New Ford Explorer SportTrac on the Way

SportTrac to Features Advanced Stability Control as Standard Equipment

While some automotive analysts are tying the Explorer SportTrac 4x4's worst in industry rollover rating, with a risk of 30 to 40

Ford has let two artist's renderings and a few specifications for the updated SportTrac 4x4 out of the bag prior to its January introduction. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

percent according to U.S. safety regulators, as the reason the model is being updated shortly, most others believe that the update was forthcoming anyway, which makes sense being that the 2004 SportTrac was based on the previous generation Explorer.

Few details have been released about the upcoming sport-utility truck, but Ford has let two artist's renderings and a few

Ford has updated the model with current Ranger/F-150 design cues. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada

specifications out of the bag prior to its January introduction. From a styling perspective, Ford has updated the model with Ranger/F-150 design cues, plus a nifty engine vent just above the front wheel cutout, similar to the vents first shown on 2003's SVT Lightning and more recently, the Land Rover LR3.

While the SportTrac promises to be wider by an unspecified amount, it will be 5 inches longer to make allowances for a roomier cab and a more accommodating pickup box. Just how much larger is the cargo area? With its 227 liters (8.0 cu ft) increase it will be possible to haul nearly a 25 percent larger load, for a total somewhere near 1,075 liters (38.0 cu ft).