2011 Ford Explorer The Review Guide

Explorer program managers Julie Rocco and Julie Levine, who oversaw the vehicle’s development, said they lost sleep over details like the shapes of buttons, their surface texture and how much force one has to exert when pushing them. As a result switches, buttons and other controls have a solid, reassuringly heavy feel not lightweight, as if they might break next you use them.

We're betting that Mulally said that because of the automaker's overwhelming belief in turbocharging as a smarter, cheaper alternative to hybrids. Ford expects to put its advanced turbochargers in 1.3 million vehicles by 2013.

The windshield is raked back at a steeper angle than prior iterations, and the blacked-out B- and D-pillars that have been a hallmark of every Explorer are now complemented by matching A-pillars. Only the Explorer's C-pillar is painted body color.

Trouble is, Ford missed the mark with its first midsize crossover, the 2005 Freestyle, now reconstituted as the Taurus X. And the upcoming 2009 Ford Flex wagon is a sort-of new-age minivan that answers a question no one seems to be asking. At least the Edge is selling respectably--so far--a rare bright spot in the corporate sales picture.

Automakers typically reveal new cars and trucks at automotive shows where they compete for attention. But the Explorer had Monday all to itself.

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