Business News Ford Explorer | Page 7

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available with this engine as well.

The Explorer was nominated for the North American Truck of the Year award for 2006.

A new Sport Trac was added to the Explorer line in early 2006 for the 2007 model year. Unlike its predecessor sold through 2005, it will feature the V8 engine as an option, and will be based on the new, larger Explorer platform. AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control will be standard in the Sport Trac.

A special 2007 SVT model called the Sport Trac Adrenalin was to use a supercharged version of the 4.6 L Modular V8, with 390 hp (291 kW) and featuring 21-inch (530 mm) wheels. It was to be a successor to the F-Series Lightning pickup. However, it was cancelled in a cost-cutting move, as part of The Way Forward.

In 2008, Ford added side curtain airbags across the range. The satellite navigation system was upgraded with voice control. In 2009, the Explorer got trailer sway control standard and the navigation system got traffic flow monitoring and gas prices updated from nearby stations. For the 2010 model year, Ford's MyKey became a standard on all Explorer trims.



Fifth generation (2011–)



Explorer America concept

Ford unveiled an Explorer America concept vehicle at the 2008 North American

International Auto Show. The Explorer America concept is built on a unibody platform to reduce weight and improve driveability, migrating from the body-on-frame platform of the current Explorer. It is designed for up to six passengers, and can tow 3,500 pounds (1,588 kg), (less than half the 7,115 pounds (3,227 kg) capacity of the previous generation) while improving fuel economy by 20 to 30 percent relative to the current V6 Explorer. The powertrain packages in the concept vehicle include a two-liter four cylinder turbocharged direct injection EcoBoost gas engine with 275 horsepower (205 kW) and 280 ft·lbf (380 N·m) of torque, and a 3.5 liter V6 version EcoBoost with 340 horsepower (250 kW) and up to 340 ft·lbf (460 N·m) of torque.