The Ford Explorer has never really made an eco-friendly SUV list…until now. Ford decided to make some significant changes for the 2011 model year. The Explorer will continue to be an affordable choice but has shed some weight causing the fuel economy to improve significantly.
This tough SUV has always been a heavyweight in the vehicle world but Ford has stated that the 2011 Explorer has dropped about 150 pounds. Instead of its truck-like framing, the Explorer has been given a unibody frame like most other crossover SUVs. Some of the old materials used to build this sport utility vehicle have been replaced with ones that are lighter in weight.
Since the Explorer has lost some weight it will get some of the best fuel stats in its class. Ford claims that fuel economy will be 30% better than the older model Explorers. This will turn out to be somewhere around 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. This is way better than the current 2010 Explorer which gets only 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg highway.
The new base engine for the Explorer will be a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, turbocharged EcoBoost, which gets around 237 horsepower. For more power, there will be an optional 3.5-liter, V6 that gets around 290 horsepower. The V6 will of course not gain as much fuel economy but will still be up in numbers from the Explorer’s predecessors.
The powerful, yet green 2011 Explorer will still be able to tow 2,000 lbs with the base engine and up to 5,000 lbs with the V6. It will also come packed with technology including the Ford SYNC, a communication and technology system. Safety is also one of Ford’s concerns and the Explorer will have plenty of airbags, stability control, and curve control, a new feature for this SUV.
The all new redesigned 2011 Ford Explorer starts at $28,190 and goes up from there. There is no exact release date just yet but Ford’s website states that it is “coming this winter”. Meaning the Explorer should hit show rooms in late 2010.
SUV LUV - Sport Utility Vehicles 