Explorer Sport Trac
Nothing else like it on the road now

By Michael Binstock

Acorn Automotive Editor

It’s a vehicle that I have been trying to get into since I first saw it at last years auto shows. It’s a pity that so many other journalists wanted to drive it as well because it was only last week that I finally got my turn to sample Ford’s Explorer Sport Trac and I am having more than my fair share of fun.

According to Jim O’Connor, President, Ford Division, "It is all about versatility and innovation. There is nothing else like it. The new Ford Explorer Sport Trac is a sport utility vehicle for people who live the SUV lifestyle. They like the comforts of the interior space, but there are days they wish they had more cargo room to haul a muddy mountain bike or pick up a load of top soil for the yard. But these people would never own a pickup truck; they just don’t need one. Sport Trac is the perfect answer to balance the needs of these customers."

And you know, he’s right!

I’m not a pickup fan, I find them useful when I have to move something big, but for everyday driving it doesn’t suit my lifestyle, but I do enjoy SUV’s. So Ford thought of me - and many others when they introduced the first sport utility vehicle with an open cargo area for added flexibility in the type of gear and stuff it can haul. The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is an all-new type of sport utility vehicle (SUV), based on the best-selling Ford Explorer.

Explorer Sport Trac combines the best features of Explorer with more cargo-carrying versatility. At the same time, Sport Trac is designed to project an adventurous image with a bold styling, inside and out, and improved ride and handling - something compact pickups with crew cab configurations cannot match.

The innovations that Ford have introduced makes this the first vehicle with a composite cargo area, a cargo cage that increases cargo area length and a lockable, hard tonneau cover. The first power rear window in a truck or SUV and a segment exclusive weatherproof 12-volt powerpoint in the open cargo area

The Explorer Sport Trac is similar to the Adrenalin concept vehicle that Ford introduced in 1996. Due to the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the concept, Ford moved to bring a production version to market.

"It was such a runaway hit, we actually had to pull it off the show circuit because we were afraid the competition would see the crowds gathering around and react with a version of their own," said O’Connor.

Sport Trac’s versatility is no accident. Ford engineers spent several hundred hours with SUV and pickup truck owners to better understand how they use the vehicles and to anticipate their future needs. The customer research paid off, as a unique customer emerged with a set of needs not being met by anything currently on the market. A clear message came from SUV owners, who were the most enthusiastic about the need for an added open cargo area.

"Customer input was the driver of this program," says Steve Ross, Explorer Sport Trac chief program engineer. "A lot of SUV customers told us they loved the roominess, but they wanted a little more versatility to carry more stuff." Armed with customer feedback, the development team turned to the Explorer platform as the ideal starting point.

Explorer Sport Trac is based on the four-door Explorer, with the frame lengthened 14.25 inches. Sport Trac’s frame also is 40 percent laterally stiffer than Explorer’s, with larger brake rotors and a specially tuned suspension

Ford engineers also worked to reduce unwanted road and engine vibration from reaching occupants. This was achieved by using urethane body mounts - another Ford first on an SUV - rather than the typical solid rubber ones. The result is quiet, confident handling and a more balanced ride. Even with such refinement, Explorer Sport Trac’s rugged SUV roots were never compromised, making off-road travel just as confidence inspiring.

Explorer Sport Trac’s 4.0-liter single overhead cam (SOHC) V-6 engine has refined power for all driving conditions. Rated at 205 horsepower, the engine is designed to meet Ford’s tough truck durability requirements but still be quiet and smooth enough to cruise comfortably to a concert or while towing a pair of jet skis.

The four-wheel-drive system can be shifted while the vehicle is moving, thanks to an electronic shift-on-the-fly transfer case with automatic locking hubs. Off-road trails are few and far between in this area but there are places to go off-road and I felt both safe and comfortable climbing hills and making my way along the rutted trails.

An innovation which has been copied by other manufacturers, is a tubular stainless steel "cargo cage."

The cargo cage provides 22.6 inches of added cargo room by allowing cargo to be secured with the tailgate lowered. The cargo cage locks in place on the open tailgate providing a lateral and longitudinal barrier. When rotated and stored into the cargo area, the cargo cage also provides a divider of the cargo area to control movement of small items stored in the cargo area.

My test vehicle had the optional Pioneer™ 290-watt AM/FM stereo with a six CD changer built in. Rear seat occupants receive a console with independent climate and audio controls, two headphone jacks and two cupholders. A control knob for the standard power rear window - another industry first - is located on the instrument panel. The window is one-touch up and down, and features an anti-pinch sensor.

Sport Trac’s blend of utility and versatility, with style and technology, is designed to appeal to a customer with a unique set of vehicle needs. It works for those that like the comfort, safety, and image of sport utility vehicles. For customers who want a vehicle with styling that turns heads and people who need a vehicle with true off-road capability and room to seat five adults

This is not a vehicle for everyone, but it does fit a nitch that hasn’t been covered before. Take a look at the Sport Trac at Vista Ford on Ventura Blvd. in Woodland Hills.