DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 9, 2010 – Ford Explorer, America’s most
popular utility vehicle and safety innovator, is now the segment fuel
economy leader.
With an EPA-certified 25 mpg highway rating – a 25 percent fuel
economy gain over the outgoing V6 model – the 2011 Explorer sets a new
benchmark for vehicles in its class. The Explorer EPA-certified rating
of 17 mpg city can’t be bested by competitors, either.
“The new Explorer V6 with twin independent variable camshaft timing
(Ti-VCT) delivers a keen balance between power and fuel economy,” said
Jim Holland, chief nameplate engineer. “An efficient six-speed
transmission mated to this efficient V6 helps Explorer deliver 25
percent better fuel efficiency. This raises the bar for full-size SUVs,
and will change buyer expectations for the entire segment.”
Explorer’s fuel efficiency improvement is the cumulative result of
multiple individual technologies, innovations and advancements.
The all-new Explorer body shape was optimized in a wind tunnel to
reduce wind noise and increase fuel economy. Ford aerodynamicists and
designers found that coordination between the front-mounted air dam and
the rear liftgate lip spoiler could add almost 1 mpg at highway speeds.
The new Explorer marks the introduction of electric power-assisted
steering (EPAS), yielding significantly improved maneuverability,
reduced parasitic engine drag, weight savings and increased fuel
economy.
Efficient and powerful new V6
The advanced Explorer V6 features a low-tension drive belt, aggressive
deceleration fuel shutoff and a direct-acting mechanical bucket (DAMB)
valvetrain with highly polished buckets to reduce internal friction.
Each of these measures contributes to Explorer V6 fuel economy.
The improvement in fuel efficiency comes without compromising
Explorer’s legendary flexibility and capability. When powered by the
standard 3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6 engine, the Explorer can be equipped to tow
up to 5,000 pounds. At 290 horsepower, the all-new Explorer V6 exceeds
the 2010 Explorer V6 by 80 horsepower. In addition, the 2011 Explorer
V6’s power compares favorably to that of the 2010 Explorer V8, rated at
292 horsepower.
When configured with intelligent 4WD and the terrain management
system, the all-new Explorer honors the nameplate heritage of off-road
capability, with the additional benefit of removing driver guesswork
when selecting the appropriate 4WD mode. A driver need only turn the
console-mounted knob to the desired setting, and the Explorer
automatically adjusts drivetrain behavior to suit conditions.
Explorer will soon offer a 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4, estimated to deliver
a 30 percent increase in fuel economy. This option is ideally suited
to SUV buyers placing a top priority on fuel economy.
The all-new 2011 Ford Explorer V6 is on sale now.
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