Detroit — Ford Motor Co. is giving its 2020 Explorer a complete redesign — and switching the stalwart SUV to a rear-wheel drive build — as it scraps for market share in the highly competitive mid-size SUV segment. The sixth-generation Explorer debuted Wednesday night at Ford Field, five days ahead of the beginning of press days of the North American International Auto Show. The 2020 Explorer has been reworked from the ground up. The car-based platform that its predecessor sat on is replaced with Ford's new rear-wheel drive unibody "architecture," one of five builds the automaker is transitioning to as it launches new models. The Dearborn automaker has packed the the Explorer with safety and driver-assist features new to the vehicle. Ford officials hope the new SUV will reverse a slight sales slip seen in 2018 as the automaker devotes more resources to its SUV lineup, and cuts back spending on traditional sedans. The Explorer will be the first all-new SUV under the Ford nameplate since the EcoSport compact SUV hit the market a year ago. Matt DeLorenzo, senior managing editor at Kelley Blue Book, called it "a significant vehicle in that it’s a return to more traditional SUV/truck layout with a longitudinal engine mount, rear-drive in two-wheel drive. "It breaks away from the front-drive car-oriented crossover formula," he said, "and can be a game-changer.” The Explorer competes with rival General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet Tahoe and Traverse, GMC's Yukon and Acadia, and some foreign brands including Toyota's Highlander. With the Explorer's redesign and shift to rear-wheel drive, the Blue Oval is looking to take a bite out of luxury competition like the Range Rover. With the performance ST variant, Ford is hoping to lure would-be Jeep Trackhawk buyers. “We’re obsessed with giving people what they want, but even cooler, what they don’t even know they need,” said Ford president of global markets Jim Farley. “We want to give customers a much better SUV than Land Rover, but we don’t want to charge those kind of prices.” The new Explorer gets a more athletic stance geared toward aesthetics as much as capability, Ford engineers said. The vehicle's front end is stout; the hood tapers to the back end; it has better on- and off-road capability, and can tow 600 more pounds than the previous model. While the base model is rear-wheel drive only, all-wheel drive is available. It gets a new Terrain Management System with seven drive modes. Engine options include a 3.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V6 projected to produce 365 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque using 93-octane gas. The standard engine is a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine mated to a 10-speed transmission, cranking out 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The new model will have six trims: standard, XLT, Limited, Limited Hybrid, ST and Platinum. Ford officials said options are important. The Explorer is vital to the lineup — in 2018, Ford sold 227,732. The latest Explorer will cost $400 more than its predecessor, which retails for $32,365. Ford officials said that's because of the new technology they've added to the SUV. It comes standard with Ford's suite of driver-assist features in the Co-Pilot360 package. That includes pre-collision assist, blind-spot detection, lane-keeping assist, rear-view camera and auto high-beams. The Explorer gets some new technology as well. Standard on Explorer Platinum, the SUV gets Active Park Assist 2.0, which can parallel or perpendicular park the vehicle with the touch of a button. Drivers won't have to touch the brake or gas pedal. The SUV also has available intelligent adaptive cruise-control, which uses cameras to read speed signs and adjust the speed. "It’s not about filling the vehicle with technology for technology’s sake," said Chris Billman, Ford Co-Pilot360 engineering manager. "It’s about improving the experience, making driving less stressful, and helping the driver to feel more confident behind the wheel." Inside, the SUV gets standard second-row captain chairs on the XLT trim and up. The ST and Platinum trims have optional vertical 10.1-inch touch screen displays on the center stack — a horizontal 8-inch display is standard. The SUV comes standard with Ford's SYNC 3 system. The rear-wheel drive Explorer has available 2.3-liter twin-turbocharged engine that comes standard on base, XLT and Limited models, and a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 on the Explorer Platinum. Ford says the rear-wheel platform allows more towing capability. The 3.0-liter engine can tow up to 5,600 pounds; the 2.3-liter with a trailer tow package can tow up to 5,300 pounds. It's built at Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant and hits showrooms this summer. Twitter: @Ian_Thibodeau ithibodeau@detroitnews.com<doc-sep>The redesigned 2020 Ford Explorer, America's best-selling SUV in history, made its public debut Wednesday evening at a huge company celebration in Detroit. Consumers will see the popular vehicle in showrooms later this year. It is the Explorer's first complete redesign since the 2011 model year. Ford engineers described it as lighter, leaner and stronger — but, most importantly, designed with the consumer at the center. “We reinvented the Explorer from the ground up,” said Bill Gubing, global chief engineer of the Ford Explorer program. “Over the last eight years, our team has been together, living this customer, breathing this customer — studying, learning, understanding this customer.” He added, “We went to observe them in the wild” to get candid, unscripted feedback. Related: Get latest news from 2019 Detroit auto show with this free, email newsletter More:Ford, VW work toward announcing alliance at Detroit auto show Engineers and designers observed every major and minor detail, adding storage space to the interior, “a landing pad for the foot” just inside the rear doors to stand and load things onto the roof. It has square cup holders for juice boxes “so the Cheerios won’t stick,” said Gubing, himself a father of young kids. When Ford employees participated in a day to bring children to work, youngsters were set loose in the Explorer for observation, and engineers watched the children climb the center console and realized that a component not usually designed to handle weight needed reinforcement. The company touted the fact that the vehicle has a reversible cargo floor in the rear, with rubber covering one side for easy cleaning after a muddy soccer practice. Identifying “pain points” and eliminating them was crucial, the team said. More:2019 North American International Auto Show: What you need to know More: Ford plans 'significant' job cuts in Europe “The second row has more head and hip room. Space for the occupants seems to matter most,” Gubing said. "And this is the fastest Explorer we've ever designed and built." During consumer research interviews, customers said towing capacity was “very, very, very, very important,” said Craig Patterson, SUV marketing manager at Ford. But when asked what they tow — boats, horse trailers, equipment — folks answered again and again, "Nothing.” 'Adventure enabler' “What that told me is that the customer wants the vehicle to enable whatever that adventure might be,” Patterson said. “They might want to go buy a boat or someday get a Jet Ski. This is an adventure enabler.’” Company Chairman Bill Ford, at the Wednesday evening event at Ford Field, said, "At Ford, we believe in the freedom of movement and the power of the outdoors to remind us of our humanity." With more than 7.8 million sold, more Explorers have been purchased since the original model debuted as a 1991 model than any other SUV. The 2020 model will have a base price of $33,860, Ford said Wednesday evening. This latest endeavor involved in-home visits to families that agreed to an offer of $250 for two-hour observation of use of space in garages, basements and closets. “We wanted to see how customers live and interact day to day,” Patterson said. More:2020 Ford Explorer uses luxury-vehicle engineering to offer performance The rear-wheel drive layout (with an all-wheel-drive option) enables a sporty design, improved on- and off-road capability, and 600 pounds more towing capacity. The SUV has a 10.1-inch touch screen; drive assist technology that includes reverse brake assist, and active park assist that handles all steering, shifting, brake and accelerator controls with the touch of a button. “You can parallel park and perpendicular park with one finger now,” said Chris Billman, Ford global driver assist technology manager. “If you need help getting out (of a tight parking space), it can help with that, too.” He noted that the vehicle also offers a “really cool” new feature: side wind mitigation. The 2020 Ford Explorer has folding third-row seats and easily adjustable second-row seats that are kid friendly and also allow drivers to create a flat-floor cargo area that's wide enough to fit standard 4-foot building materials. Crucial for Ford The launch of the latest Explorer comes at a crucial time for Ford, said Eric Noble, a product development consultant and professor of vehicle technology at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. “If the F-series is Ford's bread, Explorer is the butter,” he said. "And they've clearly worked very hard to keep it that way." Still, former buyers may be fickle, analysts warned. “The Ford Explorer was introduced to a consumer base in 1990 that was desperate for a mass market four-door SUV. It had its best years before there were many competitors with comparable product, selling over 400,000 per year from 1998 through 2002, peaking at 445,000 in 2000," said market economist Jon Gabrielsen. "But its average sales per year since then, after so many competitors have entered the field, has been about 200,000 per year, compared to 350,000 per year average in the first dozen years." Competitors have a stronghold on the market now, and Ford may find it challenging, analysts have said in recent months. The new Explorer is expected to share its mechanical systems with the upcoming 2020 Lincoln Aviator luxury SUV and appear in showrooms this summer. They will be built at Ford's Chicago assembly plant. Explorer established an early reputation for safety features with a brake light mounted at the center of the rear window, a feature not mandated for light trucks until the 1994 model year; standard rear antilock brakes; side-door intrusion beams; energy-absorbing steering column and steering wheel, and an impact-activated fuel pump shutoff switch. This is one of many popular vehicles expected to draw a crowd at the last wintertime North American International Auto Show in Detroit, which opens to the public Jan. 19. New cars and trucks debuting at the show in Cobo Center include the Ford Shelby GT 500 Mustang and Toyota Supra sports cars, Volkswagen Passat sedan, Cadillac XT6 three-row SUV and Ram 2500 Heavy Duty truck. The Roxor ATV, a Jeep Wrangler lookalike all-terrain vehicle made by Indian automaker Mahindra will also be at the show.<doc-sep>With more and more consumers looking to buy a midsize SUV, Ford is rolling out a fresh version of its iconic Explorer model. Unveiled Wednesday in New York, it's the first all-new version of the Explorer in eight years. "The company thrives when we have fresh product, it is just as simple as that," Ford's president of global markets, Jim Farley, told CNBC after unveiling the new Explorer. "With this new line-up of utilities from top to bottom, it is just really going to allow us to grow." The 2020 Explorer has been redesigned with special features, new technology and creature comforts SUV owners have come to expect. That includes Ford Co-Pilot360 which provides driver assistance to avoid collisions. In addition, Ford increased the towing capacity by 66 percent while making the Explorer lighter and more fuel efficient. Starting at $33,000, the new model goes on sale this summer, Ford said. "The new Explorer is very important for Ford," said Jeff Schuster, analyst at automotive consulting firm LMC Automotive. "Even though the Explorer is the top-selling midsize SUV, there's a lot more competition and new models coming in the next couple of years." While there were 21 midsize SUV's available in the U.S. last year, LMC Automotive expects that number to climb to 26 next year and to 30 models by 2022. That competition will be looking to cut into the Explorer's No. 1 position in the midsize SUV market. Last year, Ford sold more than 261,000 Explorers. An impressive number considering the model has not had a major makeover in years. "The Explorer is really in the sweet spot of the market," said Schuster. "Last year, midsize SUVs made up almost 14 percent of the market and we think the segment will keep growing." Whether or not the Explorer remains the leader of the SUV market remains to be seen, but the new model should position Ford to continue doing well in that segment. That's critical since Ford will be relying on its trucks and SUVs to generate profits while it restructures its business, investing billions in future technology like autonomous drive vehicles. "We are on our toes again," said Farley. "We will grow more revenue, better profitability, you know, this is when the car business is great." Questions? Comments? .<doc-sep>Perhaps getting a jump on the North American International Auto Show Action, Ford showed off its all-new, completely redesigned 2020 explorer SUV Wednesday night, Jan. 9 at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker says that the 2020 version of “America’s all-time best-selling SUV” will come in lighter, leaner and stronger as it ushers in another generation of Explorers. “Explorer drivers told us what they want –more capability, more power, more space,” Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s head of product development and purchasing, said in a news release ahead of the event. “They want more technology, not just for the driver, but for the whole family. And they want all of it with a beautifully sporty exterior. This new Explorer gives them all of that, and more, helping make every journey more enjoyable.” 40 Ford unveils the all-new 2020 Ford Explorer at Ford Field before Detroit auto show In 2018, the automaker reported it had sold 227,732 Explorer models in the U.S. which was a 4.3 decrease from 2017′s mark of 238,056 units. The 2020 Explorer is due out sometime this summer, and will come in standard, XLT, Limited, Limited Hybrid, ST and Platinum trims. In addition to an improved off-road system, Ford says this Explorer is its most powerful ever when equipped with the 3.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost capable of making 365 horsepower and 380-pounds of torque. Ford says the standard Explorer comes with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost and its new 10-speed transmission. On top of this, the automaker reports the 2020 version of its iconic SUV will come with 600 more pounds in towing capacity “when properly equipped.” It will also come with the optional Terrain Management System, which offers seven different drive modes in normal, trail, deep snow and sand, slippery, sport, tow/haul and eco. “The Explorer nameplate is among the most prolific in the history of the SUV. It predated, and somewhat initiated, the current SUV craze that dominates today’s global new vehicle market. Between the Explorer’s brand equity and its potential in today’s SUV-hungry market, Ford had to go all in for this latest redesign,” Karl Bauer, executive publisher for Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader, said in an emailed statement. “The automaker responded with a new model offering a wide range of features, trim levels, and pricing. The 2020 Explorer should appeal to SUV shoppers looking for everything from a serious utility vehicle to a high-tech, luxury-laden people mover, with the ability to price and equip it for either extreme or something in between.” The digital dashboard can either come in the form of Ford’s 10.1-inch portrait-mounted screen or its new 12.3-inch cluster screen that offers 3D maps and graphics in addition to the larger screen. As for safety features and technology, the 2020 Explorer can come with the Ford Co-Pilot360 system’s “driver-assist innovations and features that can help reduce stress.” Features include all-new reverse-brake assist and active park assist 2.0, which Ford says handles all steering, braking, shifting and accelerating during a parking maneuver with the push (and holding) of a single button. “We obsessed about what Explorer customers need and want,” Bill Gubing, the head of engineering for the Explorer team, said in the release. “We met with customer groups, pored through internet forums, and dissected social media posts to determine what they love about today’s Explorer and understand their pain points.Then we found ways to improve it across the board. Every enhancement on this all-new Explorer was inspired by our customers.” Additional technology touted by the automaker available for the Explorer includes pre-collision assist, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, dynamic brake support, blind-sport information, cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, rear-view camera with the brand-new built-in lens cleaner, and automatic headlamps and high-beams. As for the exterior changes, the lines leading from the hood to the back of the Explorer are easy to notice right off the bat. Ford calls these changes a “more sloping roofline" and a “shorter front overhang.” Ford’s 2020 Explorer will be built at its Chicago Assembly Plant, and more information regarding the vehicle is expected Wednesday night. The 2019 NAIAS opens to the public from Jan. 19 to Jan. 27 at the Cobo Center. Press preview days run Jan. 14 and Jan. 15, which is when to check in with MLive for any breaking news, features and all of the fresh product reveals.<doc-sep>
Ford has unveiled a completely new version of the Explorer SUV, a model that helped fuel the SUV craze when it was first introduced in the 1990s. It's still one of the company's most popular products and will be even more important to Ford now that the automaker has announced it is dropping nearly all car models from its North American lineup in favor of SUVs, crossovers and trucks.Almost 8 million Explorers have been sold and Ford bills it as the "best-selling SUV of all time." A famous rollover-related recall scandal in the early 2000s - fatal crashes, blamed on faulty Firestone tires, led to more stringent recall regulations - did little to dampen enthusiasm for the model over the long term. The Explorer is now entering its sixth generation.Part of the Explorer's success is that it appeals to an amazingly broad swath of customers covering a wide range of ages and social classes. Shoppers can choose from a base model Explorer for a little over $30,000 or add options to a top-of-the-line Ford Explorer Platinum, creating what is essentially a luxury SUV with a price tag well over $60,000. Prices for the new Explorer will be only about $400 higher, Ford has said.At a glance, the new Explorer might not look that different from the one you see on the streets now, but it's actually a completely different vehicle. Most noticeable is a sleeker body style with a more sloped roofline, a design that, Ford executives say, was inspired by yachts. "The Explorer has been really successful for us and so we didn't want to change the experience dramatically, but we did want to update it, we wanted to modernize it, we wanted to change the presence," said Cristina Aquino, Ford's large utility marketing manager.The Explorer you can buy today is based on front-wheel-drive engineering that it shares with the Ford Taurus. The new Explorer returns to rear-wheel-drive engineering as was once traditional for SUVs. The Explorer is still available with all-wheel-drive, of course, but now more of the power goes to the rear wheels, which is better for towing.This new Explorer will also be better off-road than the current model, according to Ford. The front wheels are closer to the front bumper, which improves climbing ability and it's also almost an inch higher off the ground.The SUV's "Terrain Management System," which can be set using a knob in the center console area, has up to seven different modes including deep snow and sand, slippery, sport and an "eco" mode for fuel-efficient driving. The different modes change how power is delivered to the wheels among other things.A 10-inch touchscreen is available as an option. It's mounted vertically and sticks up from the center of the dashboard. This design makes it look like a separate piece clipped to the dashboard but it keeps the screen up near eye level. A more typical 8-inch screen mounted sideways is standard. Ford made both designs available, Aquino said, because less tech-savvy buyers might not be comfortable with something resembling an iPad being so prominent in their vehicle.Also available is a new active parking system that, like technology in Tesla models and some other luxury cars, can park the vehicle entirely on its own. Sensors scan for a space and, once one is found, the driver needs only to put the SUV in reverse, then hold a finger down on a button and the Explorer will park itself handling the brakes, accelerator and steering on its own. The system works for both parallel and back-in spaces.Among the available engine options are a 2.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder and turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 in higher-end models. There will also be a hybrid Explorer for the first time. The new Explorer will be built in Chicago at the Torrence Avenue plant in the city's Hegewish neighborhood. It's expected to go on sale this summer.