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Next-gen Ford Explorer confirmed for Chicago production, EcoBoost included

 
12 4,164 views Mar 30, 2009
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The new Explorer was previewed at last year's Detroit show as the Explorer America

The new Explorer was previewed at last year's Detroit show as the Explorer America

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As General Motors' highest ranks are shaken up and the ink on Chrysler's alliance with Fiat is still drying, word of Ford's plans for one of its core models has emerged. A radically redesigned, car-based and turbocharged Ford Explorer will be built in Chicago for the 2011 model year according to the latest reports.

Confirming plans laid over a year ago at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, the Chicago Tribune is reporting that Ford will build the next-generation Explorer at its Chicago plant. The new vehicle is hoped to breathe life back into the plant that's seen heavy cuts and layoffs as part of Ford's austerity measures. The Chicago location is the result of UAW negotiations, with the union conceding pay and benefits for the production of the Explorer.

But the exciting part of the deal for Ford fans - and car enthusiasts in general - is the dramatic new look and potential performance of the 2011 Explorer. Built around a 3.5L V6 version of the EcoBoost powerplant rated at an expected 340hp and possibly offering a four-cylinder variant of the twin-turbo system good for 275hp and 280lb-ft of torque, the next Explorer could prove a perfect balance of size, flexibility, performance and economy for many families.


The EcoBoost system is expected to deliver up to 30% improvement in fuel economy while increasing power at the same time. Anyone familiar with the power delivery of a modern twin turbo engine knows the perception of power can be even greater, since it is available from low RPMs and almost instantaneously, rather than only at the top of the rev range like in naturally aspirated engines, or after a pause for turbo lag in single-spool applications.





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Comments (12)

  1. ma_Laz avatar Laz Posted: 3/30/2009 1:35pm PDT

    I would trade my first gen Scion xB for this! It's hard to find vehicles with decent gas milage and a back seat for folks over 6'4"...
     
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  2. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 3/30/2009 3:04pm PDT

    Doesn't Ford have enough CUVs in its lineup
     
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  3. ma_gus avatar Gus Chyba Posted: 3/30/2009 3:12pm PDT

    Ford will be the only American car company left soon.
     
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  4. ma_phil12321 avatar phil12321 Posted: 3/30/2009 3:54pm PDT

    Absolutly correct...Ford will be the only american car company left standing after the government finishes with GM and Chrysler. Dont be fooled by this new tax relief for GM and chrysler cars. Us americans are going to be taxed out of owning anythyng pretty soon.
     
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  5. ma_Laz avatar Laz Posted: 3/30/2009 3:59pm PDT

    I can honestly say that Ford seems to be the only 'merican car company making an effort to build in the US and that alone is tons of good PR...
     
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  6. ma_TrelinDTR avatar TrelinDTR Posted: 3/30/2009 5:13pm PDT

    So the new Grand Cherokee and the Explorer will be launched within months of each other...This is going to be some competition with these American companies are working their asses off, striving for success. I'm so excited for the new Grand Cherokee, hopefully this time they'll create a backseat for three adults instead of one tight for even one.

    All these rumors about the EcoBoost...I'd love to see Chrysler sneak something sick into the Grand Cherokee that makes massive power and sips fuel.
     
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  7. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 3/30/2009 7:26pm PDT

    So the new Grand Cherokee and the Explorer will be launched within months of each other...This is going to be some competition with these American companies are working their asses off, striving for success. I'm so excited for the new Grand Cherokee, hopefully this time they'll create a backseat for three adults instead of one tight for even one.

    All these rumors about the EcoBoost...I'd love to see Chrysler sneak something sick into the Grand Cherokee that makes massive power and sips fuel.

    It is called the Phoenix engine, a V6 with DI, turbo capable, MDS and a number of variable componets like cams and valves.
     
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  8. ma_burke avatar burke Posted: 3/31/2009 4:59am PDT

    The following quote is definitely not accurate: "Anyone familiar with the power delivery of a modern twin turbo engine knows the perception of power can be even greater, since it is available from low RPMs and almost instantaneously,"...Turbos (regardless of their number) show little to no effect at all at low rpm's since they are supposed to be actuated by gases coming from the exhaust pipes...Turbos usually "kick" at high rpm's along with a significantly higher fuel consumption also. I definitely appreciate the Ford's new look, but the "30% improvement in fuel economy" for a 3.5L V6 engine sound a bit inflated as well...The current Ford Explorer V6 engine's size ranges around 3.8L or so. I seriously doubt of the fact that a 3.5L V6 with one or two turbos (or without them), three or four valves/cylinder and even with a 7-speed-transmission is going to be 30% more efficient than a 3.8L engine is...I can take the 30% improvement compared to that of an engine like the Ford Excursion V10's...I know that many of us would like to see the American auto-industry coming afloat again, but that should be the result of taking lots of criticism and hard work, but never as a result of creating false expectations or misguidance for consumers...
     
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  9. ma_Laz avatar Laz Posted: 3/31/2009 6:31am PDT

    We all assume the this rig will weigh less than its current model since its car base...
     
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  10. ma_PAJ avatar PAJ Posted: 3/31/2009 7:24am PDT

    If you follow Ford's Ecotec PR closely, you'll notice that they compare fuel economy of the Ecotec vs. V8 engines of equivalent horsepower, hence the claim of 30% improvement in fuel milage.
     
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  11. ma_burke avatar burke Posted: 3/31/2009 10:49am PDT

    30% fuel economy improvement for an Explorer V8 means an average of 19mpg give or take half a mpg approx. A Mitsubishi Eclipse of about same engine's size as the V6 Explorer's produces an average of 21mpg... the Mitsubishi Eclipse is about half the height and half the weight, and by far more aerodynamic than the Explorer... So the new Explorer's 19mpg is still kinda hard to swallow...and I don't think the new Ford's chasis, body and engine are going to be made of titanium, aluminum or carbon fiber either...Who would be able to afford that? We have to handle mpg estimates with care for they create illusions. On the other hand, increasing power increases fuel consumption: POWER = FORCE X VELOCITY. It is also an illusion (that could make good commercials) expecting to deliver more power while reducing fuel consumption. Engines delivering similar power are expected to use similar amounts of fuel as well. Bigger engines increase force over velocity (USA school); whereas smaller engines must rev faster to achieve higher HP (European school)
     
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  12. buy carte sd 2gb Posted: 1/19/2010 1:00am PST

    I am really liking the way ecoboost technology is being taken forward by ford. Yay!!
     
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