2013 Audi A3

2011 Ford Explorer Based On Taurus Platform, Gets EcoBoost

 
10 13,040 views Jan 26, 2010
Follow Nelson

2008 Ford Explorer America Concept

HI-RES GALLERY: 2008 Ford Explorer America Concept

The 2011 Ford Explorer promises a wealth of improvements on the current model, including better fuel economy, better utility, more safety, and much more style. It will be built alongside the Ford Taurus, Flex and Lincoln MKS, with which it shares its core underpinnings, in Chicago.

Production will ramp up for the fourth quarter of this year, bringing with it another 1,200 jobs and a $400 million investment in the facility. Like the Ford Flex, Taurus and Lincoln MKS, the new Explorer will also get an EcoBoost engine option, plus a six-speed transmission and unibody construction.

We first brought you word that Ford would be building the Explorer in Chicago last March, along with news of the EcoBoost powertrain. The twin-turbo V-6 found in the Taurus SHO and Lincoln MKS, among others, is a given, likely to be rated around 340 horsepower in this application. Perhaps even more interesting is the possibility of an EcoBoost four-cylinder, turning out around 230 horsepower, delivering the flat torque curve and quick acceleration of a larger engine while still sipping fuel at an economical rate.

In an industry first, the 2011 Ford Explorer will also feature inflatable safety belts. Never before employed on a production vehicle, the inflatable belts boost protection for rear-seat passengers, especially children and the elderly, by spreading crash forces over an area five times greater than conventional belts.

The design of the 2011 Ford Explorer still hasn't been unveiled--expect that to come at the Chicago Auto Show in February--but its basic profile was previewed in 2008 at the Detroit Auto Show with the Explorer America concept. The front end will likely be restyled somewhat to share a family resemblance with the Ford Flex, squaring off the more sculpted nose of the Explorer America Concept. The side and rear are expected to more closely follow the concept's lines. Likewise, the interior will be tamed down from the show-only version, with similar themes and cues from Ford's current lineup.

Perhaps the most perplexing aspect of the 2011 Ford Explorer is its place within the Ford lineup. With the Flex and Edge both offering similar crossover platforms, and the Flex at the least offering a similar powertrain lineup, wedging the Explorer between the two will require a careful balancing act of pricing, features, and marketing.

[Ford]





Tags:
Posted in:
 
Contribute
Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor
Follow Us

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

  • Posting indicates you have read this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • Notify me when there are more comments
Comments (10)

  1. By bepsf Posted: 1/26/2010 1:49pm PST

    With Edge and Flex, this is a completely pointless model.
    Ford would have been better off spending the money developing a Taurus Sportswagon and Coupe.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  2. By NoNameDenton Posted: 1/26/2010 3:49pm PST

    bepsf, remember they did have a Taurus wagon, names the Taurus X, used to be the Freestyle.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  3. By  buy r4ds Posted: 1/26/2010 6:42pm PST

    This design is not my thing but then for the record I like the Flex and the final product isn't likely to look much like this anyway. It looks smaller than a Flex to me but bigger than an Edge. I don't see the need for such a beast but maybe Ford is hedging their bets in case the Flex doesn't catch on. Personally if I was shopping in this segment right now I would go looking for a sweet deal on a Taurus X.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  4. By adamk Posted: 1/26/2010 7:17pm PST

    For me, this new Explorer looks like a Honda Pilot, at least from the outside. I'd bet the Flex doesn't really take off. The Edge is not bad, far better than the Freestyle/Taurus X, but it's even better in Mazda form.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  5. By NoNameDenton Posted: 1/26/2010 8:07pm PST

    adamk, that is a concept not what the new Explorer will look like, just a preview of what it could look like, also Mazda does not have a version of the Edge, the CX-7 is not related only the larger 7 seater CX-9 is related and not too similar since it is larger.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  6. By adamk Posted: 1/26/2010 8:33pm PST

    NND: I wouldn't be surprised if the exterior of the new Explorer doesn't pick up many of those themes. And I was talking about the CX-9, not the CX-7. Though the Edge and CX-9 in different classes size-wise, the Mazda has been lauded for its spirited handling relatively speaking.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  7. By Ex-Chicagoan Posted: 1/27/2010 5:57am PST

    Hey Chicago, betcha can't wait for half of Detroit to move to Chicago, huh?
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  8. fb_100000275684479 avatar Michael Escobar Posted: 1/27/2010 9:14am PST

    I agree with adamk, the concept does look like the Pilot, with Mini-esque taillights, but, as said, I wouldn't expect the production version to look like that. Seems somewhat pointless since it's no longer on a full-frame platform, it's too much like the Edge and Flex/Lincoln Mk T, etc.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  9. By bepsf Posted: 1/27/2010 10:30am PST

    NND--
    Yes, they did - and it was as craptastic as the 500 - but with this great new Taurus, a sportswagon would be appropriate...
    ...if not that, then a Taurus (or Fusion) coupe would be a great addition to the lineup.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  10. By FEARTHEVOICES Posted: 1/27/2010 4:25pm PST

    Ford needs to do something different with styling. Thankfully the Edge doesn't totally share all the same Ford styling cues, though that may change w/ next years update. Ford trucks and crossovers look too much alike, making the redundancy claim quite obvious.
    I like the Taurus sport wagon idea, especially if it shares styling of the new Taurus. The current Taurus X model is just lame. It looks like it's more of an Explorer wanna be, or Explorer lite. Get rid of the truck0like looks and maybe it would actually sell.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

Connect with Facebook

Motor Authority. Now with your friends.

Discover stories your friends read.
Share stories more easily.
You control what you share.
Learn more

Research New Cars

Go!


More from High Gear Media

 
 
MotorAuthority
  • Follow Us
  • Twiiter
  • Facebook
 
 
© 2011 MotorAuthority. All Rights Reserved. MotorAuthority is published by High Gear Media. Stock photography by Homestar, LLC. Send us feedback.