How do you improve upon a vehicle that created its segment and has continued to be the sales leader for 15 straight years? For the 2006 Ford Explorer, the answer is more power, improved fuel economy, low emissions, new advanced safety technologies, class-leading interior quietness, improved ride comfort and bolder styling.

Ford Explorer has been the world's best-selling SUV for 15 consecutive years with sales totaling nearly 5.5 million because it adheres to a simple formula: put people first. Since its introduction in 1990, Explorer has defined the SUV segment by offering the capability of an SUV for towing and off-roading, along with innovations in package, comfort and refinement.

"We are fortunate to have the largest base of SUV customers in the industry," says Phil Martens, group vice president, Product Creation. "The input of more than 5 million owners helped influence the changes we made to the 2006 Explorer. The result refines what has made the Explorer such a success, while improving everything from the towing capacity to the choice of interior trim."

Explorer leads a changing segment

SUVs have been the fastest-growing vehicle type over the past 15 years, but market dynamics are clearly changing. For customers who need a traditional SUV, the '06 Explorer's combination of features and capabilities is unmatched.

The 2006 Ford Explorer continues Explorer's legacy of offering genuine SUV capability with innovative refinement, packaging and driving dynamics.

The total SUV market grew from 929,000 units in 1990 (or 6.6 percent of the U.S. automotive market) to 4.8 million units (or 27.5 percent of the U.S. automotive market) in 2004. During that time, the number of nameplates increased from a few dozen to well over 200 distinct models, and the segment has fragmented into traditional truck-based and smaller car-based crossover models. Through the first half of 2005, traditional SUV sales are down, while crossover sales continue to increase.

"The SUV market is rapidly changing into two increasingly distinct types of vehicles, and Ford will deliver the best vehicles for each type of customer," says Steve Lyons, group vice president, North American Marketing, Sales and Service. "With the proliferation of new crossover vehicles, the market for traditional SUVs that offer full capability — including towing and the ability to drive off-road — is clearly not as large as it used to be. For many customers, crossovers like the Ford Freestyle deliver just what they need and want. But there will also continue to be a strong market for traditional SUVs, and the new Explorer steps up the game in delivering more of what those customers want."

More powerful, more fuel efficient, with low emissions: Explorer's sophisticated new V-8 powertrain delivers

Explorer's new 4.6-liter, three-valve V-8 and 6-speed automatic deliver 53 more hp and a 10 percent gain in fuel economy over the previous V-8 powertrain.

The 2006 Explorer's new optional three-valve 4.6-liter SOHC V-8 that shares the same variable cam timing and three-valve cylinder heads used on the highly lauded Mustang GT and the 5.4-liter Ford F-150 engine. In the Explorer, the new 4.6-liter delivers 292 horsepower (53 more horsepower than the two-valve 4.6-liter previously used) and 300 foot-pounds of torque.

The V-8 is fitted to the first six-speed automatic in the segment, with a wide 6.04:1 gear ratio, enabling the engine to spend more time in its optimum powerband — either at peak power for acceleration, or at peak efficiency for more fuel economy.

As a result, V-8 4x4 models are expected to deliver up to 10 percent improvement in fuel economy, in addition to an increase of 53 more horsepower. And the new V-8 delivers low emissions, as well. It is expected to qualify for the stringent Tier II, Bin 5 federal standards, which is compliant with California's Low Emissions Vehicle II (LEV II) standards.

"The new three-valve V-8 and six-speed automatic drivetrain is a tremendous advantage for the 2006 Explorer," says Raj Nair, SUV and Body-on-Frame Vehicles executive director. "Not only does it offer more power, more refinement and improved fuel economy, but it also offers increased utility. The additional power output helps Explorer handle an increased payload — more than 1,500 pounds — and has a 7,300 pound towing capacity."

Clean performance is standard on V-6 Explorer:

V-6 certified to same level of ultra-low emissions as the Ford Escape Hybrid. Explorer's standard 4.0-liter SOHC V-6 engine received significant improvements for the 2006 model year as well. Idle quality was improved by 50 percent, thanks to a new camshaft and spark plugs. New engine calibrations and improved emission controls cut smog-forming emissions by 74 percent compared to the previous model.

These improvements are expected to allow the 2006 Explorer V-6 to meet federal Tier II Bin 4 emissions requirements to achieve ULEV II status — the same federal tailpipe emissions standards as the Ford Escape Hybrid, the world's cleanest SUV.

Explorer leads its class with safety innovations

The 2006 Ford Explorer leads its class with 10 standard advanced safety technologies . Seven of these 10 standard features are new to the mid-size SUV class, including four new adaptive technologies specifically designed for Ford's stringent internal safety targets. The new Explorer provides the most active and passive safety features in its class.

"The 2006 Ford Explorer's suite of available safety features is unmatched in its class," says Sue Cischke, vice president, Environmental and Safety Engineering. "It offers active safety technology — including confidence-inspiring handling and braking combined with AdvanceTrac® with class-exclusive Roll Stability Control — to help prevent accidents from occurring. In the case of an accident, the 2006 Explorer offers enhanced side-impact rollover protection and four new adaptive safety technologies that help tailor frontal-impact protection based on crash severity, occupant size and safety-belt usage."

In fact, the new Explorer meets all known federal frontal- and side-impact crash requirements through 2010.

Explorer already achieves one of the best impact-protection ratings among mid-sized SUVs, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2005 model year New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) data. The new 2006 model is expected to improve on that rating.

To meet federal safety regulations and Ford's even more stringent internal safety targets, the 2006 Explorer offers the following advanced safety technologies as standard equipment:

"Simply put, all safety features help manage the forces on the occupants during an impact," says Jeff Laya, Explorer crash safety supervisor. "Explorer's new adaptive safety features all work together to estimate the size of the occupant and impact severity, and are then tailored to manage those forces. If you think of it in a slow-motion sequence, the safety belts absorb some of the energy, then the air bag absorbs more, and then the stroking steering column absorbs even more. We can provide enhanced protection for a wide variety of circumstances and tailor the protection to each individual event."

In addition, the 2006 Explorer features improvements and new features to help further protect occupants during a rollover or side-impact.

As with the previous model, the 2006 Explorer offers available Safety Canopy ^TM side air curtains that deploy in certain side-impact collisions or if an impending rollover is detected to help protect front- and second-row outboard occupants. The air curtains feature "roll-fold" technology. If an occupant is improperly seated and resting his head against a window, the Safety Canopy ^TM is designed to slide between the glass and occupant as it inflates. A new front "sail panel" of fabric attached to the A-pillar also helps position the Safety Canopy ^TM .

Also new for 2006 are standard side-impact air bags for the driver and front passenger. Mounted in the outboard side of each front seat, these air bags further enhance protection for the an occupant's chest in the event of a side collision.

Explorer's armrests and door trim also have been designed to help cushion the abdomen and lower torso during a side impact. And a four-inch-thick foam block installed between the exterior and interior front-door panels further helps manage side impact forces on the occupant's hips.

Quietest Explorer ever:
NVH improvements provide best-in-class interior quietness

The 2006 Explorer interior benefits from a concerted effort by Ford engineers to decrease unwanted noise in the cabin. In fact, the Explorer team focused on every aspect of the vehicle, from the exterior, interior, chassis and powertrain to quell noise, vibration and harshness .

Significantly, the Explorer is not only quieter measured in the first row, but the third row is quieter than the second row of most competitors at highway speeds. In fact, the Explorer's third row is just as quiet as some competitors' front row. This is a key to passing Ford's speed intelligibility tests, which enable occupants in the first row to effortlessly hold a conversation with passengers in the second and third rows at highway speeds.

The all-new interior features the use of advanced materials that dampen vibrations and lessen noise. New insulation materials have been used along the headliner, door panels and floor of the passenger compartment to help provide class-leading interior quietness.

The powertrains are more refined thanks to improvements such as additional exhaust resonators and intake manifold "valley stuffers" that quiet the air induction and exhaust sounds. Even the climate control system has been enlisted in the war on noise: it is now 30 percent quieter than before, yet improves cooling performance.....

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