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Ford Automobiles: New 2007 Ford Explorer, 2006 Ford And 2005 Explorer
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Published: May 2, 2007
The SUV phenomenon has come under intense criticism in recent years. With the rising financial costs and political turmoil surrounding the oil industry, it seems only fair that SUV owners and manufacturers should be viewed with a sense of skepticism. But putting personal and political biases aside, certain SUV brands stand a step above the competition.
One such brand is the Ford Explorer.
Some critics have claimed that the Ford Explorer was the catalyst to the SUV boom in the 90s'—and rightfully so. The Ford Explorer is the best-selling SUV in U.S. automotive history and was, during its heyday, pushing nearly 400,00 units a year. Very few other SUVs can claim to have made such an impact on the automotive industry as the Ford Explorer. But in the past decade, the Ford Explorer has had to overcome a near fatal PR catastrophe, a dramatic increase in competition amongst other SUV manufacturers, and constant criticism from the environmental movement.
In response to the setbacks of the last decade, the Ford Explorer has undergone drastic changes in design and power. The 2007 and 2006 Ford Explorer both come equipped with a new V-8 engine, an improved frame, and enhanced safety features. Ford is also hoping to increase the comfortability of the Explorer. For example, the 2005 Ford Explorer models had a 36 percent installation rate of moon roofs, compared to 24 percent of the 2000 models. The 2007 Ford Explorer has also undergone significant design alterations as way to decrease noise inside the cabin and resemble a luxury interior. The end result of all these alterations, Ford hopes, will be a new image for the Explorer.
The recent restructuring of the Explorer was not the first in the car's history. The 2006 and 2007 Explorer are both part of the fourth generation of the model. Each new generation has increased the engine capacity of the original Ford Explorer, released in 1991 with 155 hp. But the interior has also seen significant changes, with each generation making the Explorer more like a sedan, rather than a utility vehicle. The most recent remodeling of the Explorer makes it more of a luxury, family-oriented automobile.
This trend to make SUVs more of luxury car than a utility one, follows the overall SUV market. Ford has seen the rise of other SUVs such as the Navigator and the Cayenne, and taken note that many consumers want a luxury SUV. Because of this trend in the market, the comparatively basic interior and engine size of the Explorer has caused its sales to decline. So, the makes of Ford Automobiles hopped on the luxury bandwagon and made the Explorer more comfortable. This remodeling, they believe, will restore the Ford Explorer to its former glory.
A few words of caution concerning the Ford Explorer must be noted. First, it still only gets 17 mpg, and even though that's not terrible in the SUV market, it's rather awful compared to the other popular cars like the Accord or Camry. Ford should realize that, while the decline in sales of the Explorer is a direct result of the competitive nature of the SUV market—every carmaker now features an SUV—it's not the only reason. Whether those at the top of Ford want to admit it, the recent political turmoil surrounding major oil producing countries and the rising cost in gas will eventually cause consumers to look at more efficient cars. Plus, the global warming issue doesn't seem to be leaving anytime soon and the Explorer isn't the most environmentally friendly car—and yes, there are worse, but that doesn't absolve them from the issue.
Ford Automobiles have been a part of American industrial spirit for close to a century now. The Ford Explorer was merely another innovation put forth by a company renown for its savvy business practices—dating back to Henry Ford and his belief in the assembly line. The Ford Explorer will most likely continue to be a major force in the SUV market, but will probably not ever reach its former dominance.
Sources:
Ford Explorer. Wikipedia. 24 April 2007. 24 April 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Explorer.
Mayne, Eric. Ford Hopes New Explorer Will Stop Skid. The Detroit News. 1 Aug. 2005. 24 April 2007. http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0508/01/A 01-265711.htm.
Ford Explorer Overview. Edmunds.com. 2007. 24 April 2007.
http://www.edmunds.com/ford/explorer/review.html .
Related Articles
Some critics have claimed that the Ford Explorer was the catalyst to the SUV boom in the 90s'—and rightfully so. The Ford Explorer is the best-selling SUV in U.S. automotive history and was, during its heyday, pushing nearly 400,00 units a year. Very few other SUVs can claim to have made such an impact on the automotive industry as the Ford Explorer. But in the past decade, the Ford Explorer has had to overcome a near fatal PR catastrophe, a dramatic increase in competition amongst other SUV manufacturers, and constant criticism from the environmental movement.
In response to the setbacks of the last decade, the Ford Explorer has undergone drastic changes in design and power. The 2007 and 2006 Ford Explorer both come equipped with a new V-8 engine, an improved frame, and enhanced safety features. Ford is also hoping to increase the comfortability of the Explorer. For example, the 2005 Ford Explorer models had a 36 percent installation rate of moon roofs, compared to 24 percent of the 2000 models. The 2007 Ford Explorer has also undergone significant design alterations as way to decrease noise inside the cabin and resemble a luxury interior. The end result of all these alterations, Ford hopes, will be a new image for the Explorer.
The recent restructuring of the Explorer was not the first in the car's history. The 2006 and 2007 Explorer are both part of the fourth generation of the model. Each new generation has increased the engine capacity of the original Ford Explorer, released in 1991 with 155 hp. But the interior has also seen significant changes, with each generation making the Explorer more like a sedan, rather than a utility vehicle. The most recent remodeling of the Explorer makes it more of a luxury, family-oriented automobile.
This trend to make SUVs more of luxury car than a utility one, follows the overall SUV market. Ford has seen the rise of other SUVs such as the Navigator and the Cayenne, and taken note that many consumers want a luxury SUV. Because of this trend in the market, the comparatively basic interior and engine size of the Explorer has caused its sales to decline. So, the makes of Ford Automobiles hopped on the luxury bandwagon and made the Explorer more comfortable. This remodeling, they believe, will restore the Ford Explorer to its former glory.
A few words of caution concerning the Ford Explorer must be noted. First, it still only gets 17 mpg, and even though that's not terrible in the SUV market, it's rather awful compared to the other popular cars like the Accord or Camry. Ford should realize that, while the decline in sales of the Explorer is a direct result of the competitive nature of the SUV market—every carmaker now features an SUV—it's not the only reason. Whether those at the top of Ford want to admit it, the recent political turmoil surrounding major oil producing countries and the rising cost in gas will eventually cause consumers to look at more efficient cars. Plus, the global warming issue doesn't seem to be leaving anytime soon and the Explorer isn't the most environmentally friendly car—and yes, there are worse, but that doesn't absolve them from the issue.
Ford Automobiles have been a part of American industrial spirit for close to a century now. The Ford Explorer was merely another innovation put forth by a company renown for its savvy business practices—dating back to Henry Ford and his belief in the assembly line. The Ford Explorer will most likely continue to be a major force in the SUV market, but will probably not ever reach its former dominance.
Sources:
Ford Explorer. Wikipedia. 24 April 2007. 24 April 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Explorer.
Mayne, Eric. Ford Hopes New Explorer Will Stop Skid. The Detroit News. 1 Aug. 2005. 24 April 2007. http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0508/01/A 01-265711.htm.
Ford Explorer Overview. Edmunds.com. 2007. 24 April 2007.
http://www.edmunds.com/ford/explorer/review.html .
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