(December 10, 2010) DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford Explorer is now the segment fuel economy leader. With an EPA-certified 25 mpg highway rating — a 25 percent fuel economy gain over the outgoing V6 model — the all-new 2011 Explorer sets a new benchmark for vehicles in its class. The Explorer EPA-certified rating of 17 mpg city can’t be bested by competitors, either.

“The new Explorer V-6 with twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) delivers a keen balance between power and fuel economy,” said Jim Holland, chief nameplate engineer. “An efficient six-speed transmission mated to this efficient V6 helps Explorer deliver 25 percent better fuel efficiency. This raises the bar for full-size SUVs, and will change buyer expectations for the entire segment.”

Explorer’s fuel efficiency improvement is the cumulative result of multiple individual technologies, innovations and advancements.

The all-new Explorer body shape was optimized in a wind tunnel to reduce wind noise and increase fuel economy. Ford aerodynamicists and designers found that coordination between the front-mounted air dam and the rear liftgate lip spoiler could add almost 1 mpg at highway speeds.

The new Explorer marks the introduction of electric power-assisted steering (EPAS), yielding significantly improved maneuverability, reduced parasitic engine drag, weight savings and increased fuel economy.

The advanced Explorer V-6 features a low-tension drive belt, aggressive deceleration fuel shutoff and a direct-acting mechanical bucket (DAMB) valvetrain with highly polished buckets to reduce internal friction. Each of these measures contributes to Explorer V-6 fuel economy.

The improvement in fuel efficiency comes without compromising Explorer’s legendary flexibility and capability. When powered by the standard 3.5-liter Ti-VCT V-6 engine, the Explorer can be equipped to tow up to 5,000 pounds. At 290 horsepower, the all-new Explorer V-6 exceeds the 2010 Explorer V-6 by 80 horsepower. In addition, the 2011 Explorer V-6’s power compares favorably to that of the 2010 Explorer V-8, rated at 292 horsepower.

When configured with intelligent 4WD and the terrain management system, the all-new Explorer honors the nameplate heritage of off-road capability, with the additional benefit of removing driver guesswork when selecting the appropriate 4WD mode. A driver need only turn the console-mounted knob to the desired setting, and the Explorer automatically adjusts drivetrain behavior to suit conditions.

Explorer will soon offer a 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4, estimated to deliver a 30 percent increase in fuel economy. This option is ideally suited to SUV buyers placing a top priority on fuel economy.