Toronto, Ontario -- The new-generation Ford Explorer was revealed today simultaneously in 10 North American cities. Toronto was the lone Canadian event, and the honour went to illusionist, Greg Frewin, the current International Grand Champion of Magic.
The media and dealers that were on hand were shocked at how suddenly he made the vehicle appear.
Another thing to be shocked about is the rapid decline of the old-school SUV -- those truck-based, body-on-frame, rear-wheel drive oriented, V8-packing people movers.
The original Ford Explorer was the poster boy for the SUV's first wave of popularity. During the late 1990s, and into 2000s -- Ford sold about 20,000 Explorers annually in Canada.
Last year? About 4,000.
Re-inventing the nameplate...
The Explorer has been re-invented as a unibody vehicle, with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and with new fuel-efficient engines. It's built in Chicago, alongside the Taurus, and shares that vehicle's platform.
"We feel really comfortable about the spec's of this new 3.5-litre V6 Explorer," noted Paul F. Roy, Director, Marketing, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited.
Roy was referring to its two major number-related attributes -- a 5,000-pound towing capacity; and a 20 percent fuel efficiency increase.
The V6 produces 290 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque, and comes standard in all three trim lines (base, XLT and Limited).
There is a new Explorer EcoBoost model (FWD only), featuring the 2.0-litre I4, good for 237 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque. Like all EcoBoost engines, it combines direct injection with turbo-charging.
Roy said Ford is certain that a segment of SUV customers, are ready to embrace a four-cylinder Explorer, particularly since other Ford products have already displayed the power and performance of EcoBoost technology.
The media and dealers that were on hand were shocked at how suddenly he made the vehicle appear.
Another thing to be shocked about is the rapid decline of the old-school SUV -- those truck-based, body-on-frame, rear-wheel drive oriented, V8-packing people movers.
The original Ford Explorer was the poster boy for the SUV's first wave of popularity. During the late 1990s, and into 2000s -- Ford sold about 20,000 Explorers annually in Canada.
Last year? About 4,000.
Re-inventing the nameplate...
The Explorer has been re-invented as a unibody vehicle, with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and with new fuel-efficient engines. It's built in Chicago, alongside the Taurus, and shares that vehicle's platform.
"We feel really comfortable about the spec's of this new 3.5-litre V6 Explorer," noted Paul F. Roy, Director, Marketing, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited.
Roy was referring to its two major number-related attributes -- a 5,000-pound towing capacity; and a 20 percent fuel efficiency increase.
The V6 produces 290 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque, and comes standard in all three trim lines (base, XLT and Limited).
There is a new Explorer EcoBoost model (FWD only), featuring the 2.0-litre I4, good for 237 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque. Like all EcoBoost engines, it combines direct injection with turbo-charging.
Roy said Ford is certain that a segment of SUV customers, are ready to embrace a four-cylinder Explorer, particularly since other Ford products have already displayed the power and performance of EcoBoost technology.
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| Photo: Mike Goetz/Auto123.com |