The redesigned Ford Explorer Sport builds on its segment-leading position for the 2001-model year with significant interior and body improvements, new levels of versatility and a restyled exterior.

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In addition to the vehicle's all-new rugged, sporty exterior styling, buyers will find more standard equipment, more safety features, numerous refinements and updated features over the previous two-door Ford Explorer including:

• Standard 4.0-liter single overhead cam (SOHC) V-6 engine
• Standard CD player and center console with removable soft-pack
• Improved ride and handling
• Dual-stage rear leaf springs
• A quieter interior
• Increased front legroom

These and a host of other improvements are designed to help Explorer Sport maintain its position as the most popular two-door compact SUV.

Sales of the two-door Explorer Sport increased to more than 110,000 units in 1998, from 31,700 in 1991. In the two-door compact SUV segment, Explorer Sport continues to dominate - with 75 percent market share.

Every outer body panel, except the liftgate, on the Explorer Sport has been updated. Styling cues from the current model's popular Premium Sport Group - an optional package that included side and wheel-lip moldings - are now integrated into the sheetmetal of all 2001 models.

The new Explorer Sport also features a more distinctive hood, grille and bumpers and three new exterior colors: Mandarin Gold, Estate Green and Island Blue.

On the inside are new trim, a freshened instrument panel and new low-back bucket seats, which were exclusively made for Explorer Sport.

On the road, Explorer Sport owners will discover a quiet cabin, smooth ride, tight handling and new upgraded brakes.

The 2001 Explorer Sport also has more standard features, including the 205 horsepower 4.0-liter single overhead cam V-6; 5-speed automatic; AM/FM Stereo with single CD and clock; center console with removable soft-pack; carpeted floor mats and a Class II trailer tow capability. Interior

Comfort, roominess and utility are areas of special emphasis on Explorer Sport's interior. Driver comfort is improved with an additional one inch of front seat travel and new firmer, durable seats. The fabric for the seats is a tighter weave that is easier to clean. The new material is wrapped around new dual density foam, allowing bolsters and seat cushions to have different degrees of firmness for improved comfort.

Three seat choices are available in Explorer Sport:

• Standard cloth captain's chairs with a manually adjustable fore/aft and tilt feature. The second row of seats is a 50/50 split bench with adjustable head restraints for rear passengers.
• Power cloth sport bucket seats, which offer a driver's side six-way power seat adjustment and an adjustable head restraint. This lower back bucket gives the cabin a more open feel as rear seat occupants are less isolated. Both seats have map pockets on the back. The split-bench seat in the rear is cloth.
• Power leather sport bucket seats are available and include the same features as the cloth bucket seats.

The rear seat can be folded flat should additional cargo space be needed. Rear seats provide excellent leg, knee and head room. Lap and shoulder belts, and head restraints, are provided for all passengers.

Plenty of storage space can be found in Explorer Sport. The flow-through console has been improved with large, deep cup holders that can help keep a bottle of soda or water from tipping out during quick stops or maneuvers.

To better connect with Explorer Sport buyers who don't want their interior to be a carbon copy of the four-door Explorer, the instrument panel is freshened with a redesigned cluster that features white dial faces. The instrument panel and door handles have titanium accents. The Sport's instrument cluster provides a speedometer, tachometer, coolant temperature and fuel gauges. Control switches and knobs are positioned easily within the driver's reach. The driver's side window features a one-touch down switch and is backlit for easy nightime operation.

An optional overhead console, available in models without a power moonroof, provides a compartment for a garage door opener, two map lamps, compass and outside temperature display. Models with a power moonroof have a similar setup, but no garage opener compartment.

The 2001 Explorer Sport receives an optional Pioneer™ six-disc in-dash CD player that pumps out 290 watts of sound through seven speakers (two coaxial tweeter/midrange speaker sets in the front doors; two single rear door speakers and a subwoofer). The standard radio for the Explorer Sport is a 60-watt, AM/FM stereo with single CD player and four premium speakers.

Manual front air conditioning is standard on all models.

Ride and Handling

The 2001 Explorer Sport's smooth, more balanced ride was accomplished by using to a two-stage variable-rate taper leaf spring in the rear, replacing the previous single leaf spring. With lighter loads, the Explorer Sport's longer leaf springs work to keep the ride smooth. To create a higher spring rate to handle larger, heavier loads, a second, stiffer leaf contacts with the first to maintain a pleasant ride.

The Explorer Sport's shocks are re-valved to better match the new spring rates. The end result is an SUV with excellent handling and an enjoyable ride. The Sport's front suspension remains an independent short- and long-control arm type with torsion bar and a front stabilizer bar.

Urethane Body Mounts

New urethane body mounts - an industry first on an SUV - give Explorer Sport reductions in noise, vibration and harshness. These micro cellular urethane body mounts help isolate the driver from unwanted road noise. It is the first time Ford has used urethane for such an application, previously relying upon the material only for suspension bushings.

Extensive testing was done at Ford's Arizona Proving Ground to ensure the urethane could live up to years of abuse. The tests proved that urethane is more durable than rubber - twice as good.

It also is 27 percent lighter and provides better road isolation, actually decreasing low frequency noise by more than 3 decibels (the kind of rumble one hears when going over a road).

Further passenger compartment sound isolation was achieved by using a new floor covering, with thicker foam acting as a barrier between occupants and the outside.

New Laminated Steel

The Explorer Sport's instrument panel is made of laminated steel - another first for Ford. Laminated steel essentially is two sheets of metal with a viscous material sandwiched between and has greater noise damping than plain cold rolled steel.

The Explorer Sport's distinctive "power hood," which helps give the SUV a more aggressive, masculine look, also allowed engineers to add a more dense hood blanket to reduce unwanted engine noise.

Wind noise inside the cabin was reduced through the use of new lower front door rubber bulb seals; revised roof rail seal; new insulation or "stuffer bags" in the A-pillar; improved seals around the glass and a new spiral antenna that cuts through the wind with less noise.

Powertrain

The 2001 Explorer Sport features Ford's more powerful 4.0-liter single overhead cam V-6 as standard equipment - up from the 160-hp overhead valve (OHV) engine previously standard on the two-door Sport. The engine produces 205 horsepower at 5,250 rpm and 240 lb.-ft of torque at 3,750 rpm. Redline is at 6,250 rpm.

Ford's proven 5R55E five-speed automatic transmission is mated to the V-6. A five-speed manual transmission will be offered on the Sport beginning in fall 2000.

Starting in fall 2000, the 4.0-liter engine will be upgraded with a new composite plastic intake for improved sound quality, revised pistons for improved hydrocarbon emissions ratings and the use of aluminum main bearings for improved engine durability.

Meeting the Needs of the Sports-Minded Buyers

Explorer Sport appeals to today's up and coming professional looking for a vehicle to support their active lifestyle.

They tend to be younger and many of them are single. Nearly half of all Explorer Sport buyers are women.

They consider their vehicle a reflection of themselves, and they take pride in a vehicle with a strong personality. They like the security because of the vehicle's ride height and capabilities. It's sporty styling and roomy interior make it more of a lifestyle vehicle than many cars this buyer might also consider.

Improved Brakes

Brakes on the Explorer Sport are improved from the previous model, providing the driver with better feel, performance and reliability.

The front brakes are vented discs with larger 12-inch (305 mm) rotors, stiffer calipers and new longer life front linings. To improve rotor cooling, new front wheel dust shields are fitted on both the 4x2 and 4x4 model of the Explorer Sport.

A four-wheel, three-channel anti-lock disc braking system remains standard on the Sport. ABS helps the driver retain steering control by reducing wheel lock-up during hard stops.

The Explorer Sport's brakes meet federal passenger car safety brake requirements not mandated until the 2003 model year.

Safety and Security

Standard safety features include speed-sensitive windshield wipers, which provide the driver with better viewing conditions at all speeds, and a two-speed intermittent rear window wiper/washer.

Ford's shift-on-the-fly 4-wheel-drive engagement system comes standard on all 4-wheel-drive Explorer Sport models.

Explorer Sport is equipped with driver and front passenger Second Generation air bags, optional seat-mounted side air bags, head restraints and three-point safety belts for all outboard seat positions. The driver's side seat belt is load-limiting, designed to stretch during a frontal crash to better control deceleration forces on the driver or passenger.

Structural "crumple zones" are designed to help protect the passenger compartment during a frontal crash, while side door beams help protect occupants during certain side impacts.

To give occupants another level of security and peace of mind, Explorer Sport comes equipped with Ford's Belt-Minder™ system, designed to remind occupants to buckle up. A sensor located in the belt buckle triggers a red light in the instrument panel, along with an intermittent chime if the vehicle begins moving with the driver unbuckled.

Child safety seat tether anchors are provided at both rear seating locations. For added comfort, the height of the front safety belt can be adjusted, allowing occupants of different heights to position the belt in the most comfortable position.

Explorer Sport also features remote keyless entry, SecuriLock™ and a battery saver.

The remote keyless operates from up to 40 feet away, allowing the driver to lock or unlock the doors with the press of button. A panic/alarm button also is located on the key fob, which will flash the Sport's lights and sound the horn when depressed.

All Explorer Sport's are equipped with Ford's SecuriLock™ passive anti-theft system.

A specially coded ignition key contains an embedded transponder with a unique electronic code that makes it nearly impossible to start the Explorer Sport without the correct key. A special electronic code in the key communicates with engine electronics and allows the Explorer Sport to be started.

To help protect owners against a dead battery, Explorer Sport interior lights automatically turn off 40 minutes after the last door is closed and the ignition key is turned off. The standard feature also turns off the interior lights and cargo lamps if a door is left open.

Environment: Flex Fuel Version Offered

In the U.S., the Explorer Sport will be available as a flexible fuel SUV in fall 2000. Ford's proven 4.0-liter single overhead cam (SOHC) V-6 comes standard on the 2001 Sport, but planned modifications to the fuel system will allow the use of gasoline-alcohol blend fuels. This will give owners the option of using a range of cleaner-burning fuel blends.

Meanwhile, Explorer Sport's gasoline engine meets California Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) status - like all other Ford SUVs - releasing 50 percent fewer smog-forming emissions than allowed for vehicles in its class.

Manufacturing

Explorer Sport is built at Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant in Louisville, Ky., on the same assembly line as the four-door Explorer and Explorer Sport Trac.

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