Americans used to love their sport utility vehicles. For a time, it was the “Big Three’s” bread-and-butter range, resulting in fatter profits and better bottom lines. But things certainly have changed. With pump prices in the US quadrupling in the past five years, Americans are now focusing their attention on vehicles that actually save them gas money. In 2006, the Ford Explorer got knocked out of “America’s Best-Selling Vehicles list”—the first time in 15 years—indicating a shift away from the lumbering, towering truck based- SUV in favor of compact sedans and the like.
But Ford isn’t just about to give up. At the 2008 North American International Auto Show, the company unveiled the Ford Explorer America concept—a car that promises to usher in a new era for America’s beloved SUV. This new concept has one thing primarily in mind: better fuel economy.
Frankly, the sheet metal isn’t anything new. In fact, in any of Ford’s official statements, there’s rarely any mention of design mumbo-jumbo like how the intricacies of the lines flow together. More than anything, the Explorer America concept’s biggest difference is what’s found in the engine bay.
Instead of a huge V8 engine like SUVs in the past, this concept uses a 4-cylinder engine with 2.0-liters of displacement. You may think that such a puny engine has no place underneath an SUV, but think again. With Ford’s EcoBoost technology (combining turbo charging and gasoline direct injection), the Explorer America pushes out 275 horsepower and 340 Nm of torque—comparable to those of the current Explorer with over 20 percent better fuel economy improvement. For those who want a bit more performance, there’s a 3.5-liter V6 also. With EcoBoost technology, this powerplant is capable of 340 horsepower—comparable to Ford’s own Triton series V8. These engines will be mated to a new 6-speed automatic with a gear-hold function allowing for no compromises in the Explorer America’s towing and off-road capabilities. Over 150 pounds (75 kilograms more or less) were shaved thanks to the downsizing of the engines.
Underneath, the Explorer America sheds its body-on-frame construction in favor of a uni-body design. This results in more weight savings, better driving dynamics and a more car-like driving/riding experience. In addition, lightweight materials in the suspension and other chassis components as well as the move to electric power assisted steering (EPAS) give an additional 5 percent fuel savings.
The softer contours of the Explorer America represents a paradigm shift where today’s consumers want a flexible vehicle, but more intelligently executed than yesteryear’s adventurous, rugged design. A wrap-around rear glass panel and sliding rear doors are some of the nifty, but “been there, done that” design cues found on the Explorer America.
But while the exterior’s rather ho-hum, the Explorer America’s interior is intelligently executed with a single-touch stackable sliding seats that allow for access to the second row (this vehicle has a 6-seater capacity). There’s a work table with seats that deploy from the tailgate as well as a three-dimensional compass and navigation unit with a topographical map built right into the instrument panel.
Right now, the Explorer America will remain a concept. But rest assured, that the all-new Explorer (due around 2009) will get most, if not all, of its innovative technologies from this concept. With this, expect the Explorer to become popular with the middle-class American once again.
By Ulysses Ang | Photos by Ulysses Ang
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