When Ford revisits the Explorer Sport Trac soon, performance freaks can look forward to a hotrod version called the Adrenalin to take the four-door pickup to new performance levels.
When it arrives some time in 2007, the ''world's first high-performance sport-utility truck'' will be sporting horsepower and torque peaks of 390 from a supercharged 4.6-litre V-8 attached to a six-speed automatic shifter and an all-wheel-drive system on a truck with independent suspension.
According to Steve Lyons, the president of Ford Motor Company's Ford division, the aim is to make Adrenalin ''the first sport truck offering the combination of uncompromised utility, four-passenger capability and true performance.''
Lyons says, ''We're looking to take Ford performance to an entirely new market segment with the Sport Trac Adrenalin. It's designed to offer a unique combination of performance and functionality never before offered in the 'go-fast' market.''
Phil Marten, Ford's group vice-president for product creation, claims Ford has leadership in performance vehicles, though executives at its arch-rival Chevrolet would strenuously argue that with him as they roll out a fleet of SS performance models for their cars, including a TrailBlazer SS that will surely give Adrenalin a run for its money.
To maintain Ford's momentum, Martens says, the division will ''look beyond traditional SVT products for opportunities with unique performance attributes, such as all-wheel-drive.''
Along with the supercharged hardware that will look after its performance, promises Martens, Adrenalin will also ''build on the multi-functional personality of the original Explorer Sport Trac, which created the sport-utility truck market when it debuted in 2000. It offers four full-sized doors, four bolstered bucket seats, and a four-foot composite box with 30 percent more cargo capacity than the current Explorer Sport Trac.''
The Sport Trac Adrenalin follows the Ford Explorer Sport Trac concept car from the 2005 North American International Auto Show, says Chelsia Lau, Explorer Sport Trac's chief designer. ''We really wanted to draw attention to the increased power of the Explorer Sport Trac. The result is a truck that's bold, aggressive and speaks loudly.''
Adrenalin exterior features red paint that ''instantly communicates its performance mission,'' says Lau, ''while discreet SVT badging on the wheels and tailgate will catch the eye of discerning enthusiasts. Stylized front and rear fascias, an aggressive 'black chrome' grille and grille surround with matching headlamp bezels and SVT signature fog lamps helped communicate the supercharged performance latent in the Adrenalin.''
The four buckets ''feature supportive thigh and chest bolstering,'' says Lau, and ''unique red leather seat inserts match red leather interior door trim panels, adding to the Adrenalin's sporting flair. The instrument panel houses easy-to-read, white-faced instruments, an SVT design hallmark. A navigation system is also included, a first for an SVT-badged vehicle.''
The six-speed automatic is a first for any SVT vehicle, and it has already ''proven capable of heavy-duty use,'' says Lyons, ''contributing to the projected 2,700-kg towing capacities of the Sport Trac Adrenalin.''
Adrenalin is considerably lighter than other sport trucks built off full-size pickups, Lyons points out, and the ''resulting power-to-weight ratio ensures impressive acceleration under full throttle, and good fuel economy during more leisurely driving.''
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| (photo: Ford Explorer Sport Trac Adrenalin) |
According to Steve Lyons, the president of Ford Motor Company's Ford division, the aim is to make Adrenalin ''the first sport truck offering the combination of uncompromised utility, four-passenger capability and true performance.''
Lyons says, ''We're looking to take Ford performance to an entirely new market segment with the Sport Trac Adrenalin. It's designed to offer a unique combination of performance and functionality never before offered in the 'go-fast' market.''
Phil Marten, Ford's group vice-president for product creation, claims Ford has leadership in performance vehicles, though executives at its arch-rival Chevrolet would strenuously argue that with him as they roll out a fleet of SS performance models for their cars, including a TrailBlazer SS that will surely give Adrenalin a run for its money.
To maintain Ford's momentum, Martens says, the division will ''look beyond traditional SVT products for opportunities with unique performance attributes, such as all-wheel-drive.''
Along with the supercharged hardware that will look after its performance, promises Martens, Adrenalin will also ''build on the multi-functional personality of the original Explorer Sport Trac, which created the sport-utility truck market when it debuted in 2000. It offers four full-sized doors, four bolstered bucket seats, and a four-foot composite box with 30 percent more cargo capacity than the current Explorer Sport Trac.''
 |
| (photo: Ford Explorer Sport Trac Adrenalin) |
Adrenalin exterior features red paint that ''instantly communicates its performance mission,'' says Lau, ''while discreet SVT badging on the wheels and tailgate will catch the eye of discerning enthusiasts. Stylized front and rear fascias, an aggressive 'black chrome' grille and grille surround with matching headlamp bezels and SVT signature fog lamps helped communicate the supercharged performance latent in the Adrenalin.''
The four buckets ''feature supportive thigh and chest bolstering,'' says Lau, and ''unique red leather seat inserts match red leather interior door trim panels, adding to the Adrenalin's sporting flair. The instrument panel houses easy-to-read, white-faced instruments, an SVT design hallmark. A navigation system is also included, a first for an SVT-badged vehicle.''
The six-speed automatic is a first for any SVT vehicle, and it has already ''proven capable of heavy-duty use,'' says Lyons, ''contributing to the projected 2,700-kg towing capacities of the Sport Trac Adrenalin.''
Adrenalin is considerably lighter than other sport trucks built off full-size pickups, Lyons points out, and the ''resulting power-to-weight ratio ensures impressive acceleration under full throttle, and good fuel economy during more leisurely driving.''