Ford Explorer America Concept: Reduced Emissions, Increased Interest

Motoring Channel Staff - 8/January/2008

Detroit, America — Ford presented a number of new vehicles at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show, including this one - the new Explorer Concept.

While there will always be a place in the Blue Oval's American line-up for V8 street machines like the Mustang, Ford is increasingly under pressure in it's domestic market of North America to create more efficient vehicles.

"Ford gets it," says Jim Farley, who is Ford's vice president of marketing and communications in the States. 

"Customers are smart. They value vehicles – the more efficient, the better," added Farley.

As such, this new concept will be one of the most important vehicles on the Ford stand at the NAIAS, an updated version of the hugely popular SUV, the Explorer, which has been the best-sellingSUV in the States for the last decade.

It also provides hints as to how the next generation Explorer will be styled, a potential blueprint for an all-new production model.

Apart from the new design, Ford wants to gauge public response to the idea of a low emission, 2.0-litre turbocharged version of what has traditionally been a V6 and V8-powered vehicle.

Driven by Ford's all-new 'EcoBoost' engine - a new range of small direct injection turbo engines - the Ford Explorer America Concept is claimed to deliver "approximately 20 to 30 percent fuel-economy improvement" compared to previous versions.

If popular, the 6-seater concept car could pave the way for an all-new range of SUVs from Ford. And who knows, the new EcoBoost engines may even find their way into an Australian-built Ford Territory one day.

"Innovative technologies can transform people's favorite vehicles," says Jim Farley, suggesting that traditional Explorer buyers (once America's most popular SUV) will flock to a low emissions version.

The 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine that powers the concept car will also power a large range of Ford vehicles in the future, and Ford says it delivers similar performance to heavier, thirstier, larger engines. The 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine outputs power similar to V6 engines:

Power: 205kW (275hp)
Torque: 380Nm (lb.-ft)

The 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine will be paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission for the Ford Explorer America Concept, and Ford also mentions that a 3.5-litre V6 will also be available, which would deliver around 250kW (340hp). 

The V6 engine is likely to be the same that type that will replace the current straight six that powers the Australian-made Ford Falcon in 2010.

Ford says that in addition to its fuel-efficient powertrain and technologies, the Explorer America Concept addresses how the SUV market has changed in the past 15 years.

"In the 1990s, customers were drawn by SUVs aligned with people's adventurous, more rugged lifestyles. Today's consumers are more discerning, demanding products that are capable and flexible – but more intelligently executed," says the Ford Motor Company.

The new model forgoes the body-on-frame chassis type of the previous models and features a monocoque or unibody design instead, and with car-like driving dynamics it is expected the new Explorer will be more of a crossover vehicle than an outright 4WD. 

The concept car also comes with sliding rear doors for easier access to the second and third row seats, and will feature a new system called STAC, which stands for single touch access.

Ford currently sells the Explorer in Australia, in both V6 and V8 guises.

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