• Modern styling, but not exciting to look at
• Range of 4.0-litre V6 and 5.0-litre V8 engines
• Car-like controls and dynamics promised
• Ford aim for larger segment of SUV market

The Ford Explorer Sport - sales leader among two-door sport utility vehicles - has been substantially improved for the 2001 model year with new sporty styling. On sale beginning early next year, the 2001 Explorer Sport (that is what Ford are calling it - even though it goes on sale in 2000) aims to strengthen its leadership position with significant changes to exterior sheet metal, a new interior, more front leg room and improved ride and handling characteristics.

Sales of the two-door Explorer have increased each year - from 31,700 units in 1991 to nearly 112,000 units in 1998. The new Explorer Sport shares its new modern front-end sheet metal with the Explorer Sport Trac (shown above), which also goes on sale beginning early next year. Complex-reflector headlamps flank a signature Ford grille which flows back and up to the vehicle's bulging bonnet. An upswept, wraparound front bumper houses driving lamps and integrates with the vehicle's lower body-side moulding. While optional tow hooks integrate into openings in the lower bumper, wheel flares are integrated into the sheet metal. The overall effect is modern, but not very distinctive.

Colour-keyed door mirrors and the addition of a flexible storage pocket in the front passenger footwell are further improvements for the new model year. Not very much, we know, but the customers will appreciate it. The standard specification includes: driver and front passenger airbags, two-phase side airbags, interactive front head restraints, ABS, electric windows all-round, central locking with deadbolts, electrically-adjustable headlamps/mirrors with wash/wipe, engine immobiliser, power steering with telescopic adjustment, interior light delay and a radio/cassette unit.

Inside, the Explorer Sport receives additional sporty touches, including new interior trim and a distinctive white dial instrument cluster. The standard floor console includes two larger and improved front cup holders, an open front storage area convenience clip, twin retractable rear cup holders and a removable "soft pack" storage bag for holding CDs and other items. The optional console adds a coin holder, front power point, flow-through ventilation with rear blower controls and rear-mounted audio headphone jack/audio controls

The optional power "moon" roof can be tilted open or fully retracted into the roof. It includes a second, manually retractable sliding sun shade. An express "one-touch open" feature fully retracts the moon roof when the control switch is pressed briefly. A front overhead console is optional (everything seems to be). It houses two map/courtesy lamps, compass, outside temperature display and garage door opener storage bin or, for models equipped with a moon roof, the moon roof switch.

Customers can choose from two audio systems. The standard 60-watt system uses four speakers and includes AM/FM stereo radio, clock and single CD player. An optional, 290-watt system features a six-disc in-dash CD player and seven speakers (two coaxial tweeter/midrange speaker sets in the front doors, two single rear door speakers, plus subwoofer).

Designed to seat four adults, the Explorer Sport's passenger compartment offers customers increased front leg-room compared with the previous model. With nearly 70 cubic feet of maximum cargo space and the ability to tow up to 5,180 pounds, Explorer Sport is perfect for active lifestyles, say Ford, or building sites, say us!

The Explorer Sport is powered by Ford's 4.0-litre SOHC V6 engine range, which produces up to 206bhp at 5,000rpm and 238lb.ft of torque at 4,000rpm. The engine is linked to a five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission and comes in 4x2 and optional 4x4 configurations.

Ford engineers took several steps to improve the ride and reduce cabin noise in the 2001 Explorer Sport over today's model, and a stiffer frame improves vehicle dynamics and contributes to lower noise, vibration and harshness. A sound dampening floor system helps block noise from entering the interior. Also, the instrument panel and laminated dash sheet metal are designed to reduce the transfer of engine noise to the passenger compartment.

Suspension improvements contribute to a better ride. Front and rear stabiliser bars are standard, and the modified front caster improves drift/pull characteristics. Also, revised shock tuning and a new multi-stage rear leaf spring suspension reduce ride harshness.

The Explorer Sport is fitted with a larger, more durable and quieter four-wheel disc braking system, which achieves a shorter stopping distance. Front brakes have larger rotors, phenolic pistons and stiffer calipers. All models have new front-wheel dust shields to assist in rotor cooling. A four-wheel, three-channel anti-lock braking system is standard. This system controls front wheel braking independently and the rear wheels in tandem during an emergency stop. Dynamic rear proportioning optimizes non-ABS stopping performance under varying load conditions.

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