2011 Ford Explorer - New Bedford, Fall River, Dartmouth, MA

Base Model: starting MSRP $28,190
XLT Model: starting MSRP $31,190
Limited Model: starting MSRP $37,190

Virtual Tour:

Redefining What it Means to be an SUV.

The all-new 2011 Ford Explorer is the most capable Explorer ever. It starts with the structure – the strongest, lightest one yet, thanks to high tech materials and advanced forming technology. To help you handle everything from rugged off-roading to snow-covered roadways, there’s the available Intelligent 4WD System and available class-exclusive* Terrain Management System. For your peace of mind, Curve control, an enhancement to AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™, delivers enhanced control in turns. Open the door. Explorer offers up to seven-passenger seating capacity and seats that fold down for cargo space on demand – up to 80.7 cubic feet of space. You expect capability in an SUV. Explorer sets a new standard.

Terrain Management System

The available, class-exclusive Terrain Management System allows you to easily shift on the fly into one of four settings to match the terrain you’re driving in:

Normal – biases torque to the front wheels and sends it to the rear only as needed
Mud/Ruts – switches the throttle to a more aggressive mode, limits upshifting and desensitizes stability control allowing the tires to spin as needed
Sand – the throttle throws maximum torque to the wheels, placing the transmission in lower gears for as long as possible, which allows the wheels to spin aggressively
Grass/Gravel/Snow – places the throttle in a setting to minimize wheel slip

Ask Questions About the new Ford Explorer

3 Rows, Seating up to Seven

Explorer can carry up to seven passengers. The second row features a 60/40 split fold-flat bench, while the third row has a 50/50 split-folding seat with generous passenger space. Behind the third row, there is up to 21 cubic feet of cargo volume. For cargo space on the demand, the second and third rows can fold flat for 80.7cubic feet of cargo room.

Intelligent 4WD

Whether the road is filled with gravel, covered with ice or soaked by rain, the easy-to-use, shift-on-the-fly Intelligent 4WD System on the 2011 Explorer helps provide sure-footed traction. Intelligent 4WD is fully automatic, instantly delivering traction to the wheels with the most traction when wheelslip is detected. Working in concert with the 4WD System is the class-exclusive* Terrain Management System, which allows you to easily shift on the fly into one of four settings to match the terrain you’re driving in. Take your pick of Normal, Mud/Ruts, Sand or Grass/Gravel/Snow. The 4WD System also includes new Hill Descent Control™, which makes tackling off-road downhills much easier. Just push a button, tap your brakes and Explorer will maintain a steady speed on its own, letting you concentrate on steering. On top of these features, the Intelligent 4WD System in Explorer weighs less than traditional 4WD systems.

Curve Control

Curve Control will slow you down when it senses that you’re going too fast for a particular curve. Employing throttle reduction and four-wheel braking intervention, it’s always active in helping you maintain control around the curves. Curve Control is an enhancement to the AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™.*

Cargo Capacity

When it comes to configurable cargo space, Explorer delivers big time. Both the second- and third-row seats fold flat for up to 80.7 cubic feet of cargo space. With the third-row seats folded down, there is 43.8 cubic feet. of storage capacity behind the second-row seats. With the second- and third-row seats in the upright position, there is 21.0 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. Plus, there is a storage area in the floor for smaller items. Providing cargo space on command, the available class-exclusive* PowerFold® third-row 50/50 split-folding seat folds flat at the touch of a button.

PowerFold® Third-Row Seat

At the touch of a button, the available, class-exclusive PowerFold™ third-row seat can fold flat for additional cargo room. Simply push a button for a flat load floor. When in the upright position, it comfortably seats two passengers.

Strong & Light Weight Structure

Thanks to advanced high-tech materials and assembly processes, the structure in the 2011 Explorer is both lightweight and strong. For starters, the A- and B-Pillars are constructed of high-strength boron steel for greatly increased roof crush strength. The front-end support structure features first-in-class technology, constructed using a lightweight composite (40 percent glass-filled polypropylene with a glass-mat overlay), which matches the lateral stiffness of magnesium while reducing weight.

Power Liftgate

The available power liftgate is just one more ingenious feature in the 2011 Explorer. It can be opened using the vehicle key fob, by pressing a button located on the instrument panel or on the bottom of the tailgate. Additionally, you can program the extension height of the liftgate (useful if you park in a space with a low ceiling). It’s a little thing that makes a big difference.

Performance Meets Fuel Efficiency

SUVs have always offered plenty of muscle, but many times it came at the expense of fuel efficiency. Explorer is changing that, thanks to a more than 30% improvement in fuel efficiency with the EcoBoost engine. EcoBoost will deliver impressive fuel economy for Explorer.* The V6 engine delivers a Best in Class 290 horsepower and 255 lb.-ft of torque**. With all that power and torque, Explorer can tow up to 5,000 lbs. when properly equipped. *** An SUV that deliver no-compromise power. That’s the all-new 2011 Explorer.

3.5L TiVCT V6 engine

The standard 3.5L TiVCT V6 engine in Explorer can be easily described in two words: no compromise. The 2011 Ford Explorer with the standard 3.5L TiVCT V6 engine is projected to achieve 25 hwy mpg.* The 2011 Ford Explorer with the standard 3.5L V6 engine is projected to offer 25 percent better highway mpg than the V6 Explorer it is replacing.* It delivers an impressive Best in Class* 290 horsepower and 255 lb.-ft of torque. That means you have the power for merging, accelerating and pulling a trailer. You just may not visit the gas station as much.

2.0L EcoBoost™

The available EcoBoost engine* delivers more than 30% better fuel economy by combining two different technologies – turbocharging and direct-injection – to deliver the performance of a large engine with the benefits of a small engine. Compared to a naturally aspirated engine, the EcoBoost™ turbocharged direct-injection engine produces the kind of torque you might expect from a V6. Improved transient response from previous Explorer engines enabled by the direct injector that reduces “turbo lag,” overcoming the traditional disadvantage of downsizing and boosting. Efficient fuel consumption is the result of a high compression ratio enabled by direct injection, which provides a cooler, denser charge. Available early 2011.

Abundant Towing

Explorer is the SUV that puts the emphasis on utility. With a towing capacity of up to 5,000 lbs., when properly equipped, it can haul a boat, camper or trailer. Power comes from its standard 3.5L TiVCT V6 engine that delivers 290 horsepower and 255 lb.-ft of torque. The available Class III Trailer Tow Package, required for towing, includes an engine oil cooler and wiring harness. Other features that can help you tow include: available rear view camera that provides a video image of the area behind your vehicle in the rearview mirror or on the available MyFord Touch™ eight-inch center screen. Includes guides that let you align your vehicle with the trailer. This can help when hooking up a trailer. The New Hill Start Assist feature helps ensure you won't creep backward when you take your foot off the brake. The Standard Trailer Sway Control helps make towing even easier by detecting trailer sway and automatically reducing engine speed and applying asymmetric braking to help counter it.*

Remote Start/Automatic Climate Control System

Simply click the remote start button to start your vehicle and the available Remote Start/Automatic Climate Control System will provide you with a comfortable interior. In hot weather conditions, the cabin is cooled to 72 degrees and the cooled seats* will be set to high. When it’s cold out, the cabin temperature is also heated to 72 degrees and the heated seats* will be set to high as well. Additionally, the rear defrost/heated mirrors* will be activated. Just one of the many clever convenience features in the 2011 Explorer.

Intelligent Access with Push Button Feature

Entering your 2011 Explorer and starting the engine is a breeze with the available Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start feature. To enter your vehicle, simply have the Intelligent key in your pocket or purse near the driver’s side door. (The system senses when the key is nearby). Then touch the door handle to unlock the driver’s side door or all the doors. Once inside, just press the brake pedal and then the start button. Shift into gear and go.

Class Exclusive Adaptive Cruise Control

Technology in Ford Explorer takes a giant step forward with the available class-exclusive* Adaptive Cruise Control. Adaptive Cruise functions just like normal cruise control, but with one exception: When its sensors detect traffic slowing, your vehicle also slows down, and when traffic has cleared, your vehicle resumes the set speed.

SMART FEATURES

Ford engineers have designed features for the 2011 Explorer that are incredibly innovative and smart. For example, there's the industry-first, Ford-exclusive inflatable rear safety belts* that spread crash forces over more areas of the body compared to conventional safety belts. The available Ford-exclusive Collision Warning System with Brake Support scans traffic ahead of your vehicle to detect slower moving vehicles based on a preset distance. AdvanceTrac® with roll stability control™** has been enhanced with the addition of Curve Control†, helping provide even more control. There are even available rain-sensing wipers that automatically activate when precipitation is detected on the windshield. In the 2011 Explorer, smart features help provide you with peace of mind.

Industry First Inflatable Rear Seat Belts

Introducing the world’s first inflatable rear safety belts. Available in Explorer XLT and Limited models (second-row outboard seating positions), these safety belts help reduce pressure on the chest while controlling head and neck motion for rear-seat passengers. In the event of a frontal or side crash, the inflatable safety belts hold the passenger in the appropriate seating position, helping to reduce risk of injury. These safety belts are compatible with child safety seats. In consumer tests, most respondents said the inflatable rear safety belts felt similar or softer and more comfortable than conventional safety belts. This can help encourage safety belt usage.

BLISS with Cross Traffic Alert

The available BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear quarter panels to monitor your blind spots and will illuminate an alert display on the appropriate exterior mirror if another vehicle is detected there before you change lanes. Cross Traffic Alert can detect approaching vehicles while slowly backing up.

Collision Warning with Brake Support

The available class-exclusive* Collision Warning with Brake Support utilizes a sensor that scans ahead and detects slower moving traffic. It flashes a warning that appears in your windshield and emits an audible alert if it detects a collision is imminent and pre-charges the brakes for faster response.

Rain Sensing Wipers

The available rain-sensing wipers utilize an optical sensor that looks for evidence of moisture, signaling the wipers when to wipe, and how quickly. With five sensitivity settings, the wipers speed up or slow down depending on the amount of moisture. Or, if you prefer, you can exit rain-sense mode and simply use the HI and LO speed settings.

Trailer Sway Control

Standard Trailer Sway Control can detect if trailer sway is occurring and automatically decrease engine speed and apply asymmetric braking to help correct the situation.* This provides more control to help you safely tow a boat or trailer.

AdvanceTrac with RSC

Standard AdvanceTrac with RSC is the industry’s only electronic stability control system that uses two gyroscopic sensors to monitor both yaw rate and roll rate. This allows AdvanceTrac with RSC to help you maintain control whenever it detects wheelslip, understeer, oversteer or roll motion. It also helps maintain control in adverse road conditions such as ice, gravel or rain.* An enhancement to AdvanceTrac with RSC is Curve Control, which will slow the vehicle down when it senses that it is going too fast for a particular curve. It’s always active in helping you maintain control around the curves.

Rear View Camera

The available rear view camera provides a video image of the area behind your vehicle on the available MyFord Touch™ eight-inch center screen if equipped. It Includes guides that let you align your vehicle with a trailer you want to tow. This can help when hooking up a trailer.

Technology

Explorer has a lot of high-tech intelligence to make your life on the road a whole lot easier. Take, for example, our easy-to-use in-car connectivity system, MyFord Touch™. With simple voice commands, you can make phone calls, choose music and more without taking your eyes off the road.* Another great system is the available voice-activated Navigation System with integrated SIRIUS Travel Link™ that provides real-time weather, traffic, fuel prices - even movie times. Yes, there's much more to Ford Explorer than outstanding performance and flexibility.

MyFord Technology

With features such as the industry-first available MyFord™ Touch, Ford is coming out with technology you’ve never seen before. MyFord Touch will forever change the way you interact with your vehicle.* Your music. Phone contacts. The perfect temperature. Directions to just about anywhere you need to go. You can access all of it while keeping your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.** Using touch controls and voice commands, MyFord Touch provides an intuitive, easy-to-use way to access your vehicle’s systems as you drive. There are two configurable instrument panel LCD displays controlled by two five-way switch pads on the steering wheel and an eight-inch LCD touch-screen in the center stack.

SYNC Voice Activated Technology

The available SYNC® entertainment and communications system allows you to easily operate most popular MP3 players and Bluetooth®-enabled phones with simple voice commands.* SYNC® even helps keep you safe out on the road with 911 Assist™ and Vehicle Health Report. 911 Assist™ connects you to a 911 operator through your paired mobile phone after an accident in which an airbag deploys**, while Vehicle Health Report allows you to create a personalized online report of your vehicles’ diagnostics (available for viewing only at syncmyride.com after you are logged into your users account). Plus you can get traffic alerts, turn-by-turn directions and business search right through your vehicle’s stereo.*** Even hear your favorite content anytime you want with personalized news, weather and sports. Access it all with either touch or voice commands.

Class Exclusive Active Park Assist

Unlike other systems that employ imaging devices, available hands-free Active Park Assist uses ultrasonic sensors. It’s one of the many revolutionary technology features available in the 2011 Ford Explorer. Simply press a button and the sensors can actually locate a parallel parking space for you. Once activated and with almost no input from you, your Explorer will be parallel parked – nearly three times faster than competitive park assist systems can do it*.

Sony Audio System with HD Radio

The exclusive new available SONY® Audio System features Dolby Pro Logic II surround technology, 390 watts of power and 12 high-quality premium speakers including a rear subwoofer. The system includes HD Radio for static-free, razor sharp sound reception. One especially innovative feature is iTunes Tagging. You simply hit the "Tag" button when you hear a song you like on your local FM HD Radio station. Song information will be saved for later preview and purchase or direct buy if your device is wireless-enabled and connected to the internet.

Heated and Cooled Seats

Available perforated, leather-trimmed, heated and cooled front bucket seats deliver four-season comfort for you and your passenger. The seats are included in the available Luxury Seating Package in Limited models and feature 10-way power with power lumbar and recline. The driver’s side seat has memory feature for two drivers. Also included in the Luxury Seating Package is the PowerFold™ third-row seat that can fold flat for convenient storage, simply at the touch of a button.

Advanced Navigation System

The available voice-activated Navigation System with available integrated SIRIUS® Traffic and SIRIUS® Travel Link provides turn-by-turn directions, giving you your choice of fastest, shortest and a new option – Eco-Route. In this mode, the Navigation System instantly calculates the most fuel-efficient route and can help you achieve fuel economy gains of up to 15 percent. The Navigation System features a full-color three-dimensional bird’s-eye view, provides points of interest and the last destinations entered in the system. Thanks to SIRIUS® Traffic and SIRIUS® Travel Link, you’ll also receive continuously updated traffic information*, current and forecasted weather, gas station locations and prices, live sports scores and schedules, and theater locations with movie listings and times. SIRIUS® Traffic and SIRIUS® Travel Link come with a complimentary six-month subscription. Learn more about SIRIUS Travel Link™

Dual Headrest DVD Players

The latest in on-the-road DVD technology. Two totally independent systems with seven-inch color LCD widescreen monitors, top slot loading player, two dual-channel infrared headphones and remote, game/video ports, wireless FM modulation to vehicle's stereo system, and CD/MP3 playback capability. Comes in colors and upholstery to complement your vehicle's interior.