The All-New 2011 Ford Explorer- Thankfully Different, In Hindsight, Of Course...

So, cyberspace is all-a-buzz about the 2011 Ford Explorer due in dealerships this winter. I believe it's making (or has it already made- I was watching Mad Men last night?) its sneak-peek debut on Facebook- but the deets are out- the 2011 Ford Explorer... is (thankfully) quite different.

The Explorer originally made its debut in or around 1990- it was wildly popular- a more domesticated, four-door version of what was once called a Bronco II, the Explorer- a body-on-latter-frame (truck) vehicle literally defined the Sport Utility Vehicle segment.


That's not to say, looking back in time, the Explorer was any good- it really wasn't. In complete hindsight- most everything once thought as cool or good for you through history- is actually really quite bad- and the Ford Explorer is no exception to the rule. As far as cars go- the Explorer is right-up-there with broiled red-meat and smoking- the kind of chic that makes Mad Men today such a success.

Now twenty years-on, you'd be hard-pressed to find a surviving, original Ford Explorer- most of them have since rusted-away to oblivion or were the $4,500 trades of choice during last year's Cash For Clunker's campaign. (Remember that one? Where has the year gone?)

But in the past two-decades- the Ford Explorer, while it defined an exciting, significant (now almost embarrassing) segment in automotive history- it wasn't without scandal or problem. Not only were the first Ford Explorers prone to rollover, when they did roll-on-to their roof sections- the pillars would deform- leading to what most litigators called "roof-crush," a problem that killed and crippled many- causing millions in litigation for Ford- tarnishing the Explorer for anyone with an ear for car safety.

But roof-crush was not exclusive to the Ford Explorer; however, the affordability and popularity of the Ford Explorer made it an example, a poster-child for needed, improved SUV safety. The only question was- did Ford know of the problem?

Compounding the roof-crush problem of the earlier Explorers, was the Firestone tire situation- jogging my memory now- Firestone ATX tires were under-inflated in spec for comfort (by Ford) for the Explorer. The Firstones would then heat-up and fail like hand-grenades on the then-period Explorers- tires shredding- causing cars to lose control, roll, crash or a deadly combination of all-three. Yes, more people died.

Both Ford and Firestone spent billions pointing the finger at each other- (again) did Ford know the Firestones were prone to failure on cars like the Ford Explorer? Did Firestone truly supply a faulty tire? Regardless- it's so-ten years ago...

(I don't think the all-new and exciting 2011 Ford Explorer will have Firestones as standard offering... That would be just too ironic...)

For the past decade- while Ford still proclaims the Explorer a "brand-mainstay"- second only to the Mustang, I could honestly say- it hasn't been a contender in the hearts and minds of SUV drivers for quite sometime.

Muted, quiet and sorry- like an embarrassed, drunk asshole at a social get-together who has been outed for bad behavior- the Explorer, despite being a relative bargain compared to more popular, modern SUVs- I don't know too many who have flocked to Ford for one in recent years. But, hopefully for Ford- this is about to change.

Firestones will surely not be standard, nor will it have a latter, truck-frame- like its predecessors. A car, Taurus chassis will be the platform- making the now uni-bodied Explorer sit a tad lower, and drive, handle more like a car. It's also a front-wheel-drive, as standard like the Taurus.

Also more-like-a-car is the fuel economy- yes- into the 30-miles-per-gallon realm- making the all-new Explorer "green" for the 21st Century driver. The original Explorers were lucky to get half the economy of the new ones, then again- gas in 1995 was half the price it is today.

Gone is the V8 option- and in with an optional turbo-charged, Ecoboost inline-4; which, ironically, puts out power than the original V8 options of years ago. Go figure that one. Standard is a 290-horse 3.5-liter six- which, in my option- should work just fine.

So the Explorer is now officially a crossover- which, as I've noted before- is where the SUV segment is going.

The Explorer brand-wise has some huge shoes, er, tires-to-fill- however, segment-wise, as far-as-Ford is concerned- it's surely replacing the lowly, re-badged crossover Taurus X- which car guys will tell you- started-out as just the just-as ambiguous Ford Freestyle- which, I'm convinced sold by the dozens, not the millions like the Explorer.

Funny how Ford, in an effort to boost the Freestlye- gave it the Taurus nameplate- but now, the crossover is actually more a-kin to the SUV brand- the Explorer. Go figure. Again.

Oh, how times have changed. I'm excited to see the all-new Explorer on Facebook. I don't mean to marginalize or minimize the all-new 2011 Explorer by mentioning its shitty past- but, I believe most car people in-the-know can't help but keep the past in mind while seeing the future of the Explorer and the SUV, today- in the all-new 2011 Ford Explorer.

Oh, how far we've come... But don't worry- in another twenty years- this car's going to suck, be crass, or be bad-for-us too. That's just how it goes with history and nostalgia... Go figure. Yet, again, hindsight- just like Mad Men.