Ford Builds a New....Station Wagon

Oh how the mighty SUV has fallen:

Can the SUV be reinvented for a new fuel-thrifty age? That's what Ford is trying to figure out as it unveils the new Explorer as a crossover model, seen here officially for the first time. The vehicle will have a V-6 version will get 20% better fuel economy than the outgoing model, and the turbocharged version will 30% better fuel economy, Ford says.

"The all-new Explorer will deliver today's SUV buyers the attributes they really want and value, and a few they might not even have dreamed of," said Mark Fields, Ford president of the Americas.

Explorer tries to achieve better fuel economy than either Toyota Highlander or Honda Pilot with engineering touches like twin independent variable camshaft timing, a six speed automatic transmission, low rolling resistance tires, electric power steering and better aerodynamics.

By switching to a crossover unibody instead of a traditional body-on-frame of a truck, Explorer will weigh 100 pounds less than the outgoing model. Ford took extra measures to reduce weight like adding an aluminum hood.

I've had a 4WD Explorer for probably eight years now and it's been a great vehicle. We have over 125,000 miles on it and it still runs like a top.

However, I have interest in buying a station wagon and that's pretty much what the Explorer has become. It's a shame.