DEARBORN – This week, Ford revealed the 2011 Ford Explorer.  The all-new vehicle has been completely reinvented, raising customers’ expectations of sport utility vehicle (SUV) fuel efficiency, safety, technology, capability and quality. Amy Marentic, Group Marketing manager, discussed the new vehicle with @Ford.

Q. Is the Explorer an SUV or a CUV?
A. The new Explorer is an SUV, engineered and built for today’s SUV customers.  In addition to its styling, the new Explorer features the Terrain Management System (TMS), which allows owners to use a simple dial to choose the setting that matches that surface they are on. The settings are Normal, Sand, Mud and Snow. The new Explorer also features a simple to use Hill Descent Control system that gives customers the confidence to tackle steep hills. The new Explorer has the ground clearance the customers expect from an SUV. 

Q. Does Ford need an Edge, a Flex and an Explorer?
A. Absolutely. We’re a full-line automaker, and our plan includes a balanced portfolio for customers with a variety of vehicle needs. In research, customers defined the vehicles in very different ways and recognized the strengths of each. Edge was seen as a CUV with great style but no off-road capability and five seats. Flex was viewed by many as a modern interpretation of a people mover with stand-out styling but not off-road capability. Explorer was very clearly defined as an SUV with attributes that customers look for in an SUV such as off-road capability, towing and the command driving position.

Q. How does the new Explorer 4WD with TMS differ from the outgoing Explorer 4WD system?
A. Both systems are "on-demand" 4WD systems.  The outgoing Explorer 4WD system directly drives the rear wheels, and sends torque to the front wheels “as demanded” while the new Explorer 4WD system directly drives the front wheels and sends torque to the rear wheels as demanded.

The new Explorer 4WD system drops the low-range (4L) TMS, allowing it to adapt traction and other functions to provide improved performance on snow, sand and mud. The new Explorer 4WD system has a smoother 4WD clutch, and much more sophisticated controls.  It also is capable of balancing torque front-to-rear to help direct the vehicle where the driver is pointing the steering wheel.  The new Explorer 4WD system is lighter (approximately 40-50 pounds) and more efficient due to weight-saving in the gears and friction reductions.

Q. What does TMS do?
A. Terrain management adapts the responses of the vehicle’s engine, transmission, 4WD system, and stability control system to match the demands of the terrain. It optimizes driveability and comfort as well as maximizing traction.

TMS continuously monitors wheel-slip and automatically adjusts torque distribution which will be optimized for most customer operating conditions but to use TMS in the dedicated mode, the driver selects one of four settings: normal, snow, mud or sand, based on the surface he’s on using the Terrain Management dial.  The Terrain Management switch is a rotary dial that is located on the center console just behind the gear shift lever.  When setting is selected the driver will see a confirmation of the selected setting directly in front of him with an icon of the surface in an LCD screen in the instrument cluster.

Q. Who is the customer and how does that differ from current Explorer?
A. With more than 6 million Explorers sold since its launch in 1990, we have a clear vision of our customer. They are family people who still retain a sense of adventure. They are busy people and they want the driving experience to be as simple as possible – features such as TMS and simple towing will appeal to them greatly.

Q. When the 2011 Explorer hits showrooms this winter what will the pricing be?
A. The new Explorer is a great value!  Its base price is more than $1,000 less than today’s Explorer and well below other competitors in the segment.  Customers can log-on to www.fordvehicles.com to find out more about specs and options.  (Note: 2011 Explorer base pricing is reduced $1,100 over the outgoing model (the XLT) and starts at $28,995 for the base model. The XLT will start at $31,995, and the Limited will start at $37,995. Explorer base pricing starts $2,000 below the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and $1,000 below the Chevy Traverse.)

Q. Where will the 2011 Explorer be sold?
A. Explorer is predominantly a North America product. However, it will be sold in up to 90 countries around the world and is the number one North American-produced exported product with more than 20 percent of our volume to be exported.