Explorer is expected to employ rough/tough styling and more ground clearance, to appeal to suburban SUV buyers. The similar Edge will appeal more to an urban audience. Both vehicles provide the three rows of seats and interior space of a minivan, without the stigma attached to driving a "mommy-mobile."

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2010/01/more-details-on-the-2011-ford-explorer.html

I have not read anything about the future for the Expedition model. Anyone?

Chip Haven

 

[bronconut]

No plans for any big changes to the F150 so I doubt the Expedition will change much besides the new engines that are coming out for 2011. Here's a link with some real pic's of the new Explorer not the show car version. http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-explorer-2011.html

 

[78Bronco]

Ford is preparing a completely re-designed Explorer for 2011. There's no official news from Ford about the new design, but some details have leaked out:
-- truck-based body on frame is out, replaced by a lighter and more space efficient unibody
-- designed to compete with GM's popular GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave SUVs
-- built on the same chassis as Ford's Taurus sedan and 3 row Edge crossover
-- independent suspension at each wheel
-- all wheel drive, using front wheels for normal road conditions
-- three engine options: EcoBoost 4, standard V6 and EcoBoost V6 (no V8 is planned)
-- towing limited to about 3500 lbs

The Explorer is expected to employ rough/tough styling and more ground clearance, to appeal to suburban SUV buyers. The similar Edge will appeal more to an urban audience. Both vehicles provide the three rows of seats and interior space of a minivan, without the stigma attached to driving a "mommy-mobile."

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2010/01/more-details-on-the-2011-ford-explorer.html

I have not read anything about the future for the Expedition model. Anyone?

Chip Haven

So it's going to be a car. Nothing appeals to me from this latest Ford offering.

I want to meet these focus groups that are driving Ford to make an SUV built on a "CAR" platform. I'll keep my old vehicles thanks.

 

[inked33]

the explorer (better known as exploder) was never very off-road friendly anyway so them making it even softer then it already was is really no loss. at least in my opinion anyway

 

[bronconut]

I have to disagree with you there the first gen (91'-94') were very off road friendly. I had a 93' with front/rear 4.10 gears and trac loks with 31" tires that little rig ran many a trail. Gave it to a niece up in the Black Hills of South Dakota last fall had 230,000 on the odo and the engine still had the original valve cover gaskets on it. But I do agree the new Explorer is nothing more than a car, shares the same chassis as my wifes new Ford Flex.

 

[Mr. Leary]

snip-snip!

 

[inked33]

I have to disagree with you there the first gen (91'-94') were very off road friendly. I had a 93' with front/rear 4.10 gears and trac loks with 31" tires that little rig ran many a trail. Gave it to a niece up in the Black Hills of South Dakota last fall had 230,000 on the odo and the engine still had the original valve cover gaskets on it. But I do agree the new Explorer is nothing more than a car, shares the same chassis as my wifes new Ford Flex.

i had a 92 exploder and that thing caused me nothing but problems. the transmission went out with only 25k miles on it. the head gasket blew at 40k miles, along with alot of other minor problems. maybe mine was just a bad one, but i taked with other people that had the same problems as mine just not as often. needless to say i rid rid of it after the head gasket blew and bought a jeep cherokee

 

[Finatic Angler]

It is probably a good thing they are not putting a V8 in them anymore. I had an old 98 explorer with the V8 and man did it like the gasoline.

I would imagine the full time 4WD did not help that either.

IT was fast though :wings:

 

[Xjaddiction]

I've admired this place because ideas are king. No matter what people want to build, I've seen/read nothing but support. This whole thing about a uni-body belonging only to the "CAR" realm of vehicles is completely false. Yes, they are making a lot of car like cross-overs, but a fine example of uni-body structure are the Jeep Cherokees. A uni-body doesn't have to be weak either. I hear all about the Cherokees uni-bodies cracking with extreme use (reinforcement and proper suspension geometry helps), but what about all the "c" channel frames under those trucks out there that show cracks with wear over time. Everything has it's weakness and also their strengths. I've wheeled and owned many uni-body Jeeps and absolutely love the stiff uni-body structure that allows the suspension to do all the work. They are lighter, and more efficient in design in many cases. For the type of off-roading most of us do, they work just fine.

As for Jeep, where else in the world can you get a light maneuverable Sport Utility with a 360 V-8 shoed in right from the factory?

 

[Life_in_4Lo]

The simple fact of the matter is Ford realized the vast majority of Explorer buyers were and are, quite literally, soccer moms and mall crawlers. Their market does not use the SUV as an offroad vehicle at all.
They want rugged looks but don't want any of the truck like features or strength.

This makes sense to turn it into a crossover. It is similar now, to the Honda Pilot and other street wagons.

 

[mustangwarrior]

well just like the vast majority of concept vehicles it wont make it to production, just like the bronco concept they had a while back

explorers weren't very capable from the factory but had good potential, plus the 4.0L was nearly bullet proof, the transmissions not so much, but i've got a 95 explorer and shes got nearly 210,000 on her and i just passed it down to my brother to put even more miles on

 

[haven]

Ford recently announced that the 2011 Explorer will be available with an Ecoboost 2.0L four cylinder turbo gas engine. The 2.0L will feature turbocharging and direct injection, allowing it to produce V6 levels of power. Compared to a conventional V6, the turbo engine increases fuel economy and reduces overall vehicle weight.

No specific power numbers for the 2.0L engine were released. Some time ago, Ford showed a a 2.0L EcoBoost engine with 275 hp and 280 ft lbs. The 3.7L conventional V6 in Ford's new 2011 Mustang is rated at 305 hp and 280 ft lbs, and is rated by the EPA to return 19 mpg city/30 highway with an automatic transmission. The Explorer is a larger, heavier, less aerodynamic vehicle, so its EPA numbers will likely be lower.

Aslo for comparison, Hyundai announced a 2.0L turbo four cylinder engine will be made available in the Sonata and Genesis coupe. This 2.0L generates 274 horsepower at 6000 rpm, and 269 lb-ft of torque from 1800-4500 rpm.

 

[haven]

Ford continues the striptease introduction of the 2011 Explorer, revealing just a little more information each week.

Today, Ford announced that the 3.5L V6 that will be the base engine in the 2011 Explorer will get 20% better fuel mileage than the V6 in the 2010 Explorer. Last year's V6 numbers were 14/20, so a 20% improvement would be 17/24. Not bad for a SUV with the aerodynamics of a brick on wheels. That's about the same GM's midsize SUV (GMC Terrain), but from an engine that has more power.

The Explorer's optional 2.0L four cylinder EcoBoost engine is expected to carry an EPA rating 30% better than last year's V6, which would put its rating at 19/26.

These numbers are for the front wheel drive Explorer. For the all-wheel drive version, subtract one or two mpg. Speaking of all wheel drive, the Explorer will offer electronic traction aids including traction control and hill descent control.

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

the problem with the ecoboost engines is that currently they are listed as a $4000 OPTION!!!...gimmie a dam TURBODIESEL for that kind of coin!!:Wow1:

 

[RR1]

Looks like a...

Subaruaudihyundaihondatoyotabuicknissanacuralexuschevydodge....


Do the manufactures hire the same design team?

Do new cars look all the same or what!?

Yawn....