Today, in 9 cities across America simultaneously, Ford unveiled their long-awaited 2011 Ford Explorer. As you all know, the current-generation Explorer was once Ford’s top seller, and the recent success of the Flex and Edge hasn’t helped the poor, aging Explorer’s sales numbers much, in part because people are waiting for the new Explorer. Ford’s CEO of the Americas, Mark Fields, was on-hand to give the initial presentation (sans-Teleprompter this time), and the covers were pulled off Ford’s latest design.
Well, good news, as the new Explorer promises to deliver more of what people want, with less of what they don’t. Here’s what we know:
- There are 2 available engines: The “base” 3.5L V6 and an optional 2.0L Ecoboost I-4. The 4-cylinder makes more power and torque than the outgoing six, and a wider torque-band than the old V8 as well. The 4-cylinder also promises class-leading fuel economy, including highway mileage in the high 20′s, though no exact numbers have been specified.
- MyFordTouch will be standard in XLT and Limited trim
- The new Explorer will continue to have have seating for 7
- Since most people don’t know how to operate low-range gearing properly, Ford has replaced the “4×4 High/Low” settings with a single knob that has pictures of different types of terrain. Simply select pavement, mud, sand, or snow, and the computer will sort out the rest.
- The build quality of the model shown today looks excellent. Soft rubber dash foam is everywhere you would touch, and the seats, steering wheel, shifter, and door pulls are made of high-quality leather.
- The new Fob, now completely keyless, is a slick design that will fit nicely in the driver’s pocket and never has to leave.
- Rear seat room is ample, I sat in the back seat with the front set for a tall driver, and I fit just fine.
Hit the jump for a mega-gallery of high-res shots of the new 2011 Explorer, and check out Derek D’s coverage of the East-Coast launch event over at Fast Lane Daily
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