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SPECIAL

Ford Territory

SPECIAL

Ford Territory

New Explorer - Sophisticated on the Bitumen Composed on the Dirt

Staff, Wednesday October 31, 2001.

Page 1 of 1

The all-new Ford Explorer is primed for a renewed assault on the Australian market, with the availability of a powerful V8, a more spacious cabin, an exceptional safety package and a fully-independent suspension system that has been locally tested and tuned to tackle the Australian environment.

?The new Explorer is a sophisticated performer both on and off the beaten track. It offers exceptional ride, handling and performance, combined with a spacious and well thought-out interior that is exceptionally quiet and comfortable,? Ford?s SUV and Light Commercial Marketing Manager, Kevin Lillie said.

?The new model is well-equipped to handle the rough stuff, but offers car-like handling and performance on the road.

?It can handle a dirt track or a gala event ? just like its owners,? he said.

One of the highlights in the cabin is the inclusion of a large and comfortable third row seat, with a sunken floor for more space and dual-zone air-conditioning that allows rear occupants to adjust settings to suit themselves.

Pricing starts at $50,500 for the XLT five-seat, five-speed manual. The auto XLT is $52,000, while the auto V8 XLT is $54,000. The seven-seat option is $2500. The Limited is $64,000.

The Explorer has been tested and refined for Australian conditions, with development prototypes clocking up thousands of test kilometres on local roads since 1999.

?As a result of that testing, we have made changes to the standard suspension settings to tailor the Explorer?s ride and handling to Australian conditions, particularly dirt roads. The changes we have made include unique bushes, spring settings and dampers,? Mr Lillie said.

While the overall length of the new Explorer remains unchanged, the wheelbase of the new car is substantially longer. This provides a substantially improved ride while also improving maneuverability via a reduced turning circle. The overall width is also increased, for significant gains in interior space.

The chassis of the new car is 350 per cent stiffer, with a 26 per cent improvement in vertical and lateral bending.

This has enabled engineers to fine tune the ride and handling package and has also lead to substantial reductions in NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) levels.

For the first time, the XLT model is available with a choice of either manual or (optional) automatic transmission. There is also an optional V8 and third row seat.

Other standard features on all models include a new push-button system to engage 4WD high and low ranges, four wheel ABS with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), rear fog lights, solar tinted windows, driving lights in the front bumper, a 6-stack in-dash CD player and a built-in tow bar that incorporates a 1600kg gooseneck.

There is also an Electronic Message Centre that incorporates distance-to-empty, a compass, outside temperature and fuel consumption.

The automatic transmission, V8 engine, leather trim and third row seat are all standard on the top-of-the-range Limited model.

Other Limited features include: parking sensors, automatic dual-zone climate control with steering wheel mounted controls, premium alloy wheels, side steps, body-coloured bumpers and wheel arches, an overhead storage console, steering wheel mounted audio controls and side air curtains.

A larger, 85.2 litre fuel tank gives the Explorer extra range.

The safety package for the new Explorer includes an optional, roof-mounted, ?air curtain? that deploys to cover about 65 per cent of the side glass area to protect front and middle row outboard occupants in the event of a side impact.

Dual front airbags and pyrotechnic seatbelt pre-tensioners for the front seats are standard.

CHANGES AT A GLANCE

Design

The new Explorer retains the rugged good looks that have made it America?s most popular off-roader.

Evolutionary rather than revolutionary, Explorer’s design has been refined to include a more aerodynamic front-end treatment, with jewelled headlamps and an integrated fascia.

Hidden rocker panels provide both a cleaner side profile, as well as easier ingress and egress for passengers.

The rear fascia is more integrated into the side bodywork, and offers a wide step surface.

The tailgate is now split to offer a larger lift-glass area and lower liftover height for loading groceries or other items into the rear cargo section. For most daily use, owners will find they rarely have to raise the entire liftgate, saving effort.

Another thoughtful touch is the inclusion of ?approach lamps? under the side mirrors that light the ground under the door.

Explorer is now available in four new colours ? mineral grey, dark highland green, harvest gold and estate green.

Package

Explorer’s passenger compartment is 63.5mm wider and for the first time offers integrated third-row seating.

This third-row seat accommodates two adults in comfort. The new model?s wider track and the innovative suspension package have given designers more width and height to work with and the result is a genuine third-row option that is suitable for the vast majority of passengers.

Ingress and egress are improved, due to design changes that move the rocker panels inboard, closer to the seats. There are also larger door openings.

A one-handed control folds the second-row seat down and flips it forward, to offer wide access to the third row.

The third-row seat folds down to create a large cargo area.

The rear liftgate is designed to offer shopping cart height access through the large liftglass section. A button on the key fob opens the glass in the rear hatch while leaving the doors locked.

In all models, the second-row seat is split 40/20/40 to offer ease of access to the third row, and the ability to customize the cargo area for long or odd-sized cargo.

Clever storage features include water bottle holders in the front door pockets, and the Cargo Management System with two underfloor storage bins in the five-seat model (one in the seven-seat model) to keep small items out of sight.

Engine

The Explorer?s optional all-alloy, overhead cam 4.6l V-8 delivers 178kW of power and 382Nm of torque, making it ideal for towing.

The standard 4.0 litre V6 is quiet and economical, while producing an impressive 157kW of power and 344Nm of torque, slightly more than the previous model. The power and torque increases come from a revised composite intake and a new engine management system.

Ready to Tow

Towing capability is built in to the new Explorer, with a standard towbar and gooseneck rated to 1600kg on each vehicle. An optional upgraded towing package is rated to 2500kg.

Ride and Handling

The computer-engineered chassis package features a fully boxed frame for strength and durability.

The fully-independent rear suspension (IRS) incorporates an innovative, space-saving porthole-in-frame design that allows for more interior space in the rear of the vehicle without sacrificing frame strength.

The IRS is a short- and long-arm design for optimum control of the wheel movement.

Coil-over spring assemblies are isolated from side loads, and engineered to reduce unsprung weight from all four wheels.

Explorer’s wider track increases the feeling of stability, both on and off the road.

The new Explorer also has a tighter turning circle and better clearance, as well as better approach and departure angles.

Safety and Security

Explorer’s comprehensive safety package includes side-curtain air bags to help protect passengers from side impact.

The side-curtain air bags cover about 65 per cent of the side glass area in the first two rows. These air bags deploy from the ceiling, at no sacrifice of interior space, and act independently of the front air bags.

Also incorporated into the vehicle is Ford’s Personal Safety System – an intelligent restraint system that allows for a number of variables in a crash situation.

The system includes: dual-stage front air bags that deploy based on crash severity; sensors to detect if front-seat occupants are wearing safety belts; driver’s seat position sensor; safety-belt pretensioners and load-limiting retractors.

Explorer also comes complete with anti-lock brakes that control the front wheels independently and the rear wheels in tandem during heavy braking, thus helping to improve vehicle control in most operating conditions.

Security features on Explorer include Ford’s SecuriLock? passive anti-theft key system, which helps deter would-be thieves, and approach lamps hidden on the underside of the side-view mirrors which illuminate when the ?unlock? button on the key fob is pushed or when the door handle is pulled. The lights illuminate the entire door area of the vehicle – to light the way for entry or to spotlight any potential danger waiting or lying under or near the vehicle.

Control Trac

Engineers have mated traction and stability controls to Explorer?s proven Control Trac four-wheel-drive option, which offers an automatic mode that engages four-wheel drive as needed, and four-high and four-low ranges that lock the transfer case.

The four-wheel drive system uses new electronic traction control programming to continuously shift torque to the wheels that have traction.

?We are confident that the new model Explorer has the looks and credibility to match it with the best in the large 4WD segment,? Mr Lillie said.

?On and off the road, the new model offers sophisticated ride and handling, ample power, loads of space inside and an excellent safety package. It is the perfect complement to the capable and classy Escape,? he said.

For further information, please contact
Ford Australia Communications
Phone: 03-9359 8491

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