2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Overview

Product Information   Specifications OVERVIEW New for 2003 Three vehicle trims available: XLS (late availability), XLT and XLT Premium Rear disc brakes Freshened interior with revised low-back bucket seats, new door trim, new interior colors Safety CanopyTM side curtain air bag system with rollover sensors (late availability) Safety belts are color coordinated, height adjustable in front, second row child safety seat tether anchors and front seat belt pretensioners standard Standard cloth low back bucket seats with 2-way adjustable head restraint, cloth 60/40 fold-flat rear bench with 3-point safety belts, 4-way adjustable head restraints at all seating positions Leather seating surfaces include heated front seats and power lumbar Comfort Group now includes driver and passenger power lumbar support Adrenaline limited edition (see sidebar) Body-color exterior door handles on XLT/XLT Premium arrays Convenience Group now includes Berber floor mats, color coordinated front/rear with logo on front mats New exterior color on XLT/XLT Premium: Red Fire Overview The new Explorer Sport Trac continues to be the most versatile and athletic vehicle in the Explorer lineup, truly representing Ford’s No Boundaries approach to SUVs. For 2003, the vehicle boasts added safety features, including Ford’s Safety CanopyTM side curtain air bag system (late availability) and rear disc brakes. The Explorer Sport Trac combines many of the interior features of the four-door Explorer with more cargo-carrying flexibility. Explorer Sport Trac is built in Louisville, Kentucky, and is available in XLS, XLT and XLT Premium trims. Packaging Versatility is the key to the Sport Trac. It has 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space in its standard cargo bed, which measures 50 inches long and 19.7 inches deep. The standard floor console includes two large front cup holders, an open front storage area, convenience clip, two pop-out rear cup holders and a hinged armrest that allows access to a removable soft pack storage bag with adjustable shoulder strap. An available high-series console on models with optional seating features a coin holder, front power point, flow-through rear heater/air conditioning with rear blower controls, audio headphone jacks and rear audio controls. The available overhead console on the Sport Trac contains two map/courtesy lights, compass, outside temperature display and garage door opener storage bin. The Sport Trac offers three seating packages. Standard on all models are cloth low-back bucket seats with cloth inserts and bolsters and a rear 60/40 split bench seat that is equipped with four-way adjustable head restraints for all seating positions. Cloth bucket seats with driver-side 6-way power seat adjustment are available and come with a recline function and a four-way manually adjustable head restraint. Available leather bucket seats have identical features to the cloth bucket seats but get an additional manual lumbar adjustment feature on both the driver and passenger seat and seat heating. The Sport Trac comes standard with an AM/FM stereo/single CD player with an integrated clock. An optional Pioneer sound system, featuring a six-disc in-dash CD player, is available (see sidebar). An optional power moonroof has a one-touch tilt feature and can be fully retracted with an express one-touch open feature. A manually operated retractable sliding sunshade keeps sun out. Powertrain and Chassis Available in either 4×2 or 4×4 drivetrain configuration, Explorer Sport Trac is powered by a 4.0-liter single-overhead-cam V-6 engine rated at 210 horsepower and 240 foot-pounds of torque. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission with overdrive or five-speed automatic overdrive transmission, depending upon which series is specified. When properly equipped, the Explorer Sport Trac has a 5,300-pound maximum towing capacity. Independent short- and long-arm front suspension offers a combination of smooth ride and secure handling. The rack-and-pinion steering system provides good returnability, low steering effort and communicative road feel. The available electronic two-speed shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive system is easy to operate and provides improved traction on loose or slippery surfaces. A limited-slip rear axle also is available. For 2003, rear disc brakes replace drums, for improved brake performance. Sport Trac comes standard with anti-lock brakes. Safety and Security For 2003, Explorer Sport Trac adds several key safety features. The optional new Safety CanopyTM side curtain air bag system (late availability) provides further protection to occupants and can help to reduce the potential for occupant ejection. The Safety CanopyTM provides one of the most advanced side-impact protection systems available on any SUV. Electronic rollover sensors provide additional protection by measuring whether the vehicle is tilting, how fast the lean angle is changing and whether the combination means the vehicle might be headed for a rollover. Although rollovers represent only a small percentage of all SUV accidents, they can have fatal consequences, particularly when a passenger is ejected from the vehicle. Safety belts are the single best tool for keeping passengers inside during a rollover, but the new air bags and rollover sensing technology supply another line of defense. When deployed, the air bags remain inflated longer than conventional air bags to provide additional occupant protection. This innovative safety system debuted on the 2002 Ford Explorer. The front safety belts have load-limiting technology that helps spread load forces in a frontal crash. Shoulder belts are height-adjustable for comfort. Second-generation driver and front passenger air bags tailor deployment to crash and direction. Ford’s BeltMinderTM system provides a gentle reminder to the driver to buckle up. Child safety seat tether anchors are provided in rear seating positions. Rear doors have child safety locks. The Adrenalin Explorer Sport Trac Fit a Sport Trac with a 485-watt PioneerTM sound system, add new wheels and limited paint colors, and you have a powerful sound show called the 2003 Adrenalin Edition Explorer Sport Trac. PioneerTM is the leading manufacturer of mobile entertainment products in a world. The sound system produces peak power of 485 watts and features a custom-designed subwoofer for maximum packaging efficiency and bass response that is unmatched by some traditional original equipment audio systems. The 8-inch subwoofer with 11.5-liter enclosure features IMPP technology that includes an extremely rigid, foamed cone with low mass. This setup results in exceptional sound quality and power handling capability while maintaining high sensitivity. In addition, the system includes nine speakers, a four-channel bridgeable amplifier and an AM/FM/cassette/CD player in a double-DIN sized headunit in a attractive silver design that will catch the attention of SUV and car audio enthusiasts and music lovers alike. On the outside, the Adrenalin includes 16-inch 5-spoke “Thumbprint” aluminum wheels and Goodyear Wrangler Radial RT/S tires. The tires feature more than 7,800 biting edges and self-cleaning dual Traction Lug ChannelsTM. The Adrenalin edition also includes the following features from the Premium Sport and Convenience options packages: Fog lamps Front tow hooks Side step bars 16-inch 5-spoke “Thumbprint” aluminum wheels P255/70R16 OWL all-terrain tires Optional equipment includes: 4.10 limited-slip rear axle Cargo cage bed extender Hard tonneau cover Power moonroof Leather seating surfaces. The Adrenalin Explorer Sport Trac is a limited production model and will be available later in the 2003 model year.