As of late, Ford has been peppering the Internet with teaser images of the all-new 2011 Ford Explorer. Unlike the previous iteration, this SUV will be a unibody (no more body-on-frame truck knockoffs). The new Explorer will also be getting a range of new engines. One likely candidate is the 3.7 liter V6 found in the Ford Mustang.
Ford recently confirmed that the new Explorer will also get a 2.0 liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. This engine, Ford says, will get 30% better gas mileage than the current V6. That is a big jump in fuel economy, but will it also mean a big jump in price?
The current entry-level engine in the Explorer lineup is the ancient 4.0 liter V6. This anemic engine is good at nothing; it makes a paltry 210 horsepower, gets just 20 mpg on the highway in the Explorer (14 in the city!) and it is old as hell. In comparison, the 3.7 liter V6 gets 27 mpg in the Ford Edge while providing 285 horsepower. So how about that EcoBoost?
Ford still hasn’t released any hard details on the 2.0 liter EcoBoost engine. If it is getting 30% better efficiency than the outgoing 4.0 liter V6 though, it would have to beat the combined mileage of 16 mpg on the current Explorer. That would mean at least 17 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway for a combined mileage of around 21 or 22 mpg. But will Ford offer the 3.7 liter V6 as the entry-level engine? Or will it be the EcoBoost? Will the EcoBoost cost a premium, like it does in the Taurus SHO? My feeling is yes, probably. I also have an inlking the 3.5 liter EcoBoost engine might find its way into the Explorer too. Explorer SHO, anybody?
So far though, the EcoBoost engines have proven pretty popular. Will Ford find another winner in the Explorer? A full unveiling of the 2011 Explorer will be happening soon. I know I can’t wait.
Source: Carscoop | Image: Ford
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About Christopher DeMorro
Sorry but I am not impressed, horsepower should not be a wow factor unless it runs on alternative energy. Given the national oil disasters around the world we simply need to scale down using oil based energy. Given this I don’t think anything that runs on dino fuel with less than 40mpg is news worthy. And let’s not forget Ford’s disinterested attitude toward EV powered vehicles or worse lack of development in significant alternative powered vehicles. There’s no Ford in my future.
Sorry but I am not impressed, horsepower should not be a wow factor unless it runs on alternative energy. Given the national oil disasters around the world we simply need to scale down using oil based energy. Given this I don’t think anything that runs on dino fuel with less than 40mpg is news worthy. And let’s not forget Ford’s disinterested attitude toward EV powered vehicles or worse lack of development in significant alternative powered vehicles. There’s no Ford in my future.
I have to disagree, PL. Ford is the only one of the Big 3 who seems to actually try to put out altfuel vehicles and get them on the road, as opposed to GM’s continuous promotion of the the Volt. Mulally at Ford is keeping all options on the table, experimenting with hybrids and EV tech, insteading putting all his eggs in one basket. And at least they’ve been releasing the tech as it comes along, not just show-boating “Look what we can do!”, and then dropping the hat.
However, I think claiming great strides in SUV mileage (17 mpg? Who gives a shit?) while putting out these crap vehicles is counter-productive.
It’s like claiming you’re a better carpenter than the next guy because you hit your thumb 3% less.
I have to disagree, PL. Ford is the only one of the Big 3 who seems to actually try to put out altfuel vehicles and get them on the road, as opposed to GM’s continuous promotion of the the Volt. Mulally at Ford is keeping all options on the table, experimenting with hybrids and EV tech, insteading putting all his eggs in one basket. And at least they’ve been releasing the tech as it comes along, not just show-boating “Look what we can do!”, and then dropping the hat.
However, I think claiming great strides in SUV mileage (17 mpg? Who gives a shit?) while putting out these crap vehicles is counter-productive.
It’s like claiming you’re a better carpenter than the next guy because you hit your thumb 3% less.