Description
Ford made a decisive step forward with introducing the Explorer's third generation since it developed it on an entirely new platform.
The need for a family SUV that could offer enough comfort, good loading capacity, and decent off-road abilities led Ford in designing the third Explorer generation from the ground up. It ditched the Ranger chassis used for the second generation and introduced an entirely new concept with independent suspension in all corners. That was something unseen in its segment. The only other off-road vehicle that featured a similar technical solution was the Hummer H1.
Ford's design team was inspired by the Expedition's range look and carried over the same shape for the headlights and grille. The customers appreciated its massive appearance, even though they knew that it wasn't a hard-core off-roader. Its corner-mounted turn-signals and two-tone body color made the car looked more upmarket. A set of side steps was on the options list to ease the vehicle's ingress and egress.
Inside, the carmaker is installed, depending on the trim level, cloth or leather seats, and room for up to five passengers. Its wide cabin made room for three occupants on the back seats without any hip or shoulder room issues. On the dashboard, Ford arranged a clean layout with bigger dials for the speedometer and tachometer. Four additional gauges showed information for the fuel level, coolant temperature, oil pressure, and charging.
Ford installed a new platform under the body with independent suspension in all corners tuned to offer more comfort for its passengers. Under the hood, the carmaker installed three engine choices with rear or all-wheel drive.
Press Release
The Ford Explorer is a mid-size sport utility vehicle sold mostly in North America built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990 and still in production as of 2006. It is manufactured in Louisville, Kentucky (it was also assembled in Hazelwood, Missouri until the plant closed on March 10, 2006). It has been the best-selling vehicle mid-size SUV in the United States each year since its introduction, and is one of the vehicles instrumental in turning the SUV from a special-interest vehicle into one of the most popular vehicle types on the road.
The Explorer has also been involved in controversy, after a spate of fatal rollover accidents involving Explorers fitted with Firestone tires. Most of the time, the Explorer had competed with the Nissan Pathfinder and the Toyota 4Runner. 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 too high a speed.
A specially modified Special Service Vehicle version is also available from Ford Fleet for law enforcement.
2002
The 4 door Explorer and companion Mercury Mountaineer were redesigned entirely in 2002, losing all kinship with the Ranger and the continued Explorer Sport/Sport Trac. Engines were either the SOHC 4.0 L V6 (210 hp/157 kW) or a 4.6 L 239 hp (178 kW) V8, with the 203 hp (151 kW) 4.0 L V6 still available on the Explorer Sport. A third-row seat became available for the first time, bringing total passenger capacity to 7. Both manual and automatic 5-speed manual transmissions and 2, 4, and all-wheel drive were available (with 2002 being the last year of being able to order a 4 door and manual transmission). Trim lines were the base Sport Value, Sport Choice, XLS, Sport Premium, XLT, Eddie Bauer, and top Limited. AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™ were standard for 2005. The 2-door Explorer Sport was discontinued for 2003, mainly due to the arrival of the Ford Escape compact crossover SUV (introduced in 2001).
All three trucks use code U6 (for 4x2), U7 (for 4x4), and U8 (for AWD) in the 5th, 6th, and 7th positions of the VIN.
