There are two available 2005 2006 Ford Explorer Sport Trac's, the XLS and XLT. A standard 4.0L SOHC V6 engine which is an EPA certified for low emissions is available as a manual or five speed. What makes this a unique truck is the 180-degree range that the optional Cargo Cage Bed Extender instantly extends the bed to 6 feet. The new 2005 2006 Ford Explorer Sport Trac's analog instrumentation includes speedometer, trip odometer, tachometer, fuel, oil pressure, coolant temperature and voltmeter, while for the convenience features included in the interior are floor console includes 2 front cupholders, 2 rear cupholders, padded armrest, removable soft pack storage bag, and convenience clip. Both models for 2005 2006 Explorer Sport Trac have an optional leather seating package which includes a features low-back bucket seats with leather seating surfaces and 4-way adjustable head restraints, 6-way power drivers seat and passenger seat with power lumbar support. Two way adjustable head restraints included in available leather seating surfaces for front seats are standard on the Sport Trac XLT Premium. The 2005 2006 Ford Explorer Sport Trac can come with an available Pioneer 6 disc in-dash CD player providing 290 watts through 7 speakers. On both Ford Explorer Sport Trac's come with a multifunctional roof rack which has a 100 lb. maximum capacity.
Let's get sexist. Let's get politically insurrect and start drilling beneath the surface of the 2006 Ford Explorer. Although it doesn't qualify as an all-new model there's still enough 2005 Explorer in the mix to prevent that distinction the 2006 Explorer has had a heck of a lot more work done on it than just a face-lift (that's not the sexist part the sexist part's still coming). The new Explorer is quieter, more powerful, better-looking, better equipped, several rungs higher on the safety ladder, and a sweeter value than its predecessor (now comes the sexist part) and it's all because of a woman. That's right, Ford placed the fate of its best-selling midsize symbol of masculine needs and breeding the Explorer sport-utility vehicle in the hands of Judy Curran, chief engineer. Judy's a quiet engineering filly, but man, does she ever know how to build an Explorer especially one for families.
Here are the Explorer basics for 2006:
It's slightly bigger and heavier than the 2005 model
Four trim levels: XLS and XLT models (for basic and one-step-up buyers), and Eddie Bauer and Limited editions (for the upper-crust crowd)
Two-row seating (for five occupants), or three rows (for six or seven)
V6 or V8 power
Rear-drive or all-wheel drive
Wheel choices ranging from 16-inch steel to 17-inch aluminum to 18-inch chromed
The Feminine Side: A Nice, Quiet Interior No SUV ever lost points for being quiet enough to allow a conversation to take place between the first- and second-row passengers. Most SUVs, in fact, are echo chambers that bounce road noise, wind noise and engine noise around. Judy Curran didn't like that about SUVs, so her team loaded the Explorer with sound-insulation materials. Now the Explorer driver can even communicate with the kids in the optional third row without having to scream. Ford claims to lead the class in front-seat quietude, and we heard nothing to cause us to doubt it. And in the absence of brain-rattling noise, you'll also notice that the Explorer's interior has been shaped up nicely, too. We drove the high-end offerings lined with leather (XLS and XLT models start with cloth seats) and packing V8 engines and all-wheel drive. The leather looked good felt good, too especially when accented by the Preferred Suede inserts. Not especially deep, the front bucket seats do provide good support for long-distance travel. The driver benefits from a large speedo and tachometer, ringed in "chrome" on the upscale models. Headroom abounds in the first two rows, and second-row legroom is surprisingly generous, even in the three-row configurations. So how much room do you need for your stuff? In two-row Explorers, there's 45.1 cubic feet of stowage space with the rear seats up, and 85.8 cubic feet in seats-down mode. That's generous for this class. Three-row Explorers present 13.6, 43.9 and 83.7 cubic feet as you move through the seats-down variations.
The Masculine Side: Horsepower The Grrrrr factor for the 2006 Explorer comes in V6 and V8 forms. The 4.0-liter single-overhead-cam six, paired to last year's five-speed automatic transmission, put out 210 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque along with ultralow emissions (as good as Ford's Escape hybrid). Bigger news, however, comes from the 292-hp V8. New to the Explorer this year, the optional 4.6-liter single-cam shares both spirit and three-valve-per-cylinder heads with the Mustang GT. The engine's 300 lb-ft of torque at 3,950 rpm, mated to a new six-speed automatic, raises the V8 Explorer's tow limit to 7,300 pounds. As a bonus, the six-speed also improves the fuel economy. The V8 lifts the Explorer off the line with decent escape velocity, but the midrange passing power was noticeably less Mustang-like this truck's torque is used for towing. On four-wheel-drive models, the Control Trac system carries over, allowing the driver to select three modes: 4x4 Auto (essentially rear-wheel drive until rear-wheel slip is detected, then power is apportioned to the fronts), 4x4 High (which locks the center differential and splits the torque 50/50 front/rear), and 4x4 Low (for slow, rough off-road slogging through sand or what-have-you).
The Feminine Side: A Nice, Compliant Ride The frame side of the Explorer's body-on-frame setup got a significant makeover. "Tube-through-tube" construction, adapted from the F-Series trucks, adds significant stiffness to the frame for better stability as well as less twisting, which means less "wringing out" of the body which creates squeaks. A new monotube shock design front and rear, and revised independent rear suspension settled the Explorer ride beautifully on-road and off.
The Masculine Side: Handling And on those rare occasions when your Explorer does make an off-road appearance, you macho man from Mars, you'll appreciate how the Venusian comfort changes to the suspension also help you maintain control of the vehicle. And if you do run out of talent, the standard AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control will kick in (but not so early that you can't have a little fun playing in the dirt). The standard four-wheel antilock disc brakes have been beefed up for 2006 to match the SUV's improved towing and payload capacity.
The Feminine Side: Safety If you're shopping for a midsize SUV and you've placed safety at or near the top of your list, your list should include the 2006 Explorer. Ford has fortified the '06 Explorer to earn a galaxy of stars on federal front- and side-impact crash test ratings. In addition to the previous Explorer's front-impact and side curtain head-protection airbags, the 2006 model includes front-seat side-impact airbags. The '06 also employs a number of sensors designed to assess things like front-occupant size, seating position and crash severity, then deploy the vehicle's safety features to the greatest benefit.
Everybody Likes Value: The Sexist Conclusion So how'd the skirt do? Well, she made the Explorer quieter. And safer. And nicer to live with. And better-looking. And better-riding. And better-handling. And more powerful than ever. In short, Judy Curran's Explorer priorities mirror what America keeps searching for in a family SUV. Now here's the kicker: The 2006 Ford Explorer is less expensive than the 2005. Starting at $27,175 for a base XLS and moving up through the Limited (which starts at $33,160), you save an average of $1,750 over last year. Here's to a woman's touch.
The introduction of the 1991 Ford Explorer sparked a revolution in the industry, helping the SUV market transition from a small niche to a major force in the marketplace.
"Before Explorer, sport-utilities were limited to camping and hunting vehicles," says Steve Lyons, group vice president, North American Marketing, Sales, and Service. "The Explorer broadened the appeal and created the SUV as we know it today. It offered the same go-anywhere ability, plus comfortable seating and handling designed for driving on pavement as well as back-country trails. Explorer has continued to be a success because we have continued that tradition of innovation."
Now, the SUV market is undergoing another transition, fragmenting and dividing into traditional and crossover vehicles as an ever-increasing number of SUV nameplates are introduced. Yet, Explorer has remained the best-selling SUV every year since its introduction, totaling almost 5.5 million sales over 15 years.
The 2006 model is well-equipped to maintain its success, even in this changing market. It offers class-exclusive safety technologies, improved capabilities, and first-in-class features such as power-fold third row seats and a six-speed automatic transmission.
These improvements are key to Explorer's continued leadership in the changing SUV market. In addition, the Explorer is a key component in Ford Motor Company's strategy to offer customers innovative, class-defining traditional and crossover SUVs.
The changing SUV market: traditional and crossover SUVs accounted for 4.8 million sales in 2004
In 1990, every SUV on the market was a "traditional" SUV. Most shared their ladder-frames and solid axles with truck platforms. All were largely unrefined, with an emphasis on truck-like capability at the expense of creature comfort. As a result, SUVs accounted for a small percentage of total annual sales only 929,000 in 1990, or 6.6 percent of the total U.S. automotive market.
The Explorer introduced a new level of refinement, with all the same capability, to the SUV market. Driven by consumers leaving passenger cars for the multi-functional character of the Explorer, the SUV market rapidly expanded. By 2000, SUVs accounted for almost three million sales annually.
Traditional SUV sales have been fairly steady since 2000. However, the introduction of car-based crossover vehicles has continued to fuel the growth of the SUV market. By 2004, total SUV sales have climbed to 4.8 million units, or 27.5 percent of the U.S. automotive market. 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 Lyons. "With the proliferation of new crossover vehicles, the market for traditional SUVs that offer full capability including towing and the ability to driver 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."
2006 Explorer integral to Ford's strategy offering innovative traditional and crossover SUVs
"The SUV market is fragmenting, offering more options for consumers," says Chris Feuell, SUV group marketing manager. "Ford is leading that market shift, essentially offering something for everyone. In addition to traditional SUVs such as the Ford Expedition and Explorer, we offer the Ford Escape, the best-selling small SUV for three out of the four years it has been on the market; the Escape Hybrid, the industry's first full hybrid SUV on sale; and the Ford Freestyle, with command seating, all-wheel drive and seating for seven."
The 2006 Explorer advances Ford's SUV strategy, creating further differentiation between Ford's traditional and crossover SUV offerings. As such, the new Explorer is more focused on delivering SUV capabilities, including off-roading, towing and payload capacity.
"One of the distinct advantages of a body-on-frame vehicle, such as the Explorer, is its ability to isolate loads and inputs between the frame and the passenger compartment," says Raj Nair, SUV and Body-on-Frame Vehicles executive director. "This isolation is even more noticeable during more strenuous driving activities, such as towing and off-roading."
To deliver the most capable Explorer ever, the 2006 model features an all-new stiffer frame that is 63 percent stiffer than the previous model. The chassis also features all-new suspension components and an upgraded brake system. Paired with the available 292-horsepower V-8 the most powerful engine ever offered in Explorer delivers 1,520-pound payload capacity and 7,300-pound tow rating.
2006 Explorer defined by class-leading innovations, design inspired by F-150
However, the Explorer doesn't sacrifice refinement for capability. The 4.6-liter V-8 is paired with the first six-speed automatic transmission in the segment. This wide-ratio transmission enables the engine to operate more efficiently, delivering up to 10 percent increase in fuel economy despite a 22 percent increase in horsepower. In addition, the standard 4.0-liter V-6 delivers the same 210 horsepower as before, while engine and exhaust improvements return a 74 percent decrease in emissions. In fact, V-6 Explorers meet the same federal tailpipe emissions standard as the Escape Hybrid.
The Explorer's design also shows a new focus on rugged, truck-based heritage and increased refinement. The tougher, bolder design is inspired by the Ford F-150. Yet, Explorer also offers class-leading refinement, safety and innovations.
"We really wanted to return to Explorer's truck heritage, which gave Explorer its strength and credibility to begin with," says Chelsia Lau, Explorer chief designer. "For example, we have used the F-Series' grilles to communicate the toughness of Ford trucks and to serve as a differentiator among series. Now, we're applying that same approach to the Explorer. In addition, we took the "tough luxury" theme of F-Series, and applied it to the Explorer."
The result combines bold design, like the four-bar grille of Eddie Bauer models, with fine craftsmanship and upscale features, such as two-tone seating with Preferred Suede inserts. Despite its larger visual presence, the Explorer features class-leading interior quietness, due to comprehensive improvements in noise, vibration, and harshness.
Amenities include an available navigation system with class-exclusive text-to-speech programming that includes spoken upcoming street names, and a class-exclusive power-fold third-row seat.
Explorer leads its class with 10 standard advanced safety technologies
In addition, 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.
"Safety is one of the top 'why-buys' among SUV buyers," says Feuell. "The 2006 Explorer delivers safety technologies that are not available in any other SUV in its class. One of our biggest communications priorities will be explaining to customers how the complex system of safety features provides adaptive protection. Protection not just tailored to the force of the impact, but protection tailored to fit the occupants' size and position."
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. In fact, the new Explorer meets all known federal frontal- and side-impact crash requirements through 2010.
Explorer will be available in four trim levels: XLS, XLT, Eddie Bauer, and Limited.
The 2006 Explorer will go on sale this fall in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. It will be produced at the St. Louis, Mo. and Louisville, Ky. assembly plants.
