Ford Explorer -

The Ford Explorer is a mid-size sport utility vehicle sold mostly in North America and built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990. It is still in production as of 2007, and is manufactured in Louisville, Kentucky (it was also assembled in Hazelwood, Missouri until the plant closed on March 10, 2006). It has been the best-selling mid-size SUV in the United States each year since its introduction, and was one of the vehicles instrumental in turning the SUV from a special-interest vehicle into one of the most popular vehicle types on the road.
The Explorer has also been involved in controversy, after a spate of fatal rollover accidents involving Explorers fitted with Firestone tires. Most of the time, the Explorer had competed with the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer,Chevrolet TrailBlazer, Nissan Pathfinder and the Toyota 4Runner.
Both two-door Explorer Sport and four-door models of Explorer have been sold. Part-time four-wheel drive is an available option, and since 1995 this has been a 'shift on the fly' system with full protection against being engaged at too high a speed.
A specially modified Special Service Vehicle version is also available from Ford Fleet for law enforcement.
The Explorer name was a trim package on Ford F-Series trucks from 1980 to 1986.Contents 1 First generation (1991-1994) 2 Second generation (1995-2001) 3 Third generation (2002-2005) 4 Fourth generation (2006-present) 5 Explorer Sport 5.1 First generation (1991-1994) 5.2 Second generation (1995-2003) 6 Mixed sales success 7 Suppliers 8 Controversies 8.1 Firestone Tire Controversy 8.2 U-Haul trailers 9 See also 10 External links

First generation (1991-1994)
The Ford Explorer was released in March 1990 as a 1991 model. It was equipped with a 4.0&# L 155&# hp (116&# kW) V6 engine and 4-speed A4LD automatic transmission or 5-speed M5OD manual transmission. There were both 2-door and 4-door bodystyles with available rear or four-wheel drive. The four-wheel drive versions came with a Borg Warner 1354 transfer case. All Explorers came with the 8.8 Ford rear axle in either a limited slip or open version with a variety of available gear ratios. Explorers came in 4 trim levels: base XL, XLT, Sport (only available on the two-door version), and the upscale Eddie Bauer ion. 15&# hp (11&# kW) was added for 1993 for a total of 170&# hp (119&# kW). The Limited ion, added for 1993, was available only in the 4-door style and was even more upscale than the Eddie Bauer version. It featured automatic headlights, foglamps, an automatic transmission as standard equipment, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, a center roof console with compass and outside thermometer, special wheels, and a special grille.
Second generation (1995-2001)
The Explorer saw significant exterior, interior and suspension updates in 1995. The former Twin Traction Beam (TTB) front suspension was replaced with a more carlike independent front suspension. The Explorer lineup now consisted of two models: 2-door Explorer Sport and the 4-door Explorer. The Limited was a higher end 4-door. A 210&# hp (157&# kW) 5.0&# L Windsor V8 engine and heavy-duty 4-speed 4R70W transmission were added for 1996, along with a full time all-wheel drive system on the Eddie Bauer and Limited in 1997. A more-powerful SOHC 205&# hp (153&# kW) engine came as an option in 1997 along with an optional 5-speed automatic. A Mercury twin, the Mountaineer, was added in 1997 as well. In 1998, the 5.0 L V8 received new cylinder heads (GT-40P series), which upped power to 215&# hp (160&# kw).
The 1995 Explorer was the first production vehicle to use a neon center high mount stop lamp. This was replaced with a more conventional lamp when the liftgate was refreshed in 1998. Another facelift came in 1999, at which time the XLS name replaced XL as the base model.
2001 saw the introduction of the Explorer Sport Trac, which put a small pickup bed behind the four normal SUV doors.
Third generation (2002-2005)
The 4-door Explorer and companion Mercury Mountaineer were redesigned entirely in 2002, losing all design similarity with the Ranger and the continued Explorer Sport/Sport Trac. Engines were either the SOHC 4.0 L V6 with 210&# hp (157&# kW) and 254&# ft·lbf of torque or a 4.6&# L 239&# hp (178&# kW) V8, with the 203&# hp (151&# kW) 4.0&# L still available on the Explorer Sport. A third-row seat became available for the first time, bringing total passenger capacity to seven. Both manual and automatic transmissions and all-wheel drive were available (with 2002 being the last year of being able to order a 4-door and manual transmission). Trim lines were the base Sport Value, Sport Choice, XLS, Sport Premium, XLT, Eddie Bauer, and top Limited. AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™ were standard for 2005.
All three SUVs use code U6 (for rear-wheel drive), U7 (for four-wheel drive), and U8 (for all-wheel drive) in the 5th, 6th, and 7th positions of the VIN.
Fourth generation (2006-present)
The Explorer and Mountaineer were updated for 2006 on a new frame, produced by Magna International rather than Tower Automotive. It was upsized, because the new Ford Freestyle slotted between it and the Escape. Along with this new, stronger base were a new interior, redesigned rear suspension, and power-folding third-row seats. A tire-pressure monitoring system and electronic stability control are standard. Power running boards (like those on the Lincoln Navigator) that lower to allow easier to access for someone entering the vehicle and then later retract upon door closure are available on the Explorer's sister vehicle, the Mercury Mountaineer. Unlike previous Explorers, there will be no right-hand drive version. Ford Australia has a capable local equivalent instead, being the Australian designed and developed Ford Territory. The new Explorer is marketed in Japan in a left-hand drive configuration, as LHD vehicles are considered prestigious there.
A 210&# hp (157&# kW) 4.0&# L V6 will be the base engine, with the 292&# hp (218&# kW) 24-valve V8 taken from the Mustang as the top choice. A six-speed automatic transmission is 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 it 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 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. [1] [2]
Explorer Sport

VEHICLE OPTIONS

The Ford Explorer Sport was a 2-door version of the Ford Explorer, and was produced from 1991 to 2003.
First generation (1991-1994)
Technically similar to the original Ford Explorer, the Explorer Sport came in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive variants. It replaced the 2-door Ford Bronco II, and was larger than the Bronco II. A variant of the Explorer Sport was sold by Mazda as the Navajo, which won Motor Trend's Truck of the Year award but was discontinued in 1994.
Second generation (1995-2003)
Like the basic Explorer, the Explorer Sport was significantly updated in 1995. The Eddie Bauer trim level was replaced with Expion on 2-door Explorers (1995 only, the name would be reused on the 1997 Ford Expion). The rear was given a face lift for 1998. When the Explorer was redesigned for 2002, the Explorer Sport continued for 1 more year. Due to the decline of 2-door SUVs, the 2-door Explorer Sport was discontinued for 2003, mainly due to the arrival of the Ford Escape compact crossover SUV (introduced in 2001).
1st-gen Explorer Sport

Pre-facelift 2nd-gen Explorer Sport

Facelifted 2nd-gen Explorer Sport
Mixed sales success
With the introduction of the second generation Explorer in 1995, Ford attempted to market the Explorer in the UK, similar to the Taurus Ghia, Ford's attempt to market the Taurus in Australia and New Zealand. The Explorer was poorly received in the UK, apparently in large part because it was designed for comfortable city cruising, rather than off road capability. Many UK buyers only bought SUVs if they needed cargo flexibility or off-road capability, and they viewed large SUVs as less of a family car, as opposed to station wagons, which are more traditional British family haulers. That meant that UK SUV buyers largely stuck with Land Rovers or Jeeps. After the Firestone tire problems (see below), Ford withdrew the Explorer from the UK market.
Suppliers
A large number of companies are suppliers for materials and parts that make the Ford Explorer. Suppliers include Johnson Controls, Magna International, Lear Corporation, Dana Corporation, and Visteon.
Controversies
Firestone Tire Controversy Main article: Firestone vs Ford Motor Company controversyA rolled Explorer attributed to defective tires.
In May 2000, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) contacted Ford and Firestone about a higher than normal incidence of tire failures on Ford Explorers, Mercury Mountaineers, and Mazda Navajos fitted with Firestone tires (later including Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series pickup trucks). The failures all involved tread separation— in which the outer tread carcass would delaminate and cause a rapid loss of tire pressure. Ford investigated and found that several models of 15 in (381&# mm) Firestone tires (ATX, ATX II, and Wilderness AT) had higher failure rates, especially those made at Firestone's Decatur, Illinois plant.
Ford argued that Firestone was at fault, and vice-versa. Ford's argument is more credible, since its SUVs and pickups equipped with Firestone-competitor Goodyear tires were not having any roll-over issues. Since most Explorer, Mountaineer, Ranger, B-Series, and Navajo's tires have been replaced, the roll over reports have subsided, further lending cr to Ford's position that the design of its vehicles were not at fault.
Part of the roll-over issue was poor driver reaction to the tire blowout. When a tire blew, the driver felt a large jerk and many drivers reacted by jerking the wheel in an attempt to regain control. This action causes a shift of the vehicle's weight, which results in the roll-over of the vehicle, especially when this occurs at higher speeds (many reports of roll-overs were of vehicles being driven at speeds of 70 MPH and above). Seasoned drivers usually were able to maintain control by holding the steering wheel firmly and not making sudden movements that cause the shift in weight.
U-Haul trailers
On December 22, 2003, U-Haul, the largest North American equipment rental company, announced that they would forbid their outlets from renting trailers to persons planning to tow behind Ford Explorers due to liability concerns.[3] Oddly they WILL rent customers a U-Haul trailer if you tow it using a twin to the Ford Explorer, the Explorer is built on the same platform as: Mercury Mountaineer, and Lincoln Aviator, both acceptable vehicles for U-Haul trailer towing as per U-Haul website. [4]
See also Mercury Mountaineer Lincoln Aviator
External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ford Explorer Ford Explorer official websites: U.S.A. | Canada Firestone, Ford, DOT and the Law (About.com)
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