CHICAGO � Ford said its redesigned 2011 Explorer will shift from body-on-frame to unitized construction and will feature its fuel-saving EcoBoost direct-injection engines and six-speed transmissions.
The 2011 Explorer will go into production late this year at Ford's Chicago assembly plant, on the same line as the Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS sedans. The company is spending $400 million to retool for the Explorer.
The lighter construction method, along with EcoBoost engines, will enable the new Explorer to get at least 25 percent better fuel economy than the 2010 Explorer.
Mark Fields, Ford president of the Americas, said the new Explorer "will redefine the SUV for the modern era."
Ford said the vehicle also will feature the industry's first-ever production inflatable rear seatbelts.
After Explorer production shifts to Chicago, Ford said it will retool the current Explorer plant in Louisville, Kentucky, to produce a new range of small vehicles based on the Focus.
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