Ford Explorer | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
Production | 1990–present |
Model years | 1991–present |
Body and chassis | |
Class |
Mid-size SUV (1990–2010) Full-size crossover SUV (2010–present) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Ford Bronco II |
First generation (UN46) | |
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First-generation Ford Explorer
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Overview | |
Production | February 1990 – November 1994 |
Model years | 1991–1994 |
Assembly |
Louisville, Kentucky, United States (Louisville Assembly Plant) St. Louis, Missouri, United States (St. Louis Assembly) Valencia, Venezuela (Valencia Assembly) |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 2-door SUV 5-door SUV |
Layout | Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
Related |
Mazda Navajo Ford Ranger Ford Bronco II |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 4.0 L Cologne V6 |
Transmission | 5-speed M5OD-R1 manual 4-speed A4LD automatic |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 3-Door: 102.1 in (2593 mm) 5-Door: 111.9 in (2842 mm) |
Length | 3-Door: 174.5 in (4419 mm) 5-Door: 184.3 in (4673 mm) |
Width | 70.2 in (1778 mm) |
Height | 3-Door: 67.5 in (1714 mm) 5-Door: 67.3 in (1709 mm) Eddie Bauer 4-Door 4WD: 68.3 in (1735 mm) |
Second generation (UN105/UN150) | |
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Overview | |
Also called | Ford Explorer Sport (3-door) |
Production | November 1994 – December 2000 November 1994–July 2003 for Sport |
Model years | 1995–2001 (5-door) 1995–2003 (3-door) |
Assembly |
Louisville, Kentucky, United States (Louisville Assembly Plant) St. Louis, Missouri, United States Valencia, Venezuela (Valencia Assembly) |
Designer | Bob Aikins (1992) |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 3-door SUV(1995–2003) 5-door SUV(1995–2001) |
Layout | Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
Related | Mercury Mountaineer |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 4.0 L Cologne OHV V6 (1995–2000) 4.0 L Cologne SOHC V6 (1997–2003) 5.0 L Windsor OHV V8 (1996–2001) |
Transmission | 5-speed M5OD-R1 manual (4.0 L OHV) 5-speed M5OD-R1HD (2001–2003 Explorer Sport) 4-speed 4R55E automatic (4.0 L 1995–1996) 4-speed 4R70W automatic (V-8 models) 5-speed 5R55E automatic (4.0 L 1997–2001) |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 1995–97 5-door: 111.5 in (2831 mm) 1998–2001 5-door: 111.6 in (2834 mm) 1995–99 3-door: 101.7 in (2565 mm) 2000–03 3-door: 101.8 in (2568 mm) |
Length | 1995–2001 5-door: 190.7 in (4826 mm) 1995–97 3-door: 178.6in (4536 mm) 1998–99 3-door: 180.8 in (4572 mm) 2000–03 3-door: 180.4 in (4562 mm) |
Width | 70.2 in (1778 mm) |
Height | 67.0–68.3 in (1702–1735 mm) |
Third generation (U152) | |
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Overview | |
Production | November 2000–June 2005 (up to 2006 in the Philippines) |
Model years | 2002–2005 |
Assembly |
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. (Louisville Assembly Plant) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. (St. Louis Assembly) Valencia, Venezuela (Valencia Assembly) |
Designer | Edward Golden (1997) |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 5-door SUV |
Layout | Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive / all-wheel drive |
Related |
Ford Explorer Sport Ford Explorer Sport Trac Lincoln Aviator Mercury Mountaineer |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 4.0 L Cologne V6 4.6 L 16-valve Modular V8 |
Transmission | 5-speed M5OD-R1HD manual 5-speed 5R55W automatic 5-speed 5R55S automatic |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2002–03: 113.7 in (2888 mm) 2004–05: 113.8 in (2890 mm) |
Length | 189.5 in (4800 mm) |
Width | 72.1 in (1828 mm) |
Height | 71.4 in (1803 mm) |
Fourth generation (U251) | |
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Overview | |
Production | July 2005 – December 2, 2010 |
Model years | 2006–2010 |
Assembly |
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. (Louisville Assembly Plant) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. (St. Louis Assembly) Valencia, Venezuela (Valencia Assembly) |
Designer | Jeff Nowak (2003) |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 5-door SUV |
Layout | Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
Related |
Ford Explorer Sport Trac Mercury Mountaineer |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 4.0 L Cologne SOHC V6 4.6 L Modular 24-valve V8 |
Transmission | 5-speed 5R55S automatic 6-speed 6R automatic |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 113.7 in (2890 mm) |
Length | 193.4 in (4902 mm) |
Width | 73.7 in (1854 mm) |
Height | 2006–07: 71.2 in (1803 mm) 2008: 72.8 in (1,849 mm) 2009–10: 71.9 in (1,826 mm) |
5th generation (U502) | |
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Overview | |
Production | August 2010 – present |
Model years | 2011–present |
Assembly | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. (Chicago Assembly) Valencia, Venezuela (Valencia Assembly) Yelabuga, Tatarstan, Russia |
Designer | Brian Izard, George Bucher (2007) Mike Arbaugh (facelift: 2013) |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 5-door Crossover/CUV |
Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive / all-wheel drive |
Platform | Ford D4 platform |
Related |
Ford Flex Lincoln MKT |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 2.0 L EcoBoost turbocharged I4 (front-wheel drive only) 2.3 L EcoBoost turbocharged I4 3.5 L Duratec Ti-VCT V6 3.5 L EcoBoost twin-turbocharged V6 (all-wheel drive only) 3.7 L Cyclone Ti-VCT V6 (Police Interceptor Utility, all-wheel drive only) |
Transmission | 6-speed Ford 6F automatic w/ overdrive (EcoBoost I4 model) 6-speed 6F SelectShift automatic (3.5L) 6-speed 6F SelectShift automatic with paddle shifters (Sport model) |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 112.6 in (2,860 mm) |
Length | 197.1 in (5,010 mm) |
Width | 78.9 in (2,000 mm) |
Height | 70.4 in (1,790 mm) |
The Ford Explorer is a full-size sport utility vehicle produced by the American manufacturer Ford since 1990, based since 2010 on a crossover platform. The Ford Explorer became one of the most popular sport utility vehicles on the road. The model years 1991 through 2010 were traditional body-on-frame, mid-size SUVs. For the 2011 model year, Ford moved the Explorer to a more modern unibody, full-size crossover SUV platform, the same Volvo-derived platform the Ford Flex and Ford Taurus use although with significantly greater ground clearance. It is slotted between the traditional body-on-frame, full-size Ford Expedition and the mid-size CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) Ford Edge. Although outwardly similar, the fifth generation Explorer, Ford Edge and Ford Escape do not share platforms. The fifth generation Explorer does, however, share platforms with the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT.
The original Explorer had also been involved in controversy, after a spate of fatal rollover accidents in the 1990s involving Explorers fitted with faulty Firestone tires.
Both two-door Explorer Sport and four-door models of Explorer have been sold. Part-time four-wheel drive is an available option, and since 1995 this has been a 'shift on the fly' system with full protection against being engaged at high speed. A specially modified Special Service Vehicle version is also available from Ford Fleet for law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and EMS agencies. Explorer was also the name of a trim package offered on the Ford F-Series trucks from 1968 to 1986. The 2011 Ford Explorer was named North American Truck of the Year.