"Explorer stands for uncomplicated function, durability and reliability. Translating that into an all-new design led us straight back to the original. Building on Explorer's already solid foundation meant preserving its heritage while modifying it to better meet the needs of the consumer, a consumer that seeks adventure at work and at play. The all-new Explorer is unmistakably an Explorer from any perspective and shares a common design language with the rest of Ford's SUV Outfitters lineup."
        - J Mays, Ford Motor Company, Vice President of Design

• Key exterior design elements include simple, rounded forms and sections, uncluttered body panels and a bold new grille featuring the familiar egg-crate insert of all Ford SUVs
• High-quality, durable materials and finishes are used in all aspects of the exterior and interior design
• Form follows function: Exterior door handles are more robust and easier to use. Available running boards are improved with a wide stepping area. Complex reflector headlamps provide better lighting. Body-side cladding serves as protection against stone chips
• Explorer's wider track gives the vehicle a confident, athletic stance, and the shorter front overhang makes the vehicle look more nimble, while improving its approach angle in rough or steep terrain
• A fully integrated rear bumper with a wide shelf and a completely redesigned liftgate give the rear of the vehicle a cleaner, finished look
• The refined, versatile, understated design theme is carried through to the interior - consistent forms, functional detailing and clear, strong graphics on all instrumentation and controls
• The design is functional all around and serves the target consumers' active lifestyles - solid, rugged and absolutely reliable

Explorer has been a trusted adventure companion for more than a decade. Its revolutionary original design set a new standard.

The original, simple body style, functional interior and go-anywhere capability have evolved into a bolder, confident, more refined vehicle that is ready to take on any of life's challenges.

The new 2002 Explorer's design focuses on functionality and versatility. Simple, straightforward exterior body panels are coupled with a wider overall stance - to give the vehicle a confident, athletic attitude. The interior is made up of flexible, accommodating spaces, emphasizing its multi-purpose, user-friendly package.

The challenge in updating the design of the Ford Explorer came down to one critical question: How do you give the best-selling sport utility vehicle a new look without dramatically changing the trusted product that so many people rely on to carry them through their work day into their weekend adventures?

The answer: Take everything that makes Explorer so popular today and make it even better.

The task for the new Explorer's design team: Keep the uncluttered, genuine design but pay closer attention to the details. Concentrate on functionality and versatility rather than creating a dramatic design statement.

Remember the elements of the original Explorer that redefined the SUV segment and build on the solid foundation. In short, the goal was to create an understated, evolutionary design that is thoroughly modern and completely functional.

"The approach that we would take to redesign the Explorer was clear from the beginning. It would be an evolution," says Ed Golden, design director for Ford's North American Trucks. "The goal was for the new design to be instantly recognized as an Explorer from any angle and at any distance. We also wanted it to be familiar yet modern and to deliver on its promise of functionality and capability."

Explorer shares its rounded forms, simple body panels and athletic attitude with the Explorer Sport and Explorer Sport Trac. However, that is where the similarities end.

The four-door Explorer projects a more refined, polished appearance, in keeping with its more refined underpinnings. The most striking change to the exterior design is the bold grille featuring the egg-crate insert - a signature cue that links Ford's entire SUV line-up.

The look is unmistakably Explorer - yet wider, bolder and more confident, with a profile that leans slightly forward, suggesting an eagerness and confidence.

High-quality, durable materials and finishes are used in all aspects of the design - from the smallest interior details to the headlamps, taillamps, wheels, moldings and door handles.

"We spent a significant amount of time on the refinement and improvement of the overall quality and craftsmanship of the Explorer," says Golden. "The way elements of the vehicle fit together and the materials feel to the touch take Explorer to a much higher level."

A person's vehicle is an extension of who he or she is and how that person lives and plays. In order to develop the ideal product for the consumer, the Explorer design team reached beyond the traditional boundaries of automotive design and studied images of everyday items, such as tables, radios, wristwatches and dogs. Then they studied the reactions of consumers to these images.

Two images stood out from the exercise. Several of the watches suggested refinement, while the image of a boxer dog was most often compared with the Explorer because of its "come try to knock me over and see what happens" attitude.

The idea was to incorporate those qualities that suggested stability and capability - particularly on the Explorer's exterior - while using images of refinement and quality to define the interior.

The watches particularly influenced the instrument panel, for example. Precise lines and horizontal seams give the seats a premium, tailored look. Large tires and wheels suggest the boxer's muscular shoulders.

"While we looked at current design trends during the development of the new Explorer, the direction was to design a solid, modern vehicle that would not be affected by those trends," says Golden. "We concentrated on giving Explorer a confident, athletic look that is not going to go out of style."

In many areas, form meets function. Explorer's exterior door handles are not only easier to use, they're rugged, big and strong. The available running boards are wide and substantial. The jewel-like complex reflector headlamps provide better lighting. The body-side cladding serves as protection against stone chips.

A fully integrated rear bumper with a wide shelf along with a completely redesigned liftgate give the rear of the vehicle a cleaner, finished look.

The addition of a bonafide towing receiver integrated into the frame meant the designers could forgo the ball mount formerly built into the step-type bumper. The side profile hints at a slight forward bias, even though the rear was raised only approximately 15 millimeters.

In fact, the independent rear suspension was an important element of the design, even if you cannot see it. The design team felt inspired to make sure that the Explorer's appearance was consistent with its higher level of performance. The look was designed to evoke confidence, just as the new suspension will.

Explorer's new independent rear suspension system helped drive the vehicle's design in more direct ways, as well. The wider track makes Explorer look more stable - a desirable trait. The shorter front overhang makes the vehicle look more nimble, while improving its approach angle in rough or steep terrain.

The rear liftgate was completely redesigned, with functionality in mind. The liftglass portion is larger, to make it easier to lift cargo into the vehicle. Yet, in a clever design technique, the glass doesn't look overly large. On a level with the side "belt line," the rear glass melds into a body-color panel that continues down to the license plate.

The headlamps and taillamps both offer improved function - with brighter, wider illumination, and more lighted surface area from the brake lights.

Inside, integration and refinement continue to be the guiding themes. Designers approached the driver's seating area as a holistic environment, consisting of the seating, doors, instrument panel and console.

No unnecessary extras clutter the cabin, which offers integrated storage spaces and more passenger room.

"The extra storage space and passenger space is in spite of the fact we've added side curtain air bags, which take up room themselves" Golden says.

The air bags are stowed in the roof liner and do not take up any interior space.

Adding Sport and Sport Trac to the Explorer lineup has allowed Ford's designers to craft vehicles tailored to well-defined needs. Each vehicle is tailored to a different market segment and, in particular, different customer lifestyles.

"The Explorer name is stronger than ever, and our customers have very definite expectations," Golden says. "With three vehicles in the Explorer lineup - the four-door Explorer, two-door Explorer Sport and highly versatile Explorer Sport Trac - we truly offer something for everyone."