> 2012 Explorer Features: Capability

The available Terrain Management System allows you to easily shift on the fly into one of four settings to match the terrain you’re driving in: • Normal – biases torque to the front wheels and sends it to the rear only as needed • Mud/Ruts – switches the throttle to a more aggressive mode, limits upshifting and desensitizes stability control allowing the tires to spin as needed • Sand – the throttle throws maximum torque to the wheels, placing the transmission in lower gears for as long as possible, which allows the wheels to spin aggressively • Grass/Gravel/Snow – places the throttle in a setting to minimize wheel slip.

The Explorer can carry up to seven passengers. The second row features a 60/40 split fold-flat bench, while the third row has a 50/50 split-folding seat with generous passenger space. Behind the third row, there is up to 21 cubic feet of cargo volume. For cargo space on demand, the second and third rows can fold flat for 80.7 cubic feet of cargo room.

Whether the road is filled with gravel, covered with ice or soaked by rain, the easy-to-use, shift-on-the-fly Intelligent 4WD System on the 2012 Explorer helps provide sure-footed traction. Intelligent 4WD is fully automatic, instantly delivering traction to the wheels with the most traction when wheel slip is detected. Working in concert with the 4WD System is the Terrain Management System™, which allows you to easily shift on the fly into one of four settings to match the terrain you’re driving in. Take your pick of Normal, Mud/Ruts, Sand or Grass/Gravel/Snow. The 4WD System also includes Hill Descent Control™, which makes tackling off-road downhills much easier. Just push a button, tap your brakes and the Explorer will maintain a steady speed on its own, letting you concentrate on steering. On top of these features, the Intelligent 4WD System in the Explorer weighs less than traditional 4WD systems.

Curve Control will slow you down when it senses that you’re going too fast for a particular curve. Employing throttle reduction and four-wheel braking intervention, it’s always active in helping you maintain control around the curves. Curve Control, standard on all the Explorer models, is an enhancement to AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™.

When it comes to configurable cargo space, the Explorer delivers big time. Both the second- and third-row seats fold flat for up to 80.7 cubic feet of cargo space. With the third-row seats folded down, there is 43.8 cubic feet of storage capacity behind the second-row seats. With the second- and third-row seats in the upright position, there is 21.0 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. Plus, there is a storage area in the floor for smaller items. Providing cargo space on command, the available class-exclusive* PowerFold® third-row 50/50 split-folding seat folds flat at the touch of a button.

*Class is Three-Row Large Utilities, Non-Hybrid vs. 2011 competitors.

At the touch of a button, the available, class-exclusive* PowerFold third-row seat can fold flat for additional cargo room. Simply push a button for a flat load floor. When in the upright position, it comfortably seats two passengers.

*Class is Three-Row Large Utilities, Non-Hybrid vs. 2011 competitors.

Thanks to advanced high-tech materials and assembly processes, the structure in the 2012 Explorer is both lightweight and strong. For starters, the A- and B-pillars are constructed of high-strength boron steel for greatly increased roof crush strength. The front-end support structure features first-in-class technology, constructed using a lightweight composite (40 percent glass-filled polypropylene with a glass-mat overlay), which matches the lateral stiffness of magnesium while reducing weight.

The available power liftgate is just one more ingenious feature in the 2012 Explorer. It can be opened and/or closed pushing the vehicle key fob, by pressing a button located on the instrument panel or on the bottom of the tailgate. Additionally, you can program the extension height of the liftgate (useful if you park in a space with a low ceiling). It’s a little thing that makes a big difference.