Ford explores its options

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The Explorer used to be a big seller for Ford, chalking up 6.5 million since its launch 18 years ago. In a good year, it would sell more than 400,000. Last year wasn’t one of those: The model racked up sales of just 138,000. Something had to be done. This is the Explorer America concept, and it shows the direction that Ford’s new SUV will be taking.

Instead of the traditional body-on-frame construction, as in most trucks, this has a unibody design, in the same fashion as crossover vehicles -- the Honda CR-V, for example. This saves weight and improves a vehicle’s driving abilities. Because mass means consumption, other dietary tactics are being used. Electrically assisted steering is lighter than the old-school hydraulic system and easier on the engine.

And smaller, turbocharged engines can provide ample muscle in place of a lumbering V-8 yet return fuel consumption figures that are 20% to 30% better. Enter Ford’s EcoBoost technology. A 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine thus endowed could whip up 275 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque.

Then there are the clever sliding rear doors, the sliding seats and a navigation system with three-dimensional compass and topographical maps. This concept will be unveiled at the Detroit show, while a production version of the Explorer should be available around 2010.

-- Colin Ryan