•The new Ford Explorer offers customers an array of convenience technologies to tailor their SUV experience to their individual wants and needs
•Technologies such as MyFord Touch™ driver connect technology and Ford SYNC® communications and entertainment integration add convenience while helping keep customers engaged and focused on driving
•Explorer offers a Sony® Audio System with HD Radio™, media hub with two USB ports, an SD card reader and RCA video input jacks accessible through an 8-inch LCD screen with intuitive five-way controls mounted on the steering wheel
•2011 Explorer will be available in base, XLT and Limited trim series with multiple package offerings, such as adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert and active park assist

DEARBORN, Mich., July 26, 2010 – The all-new Ford Explorer will offer SUV customers a broad range of trim levels and customer convenience and connectivity technologies that will raise the eyebrows among even luxury SUV owners.

“Today’s SUV customers really aren’t interested in compromising,” said Amy Marentic, group marketing manager. “They want luxury, convenience and technology with their all-road capability. Until now, they had to choose a luxury SUV to get the features they want – a feature level that this all-new, industry-leading Explorer now exceeds.”

The new Explorer challenges the SUV status quo by offering luxury levels of convenience, connectivity and technology. From the highly equipped base model that includes MyFord driver connect technology through the volume-series XLT to the luxurious Limited series, Explorer provides SUV buyers unexpected technologies and conveniences normally found in premium SUVs.

Blind spot monitoring, which looks out for the driver when backing from a parking spot with limited visibility, adaptive cruise control that safely monitors vehicles ahead, and active park assist that aids in finding and executing a parallel parking maneuver all represent technologies a buyer might expect to find when shopping premium SUVs. The all-new Explorer offers these and more.

Base is the new well-equipped
The base Explorer delivers a strong package of customer convenience and technology features, with the following items as standard equipment:

•Hill start assist
•Dual chrome exhaust tips
•Projector-style headlamps
•Power remote sideview mirror
•LED taillamps
•Air filtration system
•Media hub, including an auxiliary input jack
•Four 12-volt power points
•Second- and third-row dome/map lights
•Tilt/telescoping steering column
•Steering wheel-mounted five-way and secondary audio controls
•Cruise control
•Power windows with one-touch driver’s down
•Single CD/MP3-capable six-speaker audio system
•MyKey™ owner control feature
•Keyless entry remote

The base Explorer features cloth seats with first-row adjustable buckets, a 60/40 split fold-flat bench seat in the second row, and a 50/50 third-row split folding bench.

XLT volume series adds tasteful touches
The all-new 2011 Explorer XLT offers all the base model equipment with a higher level of harmonizing chrome and satin-finish accent trim, 18-inch aluminum wheels, unique cloth seating, leather covering for steering wheel and shift knob, SelectShift Automatic™ transmission, SecuriCode™ keyless entry keypad, fog lamps, SIRIUS® Satellite Radio (including a prepaid six-month subscription in 48 contiguous states), perimeter alarm and reverse sensing system.

Customers specifying Explorer XLT models are offered broader option choices, including the following packages:

•Driver Connection Package includes MyFord Touch driver connect technology with two driver-configurable LCD cluster screens, an 8-inch color touch screen in the center stack, expanded media hub with USB ports, an SD card reader and RCA video input jacks, Ford SYNC and electrochromic interior rearview mirror
•Comfort Package includes leather-trimmed, heated seats with 10-way power adjustment for driver and six-way power adjustment for first-row passenger. Also includes four-way first-row head restraints

A premium audio system with eight speakers, rear view camera and dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control is also available.

Explorer XLT also offers a dual-panel moonroof, power-operated liftgate, BLIS with cross-traffic alert, inflatable second-row seat belts for outboard seating positions, 20-inch polished aluminum wheels, and premium paint colors – White Platinum Metallic Tri-Coat and Red Candy Tinted Clearcoat – as stand-alone options.

Range-topping Limited adds more luxury
SUV buyers seeking luxury with their capability will be impressed with the generous levels of convenience and connectivity technologies offered in the all-new Explorer Limited. From remote start through a 10-way leather-trimmed driver’s seat to adjustable pedals with memory settings, Limited takes Explorer luxury to a higher level.

Visual distinction is assured with a unique body-color grille, body-color PowerFold® sideview mirrors with memory functionality, and 20-inch painted aluminum wheels.

Explorer Limited includes all of the feature content offered in the XLT, plus:

•Ambient lighting
•Adjustable pedals with memory
•Cargo net
•Dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control
•Leather-trimmed, heated seats
•10-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar and recline
•Six-way power first-row passenger seat with lumbar and recline
•Second-row 60/40 split bench seat with armrest and dual cupholders
•Electrochromic interior rearview mirror
•Sony® Audio System with high-definition radio and 12 speakers
•Rear view camera
•Remote start
•110-volt outlet
• SYNC voice-activated communications and entertainment system
•Intelligent Access with push-button start
•Universal garage door opener

The most luxurious Explorer model also comes standard with MyFord Touchdriver connect technology. This includes a pair of cluster-mounted driver-configurable displays, an 8-inch LCD color touch screen in the center stack with compass and temperature display, media hub with a pair of USB ports, and an SD card reader and RCA video input jacks. Explorer Limited offers five-way supplemental controls on the steering wheel.

The all-new Explorer Limited can be further enhanced with a pair of series-specific option packages that add even more luxury, convenience and safety:

•Limited Package 1adds the voice-activated Navigation System, a single CD/MP3 player, SD card for map and point-of-interest storage, and integrated SIRIUS Travel Link™. Also included are perforated leather-trimmed seats with heating and cooling functionality for driver and first-row passenger, PowerFoldthird-row seating, a 10-way power adjustable first-row passenger seat with power lumbar and a power-assisted liftgate
•Limited Package 2provides active park assist, adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, rain-sensing wipers, BLIS with cross-traffic alert and HID headlamps

Explorer Limited also offers second-row captain’s chairs and a second-row console for SUV buyers placing a higher priority on rear seat luxury and seating comfort.

“All these features help the all-new Ford Explorer challenge the notion of what SUVs can offer customers,” Marentic said. “This level of luxury, capability, convenience and connectivity, combined with jaw-dropping fuel efficiency, is the kind of leadership today’s SUV customers need and appreciate, coming from a nameplate they know and trust – Ford Explorer.”

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• All-new Ford Explorer SUV offers best-in-class fuel economy with technologically advanced powertrains featuring multiple enhancements to improve mechanical efficiency
• Explorer offers an optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost™ I-4 engine delivering V6 power with four-cylinder fuel efficiency
•E lectric power-assisted steering, battery management, fast engine warm-up and the first North American Ford application of a variable-displacement air conditioning compressor all combine to improve drivability, increase efficiency and save fuel.

DEARBORN, Mich., July 19, 2010 – The Ford Explorer has been reinvented to shatter long-held myths about SUV fuel efficiency and performance.

The 2011 model equipped with an optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost™ I-4 engine will be the new class leader in the mid-size SUV segment, achieving at least a 30 percent increase in fuel efficiency compared with the current V-6-powered Explorer.

“The all-new Explorer will give a huge universe of existing and prospective customers the capability they expect and the luxury and convenience they want, all combined with the fuel economy they need,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas.

The new Explorer, due in Ford showrooms later this year, has added comfort and convenience features, while overall vehicle weight is reduced compared to the previous model. Extensive use of lighter and stronger high-strength steels such as boron add durability while saving weight. An aluminum hood is used, while a one-piece composite front bolster – the radiator support between engine and grille – is 65 percent lighter. Lighter weight equates to fuel and money saved.

Sophisticated engine controls and advanced technologies are key contributors to the Explorer’s improved fuel economy. Electric power-assisted steering, battery management, fast engine warm-up and aggressive deceleration fuel shutoff all combine to improve drive dynamics and save fuel. Explorer also features the first North American Ford application of a variable-displacement air conditioning compressor that reduces parasitic engine drag.

Powertrain advancements like twin independent variable camshaft timing and six-speed automatic transmissions help Explorer deliver responsive performance when needed combined with low-rpm efficiency when cruising.

SUV buyers placing highest priority on fuel economy can choose the available EcoBoost I-4. Delivering the power of a normally aspirated V6, this advanced engine pairs a turbocharger with direct gasoline injection to provide SUV buyers with projected class-leading fuel economy – pending EPA certification – with no compromise in performance.

Finally, all of these fuel economy enhancements are wrapped in a smooth, distinctive Explorer design that was extensively refined in wind tunnel testing. Designers and aerodynamicists collaborated to reshape sideview mirrors and harmonize the front air dam with the rear liftgate spoiler to significantly increase fuel efficiency on the highway. Reduced wind noise at speed is an incremental benefit.

“Explorer owners told us they want capability with convenience, and improved fuel economy without compromised performance,” Fields said. “We believe we’ve hit the mark with the next-generation Explorer. It has the potential to change perceptions of what a modern SUV is all about.”

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DEARBORN, Mich., July 8, 2010 – As the issue of texting while driving grows in prominence nationally, Ford Motor Company is expanding its SYNC technology with new features to give drivers safer alternatives to hand-held texting and keep them more focused on the road.

To help make the in-car connection safer, Ford is improving the SYNC text message readback feature and empowering drivers with a “Do Not Disturb” button so they can decide the level of connectivity and communications they want to manage while in the car. Ford is also taking the proactive step to “lock-out” capabilities that are not relevant to the task of driving while the vehicle is in motion.

“Text messaging has become the default communications method for consumers of all ages,” said John Schneider, chief engineer, Ford multimedia and infotainment engineering. “The power of SYNC voice control combined with Ford’s latest connectivity improvements will reduce the temptation to pick up the phone and take your eyes off the road, providing a safer solution for the use of mobile devices in the car.”

Ford believes drivers should keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel and was the first automaker to support a proposed federal ban and state-level legislation banning hand-held texting while driving. In turn, Ford also understands that drivers want to be connected to their mobile worlds while on the road, and texting continues to grow as a preferred communication method. According to a new poll from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, for example, approximately one in four (27%) American adults and driving age teens (26%) admit to texting while driving.

Ford will offer the new features on 2011 model year vehicles equipped with MyFord or MyLincoln Touch, the intuitive driver connect technology that provides drivers personalized access to information and entertainment through voice control, touch screens and familiar five-way controls mounted on the steering wheel.

Bluetooth MAP
Bluetooth is the standard technology that allows electronic devices such as a mobile phone and Ford SYNC to communicate with each other wirelessly. To improve the number of phones that can “communicate” with SYNC so the system can read aloud incoming text messages to drivers, Ford has adopted the latest Bluetooth standard – Message Access Profile (MAP).

“Today, only a small population of phones have the capability to work with the text message readback feature of SYNC,” added Schneider. “With MAP technology, even more drivers will be able to use SYNC to listen to text messages.”

Defined by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the MAP standard outlines a set of features and procedures used to exchange email, SMS, and MMS messages between devices. It is tailored to the automotive hands-free environment where an onboard terminal device – in this case, SYNC – takes advantage of the messaging capability of a communications device, such as a BlackBerry smartphone.

The Bluetooth SIG recommendations are considered benchmarks, but they’re not industry requirements. Ford has elected to implement the MAP to signal support for the protocol and encourage additional mobile device manufacturers to add the capability in their products.

“It’s only through acceptance of common standards industry-wide that key technologies can be adapted to the in-vehicle environment,” said Schneider. “We’re hoping to encourage the adoption of MAP so more customers – and more mobile devices – can successfully use the innovative features SYNC has to offer, helping reduce the problem of driver distraction.”

According to a 100-car study conducted by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, driver inattention that involved looking away from the road for more than a few seconds was a factor in nearly 80 percent of accidents. By providing drivers with the ability to receive audible, hands-free texts, Ford is hoping to help drivers focus on the task of driving.

Ford is already working with Research In Motion (RIM) and supports the company’s intention to begin implementing it in all new BlackBerry smartphones.

“RIM plans to implement MAP on BlackBerry smartphones moving forward and we are pleased to work with Ford in an effort to foster industry-wide adoption and standardization,” said Andrew Bocking, Vice President, Handheld Software Product Management at Research In Motion.

“Do Not Disturb” and locked features
Ford has also proactively designed the MyFord and MyLincoln Touch driver connect system to give drivers more control of how they manage communications while in the car. Screens can be personalized to display information relevant to an individual driver using a simple button click, voice command or touch-screen tap.

The new 2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX will be first to offer the “Do Not Disturb” button. This handy feature blocks incoming phone calls or text messages from a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone paired with SYNC; diverting calls into voicemail and saving text messages on the device for viewing later. But unlike turning the phone off, drivers can still make voice-activated outgoing phone calls, if they so decide, and the SYNC 911 Assist feature can make a call to 911 in case of emergency.

In addition, Ford continues to limit access to a variety of communication features while the vehicle is in motion, thus encouraging drivers to use voice commands if they wish to access the function.

Ford is also taking the proactive step of locking out or limiting content and capabilities of MyFord Touch that are not related to the task of driving when the vehicle is in motion, for instance:

•Screens with information not intended to be used by the driver while driving such as point-of-interest reviews and ratings plus SIRIUS Travel Link sports scores, movie listings, and ski conditions
•Any action that requires typing on a keypad (e.g. typing a navigation destination, editing information)
•Limiting lists of navigation and phone choices that the user can view to fewer entries (e.g. phone contacts, recent phone call entries)
Specific functions that are locked out when the vehicle is in motion:

•Cell Phone
◦Pairing a Bluetooth-capable phone
◦Manually adding individual contacts into the Phonebook
◦Viewing received text messages on screen
•WiFi Connectivity
◦Web browsing on the vehicle screen
•Video/Photos/Graphics
◦Playing video
◦Album cover art and Phonebook photo browsing
◦Editing photos
◦Editing the screen’s wallpaper or adding a new one
•Navigation
◦Destination entry by touchscreen keyboard input (voice entry is permissible)

DAVID RAGAN – No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion (Finished 38^th) – “I just got loose getting into turn three. We had a pretty fast UPS Ford Fusion, so it’s a shame to tear one up like that. I don’t know who else got involved because it happened pretty quick, but I just got free. I don’t know if someone was right underneath me on the bottom, but our car just got free and I was chasing it and tore it up.”