Topic: 2011 Ford Explorer revealed

[saint_satan]

"Also a turbo one from what I've read. It also supposed to be 100 pounds lighter than the older model and according ford will drink about the same as a Camry. "


I don't think this is even possible - it's just too big.  A former GF's '01 CR-V got 9-10L/100km with a puny 2.0L engine.  I suspect most CUVs are in the 9 - 11l/100km range on the highway.  Wind resistance and weight will prevail regardless of combustion engine technology...

[Ontariodriver]

"Also a turbo one from what I've read. It also supposed to be 100 pounds lighter than the older model and according ford will drink about the same as a Camry. "


I don't think this is even possible - it's just too big.  A former GF's '01 CR-V got 9-10L/100km with a puny 2.0L engine.  I suspect most CUVs are in the 9 - 11l/100km range on the highway.  Wind resistance and weight will prevail regardless of combustion engine technology...

Well that is because it is going to used the same unibody structure with independent front and rear suspension used on the Ford Taurus, Flex and Lincoln MKS and a Aluminum Bonnet. Also Ford adding 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost petrol. Ford hopes will reduce running cost by 30% which Ford claim puts in line with Camry.

[Calbrez]

I'll take the new Grand Cherokee in a heart-beat, thank you very much. . .  At least in terms of looks. . .

[airbalancer]

Pricing was revealed today and the Eco-Boost 4 cylinder will cost MORE than the 50+HP more powerful standard V6.

WTF is Ford thinking?

Which engine would cost more to produced?

[rrocket]

Pricing was revealed today and the Eco-Boost 4 cylinder will cost MORE than the 50+HP more powerful standard V6.

WTF is Ford thinking?

Which engine would cost more to produced?

MAYBE..and I mean MAYBE the 4 banger.  But certainly not for the premium they're likely to ask.

[Angry Chicken]

Good looking CUV (?) and the interior looks very decent.  I wonder how it will co-exist with its brother the Fusion.  It's probably bigger and more truck like but how "hardcore" can a Flex/Taurus chassis be?

I can't put my finger on it but there's something a bit off with its proportions.  Maybe it's the high beltline, the small windows or the overhang ... I don't know.  The back seems somehow streched. 

It no longer has traditional rear-drive truck (or car) proportions.  Look at how close the leading edge of the front doors is to the wheel opening and the large overhang in front of the wheel opening.  Very typical of a FWD, transverse engine package.  Contrast this against any RWD, longitudinal engine package such as a a BMW, Genesis Coupe, etc., where the hood is longer and there's more distance between the leading edge of the door and the wheel openings and less overhang and you'll see what I mean.  Definitely the side view is not the most flattering for the majority of FWD platform vehicles.

[jww]

From the front, it has a Land Rover look, but I agree that from the side, it's more like a stretched and chopped Terrain. Nevertheless, I do like the looks, although the interior is uninspiring to me - but it's a Ford, not like they are doing brilliant interiors. They should have taken more cues from their sister co's Mazda 9. That could have made it interesting. Again - not a bad looking vehicle at all. The question is how will it perform with the changes to a car-based platform?

[Ice]

From the front, it has a Land Rover look, but I agree that from the side, it's more like a stretched and chopped Terrain. Nevertheless, I do like the looks, although the interior is uninspiring to me - but it's a Ford, not like they are doing brilliant interiors. They should have taken more cues from their sister co's Mazda 9. That could have made it interesting. Again - not a bad looking vehicle at all. The question is how will it perform with the changes to a car-based platform?

Hrrmmm I thought this was a brilliant looking interior although I like the 2012 Focus and C-MAX interior pictures the most so far.  It looks very un Ford... more Mazda like actually was what I was thinking which is funny because you think the CX-9 has the better interior

Interesting!

I would have thought everyone would be universally praising this interior as being a huge improvement over before.

[nifty6]

Pricing was revealed today and the Eco-Boost 4 cylinder will cost MORE than the 50+HP more powerful standard V6.

WTF is Ford thinking?

where did you get the pricing numbers from? I read that the pricing won't be revealed until close to the launch date and delivery to the dealers later this year.

[saint_satan]

It will be interesting to see if such a radical change, not just in design but in mechanics, will have an effect on its market share.  I know a few people who specificaly bought Explorers because they were truck based SUVs.  You know, the up north crowd that goes hunting or fishing, tow trailers or live in rural areas. etc.  Lots of Explorers were also sold back in the day as fleet vehicles to hydro companies, etc. because of the traditional 4WD system...

[KptKrunch]

I guess regardless how the marketers will call this vehicle, the buyers will cross shop it with Acadia, Traverse, Pilot, Highlander, new Jeep Grand Cherokee, new Durango.

Hmmm, definitely NOT the Highlander. I think you mean FOUR RUNNER. The Highlander is a CUV, not an SUV. I agree with the Acadia, Jeep GC, Durango.

Traverse, Pilot, Highlander - people considering those would also consider the Ford Edge, Flex, Dodge Journey, not big a$$ SUV's.

[blizzard35]

Hmmmm, here's another configuration of the all new Explorer to "watch" out for! 

http://autos.sympatico.ca/automotive-news/5709/ford-introduces-explorer-based-interceptor-police-utility-vehicle

[G0dspd]

It’s official: ’11 Ford Explorer V6 rated at 25 MPG highway
http://www.leftlanenews.com/its-official-11-ford-explorer-v6-rated-at-25-mpg-highway-video.html

Last Monday Ford began production of its all-new 2011 Explorer in order to keep up with the 15,000 pre-orders that had doubled initial estimates. Production also began nearly a week before the automaker had the official mileage ratings back from the environmental protection agency (EPA) regarding the SUV’s fuel economy.

Now, thanks to a post on Ford’s Explorer fan page on Facebook via GreenCarReports, we have learned that the new unibody-based Explorer will achieve a full 25 percent higher fuel economy than the outgoing model. To be exact, the new Explorer is rated at 17 miles per gallon city and 25 mpg highway with the V6 and two-wheel drive – compared to just 14 city and 20 highway mpg in the 2010 model it replaces.

Ford says that this rating puts the Explorer at the top of its class for V6 fuel economy, beating the more off road-oriented 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee by one city and two highway mpg.

Also keep in mind that the fuel economy rating is for the 290 horsepower and 255 lb-ft. of torque V6 engine, the only engine available at launch, and not the mid-year addition 2.0-liter Ecoboost inline-four that is expected to return even higher fuel economy.


Natural Resources Canada gives the 2011 Explorer FWD a 11.9/8.0 l/100km (City/Hwy)

That's pretty good for a mid-size SUV full-size crossover SUV  with 290 hp.  The 2.0 ecoboost (237 hp/250 lb-ft) will get a better rating but it will only be available in 2WD.  Any guesses for the AWD?

[mrthompson]

0 City, 1 Highway 

My guess?  Tack on 2 MPG City, and 1 MPG Hwy for AWD.