Flashback - 2001 Ford Urban Explorer Concept Vehicle

Here are some great pictures of the 2001 Ford Urban Explorer Concept SUV Truck Vehicle > > > LAS VEGAS, Oct. 31, 2000 - The Ford Urban Explorer concept is designed for customers who want an expressive sport utility vehicle (SUV) with style and practicality for everyday city driving, but also want the capability to get to where they're going when the weather or the terrain gets rough. > "Explorer stands for uncomplicated function, durability and reliability," says J Mays, Ford Motor Company vice president of Design. "The Urban Explorer concept is a customized version that gives Explorer a street-smart profile that adds head-turning style to the mix." > > The Urban Explorer concept takes the Ford Outfitter flagship in a new direction - on the beaten-path - where many Explorer customers spend most of their time. While many SUV customers buy their vehicles largely for off-road capability, most are seeking a multi-functional mode of transportation that meets their passenger, cargo and load-carrying capability along with the assurance four-wheel-drive offers in adverse conditions. The Urban Explorer concept recognizes that those needs don't always mean the vehicle has to look like a rugged, mud-eating off-roader. > > Still, the look remains unmistakably Explorer - genuine, simple, rounded forms and sections, uncluttered body panels and a bold grille featuring the familiar egg-crate insert of all Ford SUVs. > > This four-door concept features lowered suspension and all-new low emphasis side cladding, which serves mainly as a great appearance enhancer, but gives the functional benefit of providing protection against stone chips. The deep dish, five-spoke, 20-inch wheels are housed within wide wheel flares, creating an athletic stance. > > The Urban Explorer features a new low-profile front fascia with integrated, uniquely styled driving lamps and functional brake cooling ducts. The low-profile rear fascia features center-exiting dual exhausts with bright-polished tail-pipe tips. A roof-spoiler on the trailing edge of the lift-gate replaces the standard SUV roof-rack and adds to the sporty appearance. > > Performance enhancements include cowl induction for improved airflow and vented brake rotors for improved heat dissipation. > > Quad-sport bucket seats and a thick-rim sport steering wheel are among the ergonomic enhancements featured in the Urban Explorer. The interior design includes a full front-to-rear center console, a unique sport gauge cluster and new molded interior badging. The high contrast interior color theme is black and lime green with iridescent piping. > > The design is performance focused, functional all around and serves the target consumers' lifestyles - solid, rugged and absolutely reliable. A person's vehicle is an extension of who he or she is and how that person lives and plays. The Urban Explorer concept is an example of the customization possibilities for the Explorer platform. > > Many of the 2002 Explorer features and improvements are included in the Urban Explorer concept. The 2002-model Ford Explorer is the next generation of the best-selling sport utility vehicle in the world. The new Explorer is redesigned from the ground up - with major improvements in package, suspension, powertrains and safety. With a new independent rear suspension (IRS) system and unique "porthole-in-frame" design - allowing for a lower step-in height and a third-row seat - Explorer is designed to offer an improved ride and a more comfortable, user-friendly package. The Control Trac? four-wheel-drive system provides exceptional performance on and off the pavement. New AdvanceTrac? interactive vehicle dynamics, available later in 2001, combines sophisticated electronic braking and traction control with electronic stability control, to help the driver maintain confidence and control in many driving situations. > > A sophisticated new all-aluminum V-8 engine brings 240 horsepower, an increase of 25 horsepower over the previous V-8. > > Inside, Explorer's passengers have more room to spread out. The passenger compartment is two inches wider compared with the previous model and, for the first time, has an optional third row of seating - enough overall room to accommodate seven adults. > > These benefits were made possible by Explorer's 2.5-inch wider track and efficient packaging of the new independent rear suspension. The second- and third-row seats also fold down to create a flat-surfaced cargo area. Additional storage is located beneath the rear cargo floor. > > Explorer offers one of the most comprehensive safety and security packages available. This includes Ford's new industry-leading Safety Canopy, which includes side-curtain air bags (available at launch) and rollover protection (available later in 2001). > > The SUV market has shown the most significant growth of the decade in the automotive industry. In fact, since 1991, annual sales of sport utility vehicles in the U.S. have grown from 900,000 to 3.2 million units through the end of calendar year 1999. It is the only market segment that has experienced double-digit sales growth every year during this period. > > The Ford Explorer has led that growth. The Explorer is the best-selling sport utility vehicle on the market and has been since its introduction in 1990 as a 1991 model. It also has been among the top-10 best-selling vehicles - car or truck - since it was introduced. In 1998 and 1999, the Explorer nameplate enjoyed record sales of more than 431,000 and 428,000 units respectively. View the attachments for this post at:
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2nd set of photos of the Ford URBAN Explorer Concept Truck from the early 2000's View the attachments for this post at:
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