2011 Ford Explorer will receive four-mode terrain management system

The new 2011 Ford Explorer SUV will be able to take on various driving conditions with its high-tech terrain management system that handles the powertrain’s performance.

Explorer Chief Nameplate Engineer Jim Holland said that from the company’s interactions with customers, it has come to realize how valuable “flexibility and freedom to tackle any road” are. Holland said that Ford saw this chance to do away with a compromise by coming up with an “intuitive and efficient terrain management system “ that can “demystify four-wheel-drive control” as well as enable the driver to properly match 4WD traction to the situations and road conditions they encounter.
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toyfan - 4/15/2010 5:03:34 PM

+3 Boost

This feature is already available in the 4Runner Trail Edition

theoptimisticpessimist - 4/15/2010 5:11:23 PM

+4 Boost

Not to mention almost every Land Rover (not Defender) and the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. IMHO if you have to twist a knob for off-road terrain, you probably shouldn,t be going off-road.

WorldofLuxury - 4/15/2010 10:04:20 PM

+4 Boost

oh Come on. These things are useful and fun. They give confidence, and they're nice conversation starters - great to brag about.

I usually don't dare to drive aggressively around a racetrack until I learned it with traction control on and the transmission in automatic mode. If I were to drive slowly, I would just get in the way of other people. Same thing goes for going off-road to unknown terrain; I rely on traction control to tell me which areas to worry about when I return with all the systems off for real off-roading fun.

wins555 - 4/15/2010 11:52:14 PM

+1 Boost

I just hope this thing does not skid when turning at higher speeds. Or it might get a "Do Not Buy" warning too.

M35MT - 4/16/2010 10:48:19 AM

+2 Boost

Not that there's any problem with Ford developing a system similar to that of Land Rover's that debuted in 2004 on the '05 LR3 (and now Jeep has a dial as well in the 2011 Grand) BUT - what bothers me is that Ford is using the EXACT same images for each mode that is in the Land Rovers. That is a bit of a rip off, I mean, couldnt they have made their system at least look different?

I realize that Ford owned LR when Terrain Response was developed, but Terrain Response was developed by LR in the UK, not by Ford.

The fact that they call it "Terrain Management" is also far too derivative.

Cant they at least TRY to be a bit original??

91z4me - 4/16/2010 1:45:51 PM

+1 Boost

Ford owns the technology just as much as LR (because they owned LR at the time), LR has no more claim to it than Ford. They were original because they paid for it to be developed.

M35MT - 4/16/2010 2:53:17 PM

+1 Boost

Even with that said, it should be re-branded for Ford.

I cant imagine the folks at Land Rover are happy about this, mostly because, the Explorer sells is far greater numbers than any LR. Therefore, the general public will believe that the technology is all thanks to Ford.

At least Jeep and Toyota/Lexus came up with their own equivalents to a "Mud & Ruts" mode, and their own picture to go with it. What Ford did with the new explorer comes off as lazy.

91z4me - 4/16/2010 3:33:39 PM

+1 Boost

Maybe but perhaps LR should just change their names to make it 'refreshed' or upgraded on their models.