2008 Ford Explorer America Concept

Ford's Explorer ruled the sales charts in the 1990s, but the Firestone tire debacle and the emergence of crossovers has sapped the sport-ute's lifeblood. Ford is hoping to change that with the debut of its Explorer America concept vehicle at this month's Detroit auto show.

While officially described as a concept car, company insiders hint that a close look at the America concept will reveal the shape of what's to come when Ford relaunches its mid-size SUV in a couple of years.

The concept suggests that Ford will follow in the tracks of its new crossover competition, migrating from body-on-frame to unibody construction. There are clearly some trade-offs with the change: while there's a reduction in weight (150 pounds for the V-6 version) and a notable improvement in on-road driving dynamics, off-road capabilities are reduced, as is towing capacity. But for the average motorist, that's likely to matter little.

The most notable new technology on the Explorer America concept is the EcoBoost powertrain. More accurately, Ford is showing two of these gasoline turbocharged direct-injection (GTDI) engines. There's a 2.0-liter in-line four making a hefty 275 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, as much as a typical SUV V-6. Meanwhile, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 produces the power normally found in a V-8, 340 hp and 350 lb-ft.

By going with these downsized engines - a V-6 instead of a V-8, for example - a motorist would get about 20 percent better mileage, while the production of carbon dioxide would be reduced by 15 percent, according to Ford projections.

The America gets the latest version of Ford's Sync multimedia system. Developed in partnership with Microsoft, it boasts voice-controlled audio and Bluetooth hands-free phoning. To complete the high-tech package, the Explorer America features a three-dimensional compass and navigation system, with a topographical map, built into the instrument panel.