Ford's Explorer has emerged as the modern equivalent of the Taurus, remaining a mainstream, top-selling family SUV that now fills the role once held by Ford sedans.
The Explorer debuted in 1991 and has been consistently near the top twenty in U.S. sales, though new competitors from Japan and Korea have eroded its lead. The model faced major setbacks, notably the Ford/Firestone tire tread separations in the early 2000s that reportedly caused 271 deaths and heavy losses in the 2009 Cash for Clunkers program.
Mustang tuner Steve Saleen modified the Explorer as the limited-run XP8, adding a supercharged V8 and chassis tweaks to improve handling. Ford's current mid-size Explorer is much improved over early Ranger-chassis models, offering modern technology, decent crash safety ratings, and competitive performance and handling.
While the refreshed Explorer may trail Toyota Highlander and Hyundai Palisade in some areas, the Ford Explorer remains a practical mainstream family choice for buyers who prefer an SUV over a minivan.
Read the full article at theautopian.com.
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