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2011 Ford Explorer With EcoBoost Delivers
Class Leading MPG; 30% Better Than Current V-6
Model
2011 Ford Explorer
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DEARBORN, Mich., July 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/
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- All-new Ford Explorer SUV offers
best-in-class fuel economy with technologically
advanced powertrains featuring multiple
enhancements to improve mechanical efficiency
- Explorer offers an optional 2.0-liter
EcoBoost™ I-4 engine delivering V6 power with
four-cylinder fuel efficiency
- Electric power-assisted steering, battery
management, fast engine warm-up and the first
North American Ford application of a
variable-displacement air conditioning
compressor all combine to improve drivability,
increase efficiency and save fuel.
The Ford Explorer has been reinvented to
shatter long-held myths about SUV fuel
efficiency and performance.
The 2011 model equipped with an optional
2.0-liter EcoBoost™ I-4 engine will be the new
class leader in the mid-size SUV segment,
achieving at least a 30 percent increase in fuel
efficiency compared with the current V-6-powered
Explorer.
"The all-new Explorer will give a huge
universe of existing and prospective customers
the capability they expect and the luxury and
convenience they want, all combined with the
fuel economy they need," said Mark Fields, Ford
president of The Americas.
The new Explorer, due in Ford showrooms later
this year, has added comfort and convenience
features, while overall vehicle weight is
reduced compared to the previous model.
Extensive use of lighter and stronger
high-strength steels such as boron add
durability while saving weight. An aluminum hood
is used, while a one-piece composite front
bolster – the radiator support between engine
and grille – is 65 percent lighter. Lighter
weight equates to fuel and money saved.
Sophisticated engine controls and advanced
technologies are key contributors to the
Explorer's improved fuel economy. Electric
power-assisted steering, battery management,
fast engine warm-up and aggressive deceleration
fuel shutoff all combine to improve drive
dynamics and save fuel. Explorer also features
the first North American Ford application of a
variable-displacement air conditioning
compressor that reduces parasitic engine drag.
Powertrain advancements like twin independent
variable camshaft timing and six-speed automatic
transmissions help Explorer deliver responsive
performance when needed combined with low-rpm
efficiency when cruising.
SUV buyers placing highest priority on fuel
economy can choose the available EcoBoost I-4.
Delivering the power of a normally aspirated V6,
this advanced engine pairs a turbocharger with
direct gasoline injection to provide SUV buyers
with projected class-leading fuel economy –
pending EPA certification – with no compromise
in performance.
Finally, all of these fuel economy
enhancements are wrapped in a smooth,
distinctive Explorer design that was extensively
refined in wind tunnel testing. Designers and
aerodynamicists collaborated to reshape sideview
mirrors and harmonize the front air dam with the
rear liftgate spoiler to significantly increase
fuel efficiency on the highway. Reduced wind
noise at speed is an incremental benefit.
"Explorer owners told us they want capability
with convenience, and improved fuel economy
without compromised performance," Fields said.
"We believe we've hit the mark with the
next-generation Explorer. It has the potential
to change perceptions of what a modern SUV is
all about."
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), a global
automotive industry leader based in Dearborn,
Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles
across six continents. With about 176,000
employees and about 80 plants worldwide, the
company's automotive brands include Ford,
Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has
been announced by the company to be ending in
the fourth quarter of 2010, and, until its sale,
Volvo. The company provides financial services
through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more
information regarding Ford's products, please
visit
www.ford.com.
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