Ford Exploder EcoBoost

[clubgitmo]

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Can't remember if this has been brought up or not. Ford has plans for the late 2011 model year of introducing the 2.0 turbo charged EcoBoost engine for the Ford Explorer. The new Exploder is quite large for it's 25mpg rating with the V6. If those numbers got closer to the 30mpg mark, I may just be interested...

... In a few years when I can get a used one for less than the $30k+ price tag


And it should also be noted that the Exploders are no longer SUV's, and are in fact car based unibody type vehicles. But in today's age of high MPG numbers, that should come as no surprise. All in all, they still seem like very capable vehicles. Not a truck... But...

[Brian]

Interestingly enough I took a brand new one for a ride this evening (not for purchase myself, but to take a ride with a friend who is considering it). This version had the V6, and was fully loaded. I was quite impressed at how nice it seemed and how well it drove for being a little larger. Seemed very good, outside of the price - about $50k Cdn.

[howam00]

It does seem like a nice rig if you can afford it. I honestly don't understand how they can sell so many large SUV's/CUV's at $40-50k a piece. I make decent money and those are about twice my price range and every mom seems to own one. the payments (assuming most people finance at least 80% over 5 years) is about $750 a month!

[hodag]

Per the Ford dealer the 2.0 ecoboost will not be avaliable in AWD/4wd, only front wheel drive. Remember this is a taurus/flex platform

[howam00]

Originally Posted by hodag

Per the Ford dealer the 2.0 ecoboost will not be avaliable in AWD/4wd, only front wheel drive. Remember this is a taurus/flex platform

I don't think this is the case but I also can't find anything to dispute it. Hopefully it can be in the AWD model since that is what will likely have the most sales volume.

[gnorthern]

So what does this mean for the hybrid?

[howam00]

Originally Posted by gnorthern

So what does this mean for the hybrid?

You're thinking Escape which the next gen will come out next year and will have some type of hybrid. I haven't heard a thing about an Explorer hybrid and Ford doesn't have a large platform hybrid system....at least not yet.

I think the Escape "concept" is slated for the Geneva Auto show in March. We'll see what the overall vehicle will be in about a 95% production ready form. From what I have seen it is much more similar to the Kuga that Europe has and it looks much better and has a better platform than the US Escape. I'd bet a crisp new Benjamin that it moves onto a CUV platfrom like the Explorer did but Ford will continue to call it an SUV so they don't have "conflicting models" since they also have the Edge and Flex which are CUV's

Why they decided to have two or three vehicles compete in the same segment is beyond me. they are all pretty similar in capabilties (I know there are some differences but that is like saying that my 1998 penny is completely different than your 1995 penny, the only thing different is the date)