Poll: 2011 Ford Explorer vs. 2011 Dodge Durango – What’s your pick?
Filed under: Crossover, Dodge, Ford
The SUV is dead. Long live the SUV!
The 2011 Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer are big departures from the models that they replace. Aside from the usual styling and refinement differences, the biggest changes for these vehicle are that they both ditch the traditional body-on-frame sport-utility vehicle DNA in favor of unibody constructions. By our definition, these once-SUVs are now CUVs, though their respective parent companies continue to brand them as being traditional sport-utes through and through.
Both the Durango and Explorer offer available seating for seven and all-wheel drive, but that's where the similarities start to taper off. Each vehicle offers a choice of two different powertrains, but while Dodge has opted to go a more traditional route with by fielding the Durango with both 3.6-liter V6 and 5.7-liter V8 engines, Ford has gone in the opposite direction by equipping the Explorer with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost inline-four and a 3.5-liter V6. There are pros and cons for each - the Explorer may prove to be more fuel-efficient, but the Durango ought to tow more.
Each of these new crossovers tries to stay true to the traditional SUV mindset, just in different directions. Ford's Terrain Management system will surely come in handy for people who need more off-road prowess, though the end result remains that the Explorer is arguably more of a tall wagon than an honest SUV. The Durango keeps things a bit more and has a strong, presence that we suspect will still be well-received by people who prefer honest-to-goodness sport-utility vehicles.
We could debate the pros and cons of each vehicle all day, and indeed, we're still waiting for the Full Monty-worth of details and specifications, but we still want to know: What do you think? If you had to choose either the Explorer or Durango, which would get your pick? Cast your vote in the poll below and be sure to sound off with your thoughts in Comments.
Poll: 2011 Ford Explorer vs. 2011 Dodge Durango - What's your pick? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord Explorer Police Interceptor Utility prepares to serve and protect
Filed under: Crossover, Ford, Police/Emergency
Ford Police Interceptor Utility - Click above for high-res image gallery
When Ford took the wraps off of its Taurus-based Police Interceptor sedan earlier this year, we were told that a second, utility-oriented police pursuit vehicle would be coming down the pipeline. Enter the Police Interceptor Utility, based off the 2011 Explorer crossover. A Flex-styled paddy wagon would have been cool, but the Explorer's higher ground clearance makes it more versatile for law enforcement officials who require all-terrain capability.
Unlike the sedan, which will be available with two different powertrains, the Explorer Interceptor only comes with Ford's 3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6, delivering "at least 280" horsepower and mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Both front- and all-wheel-drive configurations are available, and it appears that the Explorer's terrain management system will not be offered on the Police Interceptor. The latest host of driver aids like curve control and Ford's AdvanceTrac Roll Stability Control are standard on the Interceptor Utility, as are larger brakes, a tougher suspension and 18-inch steel wheels.
Inside, new seats have been fitted up front with reductions in side bolstering to accommodate an officer's utility belt, and the gear shifter is now mounted on the column in order to provide space for computer equipment in the center console. Much like the Taurus Interceptor, Ford specifically designed the spacing between the seats to ensure that existing police equipment can be carried over to the new vehicles without issue. Things aren't exactly luxurious in the rear seats (duh), but occupants out back do get their own climate control system (Ford says this is ideal for K9 units) as well as stab plates in the front seat backs to keep the driver and passenger safe.Ford has also gone the extra step to rework some of the Explorer's interior functions to better suit police needs. The steering wheel buttons, for example, are remappable and can be programmed to operate a host of auxiliary functions (lights, sirens, etc.). What's more, Ford's SYNC system is on hand and can be used to voice-activate the different police communication and audio equipment.
Don't expect to see the Police Interceptor Utility out on the road until 2012 at the earliest. Ford says that production will begin in late 2011 alongside the sedan at the automaker's Chicago assembly plant. For now, check out our high-res galleries of both live and official images, and follow the jump for the presser.
Live photos Copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility prepares to serve and protect
Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility prepares to serve and protect originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFirst Ride: Autoblog gets hot in Dubai with 2011 Ford Explorer
Filed under: Crossover, Ford, First Drive, Middle East, Off-Road
2011 Ford Explorer testing in Middle East - Click above for high-res image gallery
With California's Death Valley conveniently located on the same continent as Dearborn, Michigan, why on earth would Ford ship engineers and the all-new 2011 Explorer all the way to the United Arab Emirates to conduct hot-weather and off-road testing? Especially on a crossover, a vehicle few people will ever drive off-road?
The value of this 14,000-mile round trip became abundantly clear as I stepped out of the civilized, air-conditioned comfort of my shuttle vehicle, an F-150 SVT Raptor.
The air in Dubai hits you like an atomic hair dryer. Unlike the heat in Death Valley, there's some serious humidity hanging in the atmosphere due to the UAE's proximity to the Gulf of Oman. Our day in the desert saw temperatures of 48° Celsius (118° Fahrenheit) with humidity in the range of 40-60 percent. That's not a dry heat. Using a standard heat index calculator with a 50-percent humidity factor, the equivalent temperature showed 191° Fahrenheit.
Photos copyright (C)2010 Rex Roy / AOL
Continue reading First Ride: Autoblog gets hot in Dubai with 2011 Ford Explorer
First Ride: Autoblog gets hot in Dubai with 2011 Ford Explorer originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsUnsurprising News of the Day: Ford Explorer Sport Trac is toast
Filed under: SUV, Truck, Crossover, Ford
Ford Explorer Sport Trac Adrenalin - Click above for high-res image gallery
When it comes to a new Explorer Sport Trac for 2011, the only real surprise would have been if Ford had actually opted to build one. With the standard Explorer moving to a unit-body architecture, there are no plans for a new pickup truck version, a vehicle that probably would have been something akin to the Honda Ridgeline.
Since the Ridgeline hasn't exactly been flying off dealer's lots, Ford has wisely decided to focus on its full-bodied version, the Explorer. The Blue Oval hasn't made a habit of breaking out Sport Trac sales from its SUV kin, but the Explorer only totaled 52,190 in 2009, so the pickup's volume probably wasn't a huge seller. According to Automotive News' sources, Sport Trac sales usually totaled about 20 to 25 percent of Explorer sales over the last decade, but that number strikes us as curiously high. Over its entire life, we never saw a ton of them - even on the roads around Michigan where domestic pickups are commonplace.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]
Unsurprising News of the Day: Ford Explorer Sport Trac is toast originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsVideos: 2011 Ford Explorer shows off its tech
Filed under: SUV, Technology, Videos, Crossover, Ford
2011 Ford Explorer Terrain Management System - Click above to watch this video after the jump
Unless you've been in seclusion for the past 24 hours, you know Ford officially unveiled the 2011 Explorer yesterday. (Be sure to read Part One and Part Two of our deep dive for the full details.) The new Explorer is a pretty drastic departure from the generations preceding it - Ford has opted to use a unibody construction and a car-based platform rather than a traditional body-on-frame SUV, and naturally aspirated V8 power has been ditched in favor of more fuel-efficient four- and six-cylinder powerplants.
So while the Explorer seems to fit better in the crossover classification, Ford is confident that traditional SUV shoppers will still be pleased with what the new Expy has to offer. There are a host of new technology features on the 2011 model, including things like blind spot monitoring, trailer sway control and a terrain management system (similar to what you might find on a Land Rover). These features will be attractive selling points to SUV-oriented customers, and they get detailed in the videos after the jump.
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading Videos: 2011 Ford Explorer shows off its tech
Videos: 2011 Ford Explorer shows off its tech originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2011 Ford Explorer unveiled live from coast to coast
2011 Ford Explorer Live Debut in Southern California - Click above for high-res image gallery
It's been quite a day for the new 2011 Ford Explorer. After teasing, more teasing, and even more teasing, Ford finally unveiled what it thinks will "reinvent the SUV for the 21st century." At 12:01 EST this morning, we presented an in-depth look at the new Explorer, providing details on the new exterior and interior as well as some of the safety features, and at noon we went over the new powertrain options, including the 2.0-liter EcoBoost inline-4 that will deliver 30 percent better fuel efficiency than the previous V6 model. Ford has even put up a configurator for the 2011 Explorer, allowing you to build your own.
The 2011 Explorer was also introduced live in various parts of the country, from the middle of New York City to Detroit to Los Angeles. We were in attendance on both ends of the coasts to cover the unveilings, each of which had an entirely different feel. The Discovery Channel's Mike Rowe was on hand with CEO Alan Mulally to make the introductions in the Big Apple, while Ford's President of the Americas Mark Fields did the honors amidst huge sand sculptures alongside the famous boardwalk in Venice Beach. You can see photos from both unveilings in the galleries below.
Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / Alex Nunez / AOL
2011 Ford Explorer unveiled live from coast to coast originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2011 Ford Explorer configurator already up and running, pricing starts at $28,190*
Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Ford
It's been less than 24 hours since Ford took the wraps off of the 2011 Explorer, but in an effort to keep the buzz going about the all-new crossover due to hit dealerships later this year, Ford's online configurator is already up and running.
At the moment, only models equipped with the 3.5-liter V6 can be optioned, ranging from the base $28,190 front-wheel drive Explorer (*Don't forget to add $805 for delivery fees) all the way up to the top-trim Limited 4WD ($39,190 plus destination). A fully decked-out all-wheel drive configuration will set you back $48,075* - and that's before the optional accessory list is looked over.
If you have some time to waste, head over to Ford's configuration page and spec out the Explorer of your dreams. Additionally, be sure to scroll through our gallery of color choices, showing the nine available paint jobs.
[Source: Ford]
2011 Ford Explorer configurator already up and running, pricing starts at $28,190* originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments2011 Ford Explorer puts four-cylinder EcoBoost engine above V6 in pecking order
Filed under: SUV, Technology, Crossover, Ford, Off-Road
2011 Ford Explorer - Click above for high-res image gallery
For part two of our in-depth look at the 2011 Ford Explorer, we'll take a look at its new powertrains and improvements in fuel efficiency, as well as how well it can still tow a trailer. But first let's see what kind of techno-goodies Ford has applied to this new SUV.
Technology
This being 2010, technology has to play a big part in any major new vehicle introduction. On the inside, the Explorer joins the new Edge, Focus and Lincoln MKX in adopting the MyFord Touch interface. We first saw this new touch sensitive interface when the MKX and Focus were unveiled at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show in January. Much like modern smartphones, the center stack has a smooth surface with capacitive touch buttons to manage the audio and climate controls. Continue reading after the jump or check out part one of our introduction to the 2011 Ford Explorer first.
Continue reading 2011 Ford Explorer puts four-cylinder EcoBoost engine above V6 in pecking order
2011 Ford Explorer puts four-cylinder EcoBoost engine above V6 in pecking order originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2011 Ford Explorer unveiled, tries crossing over on road to redemption
Filed under: SUV, Safety, Crossover, Ford, Design/Style
2011 Ford Explorer Deep Dive - Click above for high-res image gallery
UPDATE: When you're done reading part one, check out part two of our introduction of the 2011 Ford Explorer that focuses on new technology, powertrains and fuel efficiency.
In creating the 2011 Explorer, Ford engineers and designers had an enormously difficult task set before them. Ford's President of the Americas, Mark Fields, described the job as "Reinventing the SUV for the 21st century." Despite the near complete collapse of the traditional mid-to-large SUV market over the last several years, Ford still sees a substantial market for the capabilities of these boxy behemoths. Customers just don't want the traditional downsides that accompany these body-on-frame 'utes - specifically, their higher fuel consumption and poor ride and handling.
The new Explorer remains squarely targeted at traditional SUV buyers.
Since its debut some 20 years ago, the Explorer has sold over six million units, four million of which are still traversing the world's roads. Through much of the late-1990s and early part of the last decade, the Explorer was Ford's second-best-selling vehicle behind its F-Series pickups, regularly selling 400,000 units a year. Fast-forward to 2009, and that volume had plummeted to just over 52,000. Even so, Ford believes it still has an opportunity. According to the automaker's vice president of global marketing, Jim Farley, each year, at least 140,000 Explorer owners come back to Blue Oval dealerships looking to purchase new vehicles. And obviously, they just aren't buying Explorers. When word got out that Ford was developing a new unibody Explorer off the same platform architecture that underpins the Taurus and Flex - not to mention the Lincoln MKS and MKT - many people wondered why Dearborn had elected to develop yet another crossover, especially since the Taurus X/Freestyle had just been killed due to slow sales. This predicament was not lost on Ford's product planners, and their four-wheeled response is a new Explorer that remains squarely targeted at traditional SUV buyers - shoppers that Ford sees as a distinct group from most crossover intenders. Long ago, Jeep proved with the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee that a unibody chassis isn't necessarily an impediment to building a fully capable off-roader, and Ford appears to have taken that lesson to heart, along with targeting big improvements in fuel economy and driving dynamics. Follow the jump to find out if they succeeded.
Continue reading 2011 Ford Explorer unveiled, tries crossing over on road to redemption
2011 Ford Explorer unveiled, tries crossing over on road to redemption originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2011 Ford Explorer with EcoBoost 2.0-liter delivers 30% better fuel economy than V6
Filed under: Ford
Ford has got the gas mileage goods on its 2011 EcoBoost-powered Explorer, and it's news you might like if you want one: you'll get 30 percent better mileage with the inline-four than you could with the outgoing V6. Ford did, however, leave a key detail out of the press release touting this: it didn't reveal the actual mileage number, "pending EPA certification."
Nevertheless, with the 2010 Explorer's 210-horsepower, 4.0-liter V6 EPA rated at 14 miles per gallon in the city and 20 out on the highway, you're looking at a healthy increase all over with the four-pot turbo doing the work up front. Follow the jump for Ford's press release that details all the reasons your wallet won't be so sad if you end up buying a 2011 Explorer.
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading 2011 Ford Explorer with EcoBoost 2.0-liter delivers 30% better fuel economy than V6
2011 Ford Explorer with EcoBoost 2.0-liter delivers 30% better fuel economy than V6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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