New Ford Explorer Sport: Fuel-Efficient, High-Performance SUV

**Flounder** · 03-28-2012, 10:21 PM

Me likey.

*ford99_1979* · 03-28-2012, 10:41 PM

My mom just ordered a limited last week. She should cancel and wait for this one.

03-28-2012, 11:21 PM

Doesn't look much different besides lettering on the bonnet and new rims. Interior is the same except for the sport logo. Leather. Oh my.

*briwayjones* · 03-29-2012, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NICE59FORDF100

The coyote is a derived from the modular v8 family (think 4.6, 5.4, and 6.8) so being a fwd platform, the motor would not physically fit

Eh, it still needs the Coyote!

rusty813 · 03-29-2012, 03:21 AM

Do you know if the ground clearance is higher it does look taller...if so I definitely interested in this explorer

TIO M · 03-29-2012, 03:45 AM

OH OHHHH!!! The Gods have answered my prayers!!! Now to convince the wife to trade hers in same color and options but in Eco-Boost format!! Awesome!!

Thrumcap · 03-29-2012, 07:16 AM

A bit of a disappointment. Too much unpainted plastic, door handles don't match, no additional towing capacity, and not even the full 365 HP. This barely competes with the Hemi Durango or Grand Cherokee. In fact, it still falls far short of the Pentastar V-6 models' towing capacity.

Triton8273 · 03-29-2012, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thrumcap

A bit of a disappointment. Too much unpainted plastic, door handles don't match, no additional towing capacity, and not even the full 365 HP. This barely competes with the Hemi Durango or Grand Cherokee. In fact, it still falls far short of the Pentastar V-6 models' towing capacity.

I remember when they first came out with the 5th gen and I was reading some reviews and one distinctively stood out.

"If your looking to tow...your going to have to buy something bigger like the Expedition"

In my opinion the 5th gen is a fat crossover. If it was still a midsized suv it would have a V8 option and a lot of other things. I just don't feel they should have carried the "Explorer" name to it.

**Rick** · 03-29-2012, 11:29 AM

I have to agree. The Explorer badge should have been saved for something which was more adaptable to "Serious Explorations", but of course

Triton8273 · 03-29-2012, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

I have to agree. The Explorer badge should have been saved for something which was more adaptable to "Serious Explorations", but of course

What I think would be great is if they used the Raptor platform and made that into the new explorer and on a more affordable level.

*ford99_1979* · 03-29-2012, 11:52 AM

Fuel efficient and high performance. My wife drives a Ford flex with the 3.5 Ecoboost and I would take that powertrain over a V8 Dodge product anyday in terms of performance and fuel efficiency. the 3.5 Ecoboost is an excellent motor.

My daily driver is a gas guzzling 347 explorer so i'm not opposed to V8's. I'm just making an observation. The ecoboost is having your cake and eating it too!

*Anime* · 03-29-2012, 11:59 AM

Ugh, it sucks when the marketing department gets free use of past monikers for things. "Sport" should have been reserved for 2-door versions of their offerings. This is just going to create a lot of confusion when anyone refers to a "Ford Explorer Sport".

On the plus side, this "Sport" branding idea now makes the earlier Sports into the high-performance versions. Which is sort of true anyway since they had less weight but the same powertrain as their 4-door counterparts.

new to ford · 03-29-2012, 12:09 PM

FORD's website has mention of the explorer sport:

http://www.ford.com/suvs/explorer/

Triton8273 · 03-29-2012, 12:50 PM

COMING SOON!!!

The all new Ford Explorer "Subaru Edition"

cnsheets · 03-29-2012, 01:26 PM

My girlfriend has a 2001 Explorer "Sport" and I have a 2011 Explorer, two completely different vehicles. When I told my girlfriend of the newly released "Sport" she got excited thinking she could get a current year 2 door version. When I told her that was not the case, she was disappointed.

Triton8273 · 03-29-2012, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnsheets

My girlfriend has a 2001 Explorer "Sport" and I have a 2011 Explorer, two completely different vehicles. When I told my girlfriend of the newly released "Sport" she got excited thinking she could get a current year 2 door version. When I told her that was not the case, she was disappointed.

There has been confusion of the 3rd gen section a few times recently with some guys saying they had a 2004 or 2005 "sport" which got the regular guys confused, knowing that the sport model was discontinued on 03' but for 2004 and 2005 there were XLS and XLT "sports" which was an additional trim package.

So this isn't the first time Ford has used "sport" in a completely random way.

*Limited02* · 03-29-2012, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thrumcap

A bit of a disappointment. Too much unpainted plastic, door handles don't match, no additional towing capacity, and not even the full 365 HP. This barely competes with the Hemi Durango or Grand Cherokee. In fact, it still falls far short of the Pentastar V-6 models' towing capacity.

LOL, the 3.5TT Explorer Sport will make a Hemi Durango look like a I-4 overweight POS... As a matter of fact I bet a tune and exhaust 3.5TT Explorer will put a hurting on a 2012 Jeep SRT8.

- Look up Liveronis Motorsports and see what happens when they get their hands on a 3.5TT equipped Ford...

- Never mind, I'll post up some links

http://www.svtperformance.com/forums...-sho-more.html
http://www.svtperformance.com/forums...oost-f150.html
http://www.svtperformance.com/forums...jeep-srt8.html

MichiTracR · 03-29-2012, 02:20 PM

Getting back to the Explorer Sport towing aspect for a second...
Is this going to be like the Edge, where you can get the Sport equipped with the special 20" wheels and upgraded towing package, but yet you can't tow more than 1000 or 2000 lbs. because of those wheels?
Hope they offer smaller "cool" wheels if they have to for towing...

03-29-2012, 02:28 PM

Not sure what people are looking for. Seems to be alot of talk about the good old days when men were men and sheep were scared. You guys are just going to have to get over the fact that ford has reinvented the explorer. Time to move along now. Lets talk about the new vehicle and what it has to offer. Maybe start a thread that can be sent to Ford with the specs you would like to see. You know. Maybe take the specifications from a 2010 Explorer and meld it with a Jeep. You can call it the Jeexplorer. Put a V10 in it and have it get 8mpg. Jack it up so its 6 feet off the ground. You'd need a step ladder just to get in. Super turbo charged man machine that's able to leap over Mount Rushmore and squash the little sissy 5th Gen Explorer that every member who signed up prior to 2010 hates. I'm sure it would be a great hit with the general public. LOL.

*Limited02* · 03-29-2012, 02:28 PM

LOL, that's not your average Jeep SRT8...

With the basic mods(Tune, CAI, Exhaust) they'll be neck and neck. Actually, I believe the new 6.4 Hemi's cannot be tuned yet.

Edit: 2001Explorers- I would love to have a 2011+ Exlplorer Limited. EcoBoost 3.5 or not

03-28-2012, 10:41 PM	#22
ford99_1979 Elite Explorer Calgary, Alberta 1996 Limited 347 4WD Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 347 Vehicle Specs	My mom just ordered a limited last week. She should cancel and wait for this one. __________________ 1996 Limited V8 4WD Mods : 347 STROKER, Manual BW4406, Trick Flow Heads/Intake, Custom Cam, TM Headers, SCT tuned, 70mm Accufab TB, 75mm PRO-M MAF, MAC Intake, MAC Exhaust, Magnaflow Cats, HID Bi-Xenon Retrofit, 3" BL, TT, WAR Shackles, X-Spec Swaybar, RS5000 0-2" lift shocks, 17"x9" Cobra R Replica's, 285/70R17 Duratracs. Other vehicle -2011 Flex Limited AWD w/EcoBoost Old -2001 Ranger

03-29-2012, 03:45 AM	#26
TIO M Wannabe Elite Explorer Copperas Cove, Texas 2011 LTD X/Platinum 4wd Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 404 Vehicle Specs	OH OHHHH!!! The Gods have answered my prayers!!! Now to convince the wife to trade hers in same color and options but in Eco-Boost format!! Awesome!! __________________ 2011 Ford Explorer Limited 4wd, Platinum/Stone, Rapid Spec 301A, Dual Moon, BLIS, Tow Pack, 20", some nik naks. Special Ordered Tuxedo/Gray F-150 SuperCab 163" wheelbase, Eco-Boost, Heavy Duty Payload Pack and Max Trailer Tow Pack, 17" 7 Lug Aluminum wheels.....waiting on VIN!

03-29-2012, 11:29 AM	#29
Rick Admin Pumpkin Pilot Wayoutin, Aridzona '93 XL Join Date: Feb 1999 Posts: 27,241 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	I have to agree. The Explorer badge should have been saved for something which was more adaptable to "Serious Explorations", but of course __________________ Rick Horwitz, AB7FH "Serious Exploration's" Admin Rick's '93/'98 Explorer "The Great Pumpkin" Dodge Dart 512 Resto/Race 10.29 @ 129 2004 Mustang Mach 1 2003 Dodge Ram/Cummins Dually

03-29-2012, 11:52 AM	#31
ford99_1979 Elite Explorer Calgary, Alberta 1996 Limited 347 4WD Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 347 Vehicle Specs	Fuel efficient and high performance. My wife drives a Ford flex with the 3.5 Ecoboost and I would take that powertrain over a V8 Dodge product anyday in terms of performance and fuel efficiency. the 3.5 Ecoboost is an excellent motor. My daily driver is a gas guzzling 347 explorer so i'm not opposed to V8's. I'm just making an observation. The ecoboost is having your cake and eating it too! __________________ 1996 Limited V8 4WD Mods : 347 STROKER, Manual BW4406, Trick Flow Heads/Intake, Custom Cam, TM Headers, SCT tuned, 70mm Accufab TB, 75mm PRO-M MAF, MAC Intake, MAC Exhaust, Magnaflow Cats, HID Bi-Xenon Retrofit, 3" BL, TT, WAR Shackles, X-Spec Swaybar, RS5000 0-2" lift shocks, 17"x9" Cobra R Replica's, 285/70R17 Duratracs. Other vehicle -2011 Flex Limited AWD w/EcoBoost Old -2001 Ranger

03-29-2012, 11:59 AM	#32
Anime GREEN SCREAM!! Hattiesburg, MS '93 Sport 4x4 Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 4,192 Vehicle Specs	Ugh, it sucks when the marketing department gets free use of past monikers for things. "Sport" should have been reserved for 2-door versions of their offerings. This is just going to create a lot of confusion when anyone refers to a "Ford Explorer Sport". On the plus side, this "Sport" branding idea now makes the earlier Sports into the high-performance versions. Which is sort of true anyway since they had less weight but the same powertrain as their 4-door counterparts. __________________ "I think man has always gone where he has been able to go, and I think that when man stops going where he can go, he will have lost a lot. Man has always been an explorer. To me, there's a fascination in thrusting out and going to new places. It's like going through a door because you find the door in front of you." - Michael Collins

03-28-2012, 10:21 PM	#21
Flounder Elite - Owns 10,000 Marbles Pennsylvania '04 Sport Trac Join Date: Oct 1999 Posts: 6,544 Vehicle Specs	Me likey.

03-28-2012, 11:21 PM	#23
2001Explorers Unregistered Posts: n/a Vehicle Specs	Doesn't look much different besides lettering on the bonnet and new rims. Interior is the same except for the sport logo. Leather. Oh my.

03-29-2012, 03:21 AM	#25
rusty813 Wannabe Elite Explorer Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 484 Vehicle Specs	Do you know if the ground clearance is higher it does look taller...if so I definitely interested in this explorer

03-29-2012, 07:16 AM	#27
Thrumcap Wannabe Elite Explorer Northeast Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 48 Vehicle Specs	A bit of a disappointment. Too much unpainted plastic, door handles don't match, no additional towing capacity, and not even the full 365 HP. This barely competes with the Hemi Durango or Grand Cherokee. In fact, it still falls far short of the Pentastar V-6 models' towing capacity.

03-29-2012, 12:09 PM	#33
new to ford Wannabe Elite Explorer Rochester Hills, MI '11 explorer XLT 202A Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 442 Vehicle Specs	FORD's website has mention of the explorer sport: http://www.ford.com/suvs/explorer/

03-29-2012, 12:50 PM	#34
Triton8273 B Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,149 Vehicle Specs	COMING SOON!!! The all new Ford Explorer "Subaru Edition"

03-29-2012, 01:26 PM	#35
cnsheets Wannabe Elite Explorer Anaheim, California 11' Explorer Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 902 Vehicle Specs	My girlfriend has a 2001 Explorer "Sport" and I have a 2011 Explorer, two completely different vehicles. When I told my girlfriend of the newly released "Sport" she got excited thinking she could get a current year 2 door version. When I told her that was not the case, she was disappointed.

03-29-2012, 02:20 PM	#38
MichiTracR Wannabe Elite Explorer Michigan 2007 Sport Trac Limited Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 25 Vehicle Specs	Getting back to the Explorer Sport towing aspect for a second... Is this going to be like the Edge, where you can get the Sport equipped with the special 20" wheels and upgraded towing package, but yet you can't tow more than 1000 or 2000 lbs. because of those wheels? Hope they offer smaller "cool" wheels if they have to for towing...

03-29-2012, 02:28 PM	#39
2001Explorers Unregistered Posts: n/a Vehicle Specs	Not sure what people are looking for. Seems to be alot of talk about the good old days when men were men and sheep were scared. You guys are just going to have to get over the fact that ford has reinvented the explorer. Time to move along now. Lets talk about the new vehicle and what it has to offer. Maybe start a thread that can be sent to Ford with the specs you would like to see. You know. Maybe take the specifications from a 2010 Explorer and meld it with a Jeep. You can call it the Jeexplorer. Put a V10 in it and have it get 8mpg. Jack it up so its 6 feet off the ground. You'd need a step ladder just to get in. Super turbo charged man machine that's able to leap over Mount Rushmore and squash the little sissy 5th Gen Explorer that every member who signed up prior to 2010 hates. I'm sure it would be a great hit with the general public. LOL.

03-29-2012, 02:28 PM	#40
Limited02 Wanna Race? Gardner, KS '02 Limited V8 Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,087 Vehicle Specs	LOL, that's not your average Jeep SRT8... With the basic mods(Tune, CAI, Exhaust) they'll be neck and neck. Actually, I believe the new 6.4 Hemi's cannot be tuned yet. Edit: 2001Explorers- I would love to have a 2011+ Exlplorer Limited. EcoBoost 3.5 or not __________________ "Spending money I don't have, on parts I don't need, to impress people I don't know" 2002 4.6 4x4, K&N CAI, Henson tuned, FM70 and 20" Boss 306's My Built-in Cabinet EXPLORER FORUM LICENSE PLATE FRAMES!!!

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