Much more should come with the latest Explorer including a redesigned front bumper that is lower to match those of smaller cars. Naturally, noise, vibration and harshness have been addressed with great care in that vehicle. Inside, the whole interior has been redone and it will offer the possibility of adding a third rear bench seat to accommodate additional passengers. The Explorer will then be a seven-passenger SUV. And the rear hatch has been redesigned to facilitate loading.
On the other hand, Ford promises that both Explorer engines will meet Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) standards and that later in 2001, the Explorer will be available with flexible fuel capacity with the standard 4.0 liter V-6. It should be able to run with standard pump grade gasoline or a blend of gasoline and ethanol. The use of E85 fuel would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by almost 20% compared to standard gasoline.
As far as towing capacity is concerned, the Explorer's standard hitch will be able to tow trailers up to 3,500 pounds. With an upgraded hitch, depending on the choice of engines and trannies, this capacity will climb up to 7,300 pounds. On the other hand, as far as braking is concerned, this Explorer will have ABS brakes and electronic brake force distribution (EBD) that will be integrated to the newly introduced AdvanceTrac interactive vehicle dynamics system. This system will use sensors to determine if the driver is losing control of the Explorer and will apply brakes accordingly to regain control to avoid accidents.
There is much more to be said of the new Explorer (like its new front SLA suspension, its flatter and lower rear floor thanks to the IRS, its lower floor pan for easier access and even more). But we will have to wait until we get to drive the actual vehicle before giving an opinion. So stay tuned for more info on the new Explorer. It's coming soon!