Whenever you think Ford Explorer, you think large SUV. It largely swapped out the Ford Bronco and made SUVs more palatable to the general public. But what is this? The SUV beast of yore has turned toward fuel economy, as outlined by CrunchGear . That’s the new 2011 Ford Explorer, and it is considerably smaller than ever. A smaller engine and lower ride height all contribute to less of an offroad beast and more of a green automobile.
The 2011 Ford Explorer – Running with the Taurus and Flex
The Ford Taurus and Ford Flex lend their uni-body chassis construction to the 2011 Ford Explorer. Those are compact cars, making it necessary for Ford to drop some of the larger-scale SUV specs previously associated with the Explorer. Engine choices are a 3.5-liter V6 (the power option, although large) or a 2.0-liter EcoBoost for fuel efficiency; both are six-speed automatic. The V6 is the power version of the 2011 Ford Explorer, the EcoBoost option is for greater fuel economy.
A driving SUV, not a hauling SUV
Ford’s apparent reasoning with the 2011 Ford Explorer is that most individuals aren’t using their SUVs for off-road driving and heavy lifting. This new Explorer handles the roads and is better for commute than any other SUV to date. Thus, the front- and four-wheel-drive possibilities make for safer driving in rain, sleet and snow. Add in fuel economy and you have a great crossover SUV. Easy-selecting rear differential and Descent Control are the kind of tools you need for safe downhill driving, too. And there are many more. If you felt burdened by your giant SUV before, the 2011 Ford Explorer may just be the antidote. Fuel economy is more than a buzzword; you’ll feel it within the wallet.
Sources
crunchgear.com/2010/07/26/the-2011-ford-explorer-goes-greener-no-v8-front-wheel-drive-unibody-platform-v6-or-ecoboost-i4/
media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=32998
