2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Wednesday, March 1st, 2006
The 2007 Explorer Sport Trac, which made its world debut at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, has a brand new look as well as being a showcase for Ford Motor Company’s most innovative powertrain and safety technologies.
The 2007 Sport Trac will be built on the new Explorer platform and feature the liftgate of the F-150 FX4. It also has independent rear suspension and options, such as heated seats and a heated windshield.
The 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac is the latest demonstration of Ford Motor Company’s philosophy that engines employing advanced technologies can improve both performance and the environment. For example, the Sport Trac’s standard 4.0-liter V-6 engine meets federal Tier II, Bin 4 tailpipe emissions, the same as the Ford Escape Hybrid and cleaner than a Honda Accord Hybrid.
The 4.0-liter V-6 is rated at 210 horsepower at 5,100 rpm and 254 pound-feet of torque at 3,700 rpm. The torque curve is designed to be relatively flat across the entire engine range and to provide strong performance at nearly any engine speed.
New engine calibrations and improved emissions controls cut NOx emissions by 74 percent - from 14.2 to 3.6 pounds per 15,000 miles - without sacrificing horsepower, torque, or fuel economy. In fact, fuel economy is expected to match the previous model, even though the 2007 Sport Trac is more than five inches longer - and almost two inches wider - than before.
The V-6, equipped with a standard five-speed automatic, delivers a maximum 5,310 pounds of towing capacity, and 1,450 pounds of payload.
The optional 4.6-liter V-8 and 6R transmission deliver a maximum 6,800 pounds of towing capacity, and 1,430 pounds of payload. In addition, the combination is expected to deliver more than 20 miles per gallon on the highway, matching the economy of the competitor’s less-powerful V-6 engines. The V-8 meets federal Tier II Bin 5 standards, which is compliant with California’s Low Emissions Vehicle II (LEV II) standards.
Along with the advanced technology, the Sport Trac is eminently functional. The 4 ½-foot cargo box is constructed of corrosion-proof sheet molded composite (SMC) with a molded-in black inner liner that resists scratches and is dent-proof. The box is notched, allowing customers to place two 2×4 boards across the span to provide tiered storage of materials - including the ubiquitous 4×8 sheets of plywood. The outer SMC shell is painted body color and accented with tie-down anchors, emphasizing the Sport Trac’s functional design.
An optional tubular aluminum cargo cage acts as a cargo divider or can be swung out as a bed extender for extra storage capacity when the tailgate lowered. An optional, locking hard tonneau cover keeps gear secure from the weather and would-be thieves.
Overall, this is a Ford Explorer with the power you would expect from a Ford Mustang and the comfort you’d expect from a Sport Utility Vehicle. Styling, power, fun, comfort… what more could you ask for?
The truck’s independent rear suspension (a rarity in this class) is also from the Explorer, which gets its own major reworking for 2006 on the current Explorer/Mountaineer platform. So the Sport Trac also hints at some of the sheetmetal and interior changes we should see for the Explorer in late 2005, including an F-150-like grille and interior. The Sport Trac is nearly five inches longer, two inches wider, and two inches lower than the current Sport Trac, although production models will most likely sit as high as a current-generation Explorer. Inside, it has two rows of captain’s chairs with a front and rear center console. It doesn’t take much imagination to see how a King Ranch or Harley-Davidson-edition Sport Trac could become a reality.
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