Ford Explorer

Ford Explorer
Ford Explorer
	Sixth-generation Ford Explorer
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford
Production	1990–present
Model years	1991–present
Body and chassis
Class	Compact SUV (3-door/Sport) (1991–2003); Mid-size SUV (1991–2010); Mid-size crossover SUV (2011–present);
Chassis	Body-on-frame (1991–2010); Unibody (2011–present);
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford Bronco II
Successor	Ford Territory (Oceania)

The Ford Explorer is a range of SUVs manufactured by the Ford Motor Company since the 1991 model year. The first five-door SUV produced by Ford, the Explorer, was introduced as a replacement for the three-door Bronco II.^[5] As with the Ford Ranger, the model line derives its name from a trim package previously offered on Ford F-Series pickup trucks. As of 2020, the Explorer became the best-selling SUV in the American market.^[6]

Currently in its sixth generation, the Explorer has featured a five-door wagon body style since its 1991 introduction. During the first two generations, the model line included a three-door wagon (directly replacing the Bronco II). The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is a crew-cab mid-size pickup derived from the second-generation Explorer. The fifth and sixth generations of the Explorer have been produced as the Ford Police Interceptor Utility (replacing both the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor and the Ford Police Interceptor Sedan).

The Explorer is slotted between the Ford Edge and Ford Expedition within North America's current Ford SUV range. The model line has undergone rebadging several times, with Mazda, Mercury, and Lincoln each selling derivative variants. Currently, Lincoln markets a luxury version of the Explorer as the Lincoln Aviator.

For the North American market, the first four generations of the Explorer were produced by Ford at its Louisville Assembly Plant (Louisville, Kentucky) and its now-closed St. Louis Assembly Plant (Hazelwood, Missouri). Ford currently assembles the Explorer alongside the Lincoln Aviator and the Police Interceptor Utility at its Chicago Assembly Plant (Chicago, Illinois).

^ "1996 Ford Explorer". Iihs.org. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
^ Cite error: The named reference CNET was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "2011-19 Explorer". cars.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024. In a major change, Ford moved the Explorer from a truck-based, rear-wheel-drive body-on-frame platform to a car-based, unitized front-wheel-drive platform. Though still marketed as an SUV, it was now more accurately a crossover.
^ Ramey, Jay (June 19, 2019). "2020 Ford Explorer First Drive: Crossover for the New Decade". Autoweek. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
^ Udy, Jason (June 18, 2019). "Three Decades of the Ford Explorer: A Look Back at the SUV's History". Motor Trend. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
^ Why Ford Dominates The Market For Police Vehicles (current affairs). CNBC. August 1, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2021.

[1] "1996 Ford Explorer". Iihs.org. Retrieved August 20, 2020.

[CNET-2] Cite error: The named reference CNET was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[11-19_cars.com-3] "2011-19 Explorer". cars.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024. In a major change, Ford moved the Explorer from a truck-based, rear-wheel-drive body-on-frame platform to a car-based, unitized front-wheel-drive platform. Though still marketed as an SUV, it was now more accurately a crossover.

[4] Ramey, Jay (June 19, 2019). "2020 Ford Explorer First Drive: Crossover for the New Decade". Autoweek. Retrieved March 9, 2024.

[5] Udy, Jason (June 18, 2019). "Three Decades of the Ford Explorer: A Look Back at the SUV's History". Motor Trend. Retrieved January 18, 2022.

[6] Why Ford Dominates The Market For Police Vehicles (current affairs). CNBC. August 1, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2021.

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