The 1998 Ford Explorer at the Melbourne Motor Show. Ford is promoting the Explorer's Control Trac 4WD system as the intelligent 4WD: normally power goes to the rear wheels, but sensors can engage a clutch to direct power to the front wheels automatically. The top Limited model offers more gadgetry in the form of adjustable ride height. The hieght changes automatically when 4WD high or 4WD low are selected.

The interior styling is toward the "car" end of the four-wheel drive spectrum being fairly low, and comfortable, but lacking the commanding view of bigger 4WD's.

Ford Explorer 1998

• station wagon, 5-seats, 4-doors, dual air-bags, ABS
• loa: 4788mm, width: 1874mm, height: 1717mm
• approach: 32, departure: 23
• turning radius: 6.2m (kerb)
• weight: 1922kg - 2018kg (unladen), GVM: 2440kg - 2522kg
• XL - 4.0L V6 OHV
  • 3997cc, petrol, V6, efi, OHV
  • bore: 100.3mm, stroke: 84.3mm, c.r.: 9.0:1
  • transmission: 5m
• XLT and Limited - 4.0L V6 SOHC
  • grnd clearance: 195mm (automatic ride control)
  • 4011cc, petrol, V6, efi, SOHC
  • bore: 100.4mm, stroke: 84.4mm, c.r.: 9.7:1
  • transmission: 5a
• 2-speed transfer case (1.00:1 hi, 2.48:1 lo), control trac automatically locks drive to front wheels on wheel-slip, a rear limited slip diff' (LSD) is standard
• suspension: indep'-coil/live-leaf, brakes: disc/disc ABS
  Limited has Automatic Ride Control which adjust the ride height and performs load levelling.
• tyres: P235/75 R 15; fuel tank: 80L
• Notes: the bore and stroke of the SOHC engine really are 0.1mm greater than the figures for the OHV engine.
  Air conditioning is standard, manual on XL and XLT, Limited has climate control
• Rivals: Holden (GM) Jackaroo, Mitsubishi Challenger (and Pajero), Ssangyong Musso, Toyota Prado

Go to the Explorer, 1997, Explorer-I and Ford pages