<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Budget</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/suvs/" rel="tag">SUV</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/tech/" rel="tag">Technology</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/off-road/" rel="tag">Off-Road</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/15/2011-ford-explorer-will-debut-new-four-mode-terrain-management-t/#continued"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/01-explorer-630-1271345662.jpg" alt="" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>2011 Ford Explorer Terrain Management System - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford/">Ford</a> has just announced that the next-generation <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/25/spy-shots-2012-ford-explorer-caught-completely-disrobed/">Explorer</a> will benefit from all-wheel drive coupled to a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/land-rover/">Land Rover</a>-like terrain management system. According to Ford, the company's researchers found that Explorer owners were somewhat befuddled by when to use which four-wheel drive mode, and has since simplified the process significantly. Instead of having to decide whether two-high, four-high or four-low is best for the current trail conditions, owners will simply have to select from an easy to use console mounted knob.<br />
<br />
Drivers simply pick between normal, mud, sand or snow modes and allow the Explorer's all-wheel drive setup to do the rest. The vehicle's software then uses various vehicle sensors to help provide the most traction possible. Each mode is also usable with a new hill-decent assist feature borrowed from the company's full-sized pickups. Push the button and the Explorer will automatically try to itself down any slope, no matter the condition.<br />
<br />
Ford is hoping that by leaving the traditional transfer case behind, it can save a few pounds and up the model's efficiency at the same time. Coupled to the truck's new <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/13/spy-shots-unibody-2011-ford-explorer-cometh/">unibody</a> construction (yes, the Explorer is going all crossover on us), Ford is estimating that the V6 model will benefit from a 25 percent increase in fuel-efficiency compared to current models. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/15/2011-ford-explorer-will-debut-new-four-mode-terrain-management-t/#continued">Hit the jump</a> to see a video of the new all-wheel drive system in action.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-terrain-management-system/low/">2011 Ford Explorer Terrain Management System</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-terrain-management-system/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/01-explorer_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-terrain-management-system/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/02-explorer_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: Ford]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/15/2011-ford-explorer-will-debut-new-four-mode-terrain-management-t/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2011 Ford Explorer will debut new four-mode terrain management tech [w/video]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/15/2011-ford-explorer-will-debut-new-four-mode-terrain-management-t/">2011 Ford Explorer will debut new four-mode terrain management tech [w/video]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/15/2011-ford-explorer-will-debut-new-four-mode-terrain-management-t/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19441284/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/15/2011-ford-explorer-will-debut-new-four-mode-terrain-management-t/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>2011 Ford Explorer Terrain Management System - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford/">Ford</a> has just announced that the next-generation <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/25/spy-shots-2012-ford-explorer-caught-completely-disrobed/">Explorer</a> will benefit from all-wheel drive coupled to a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/land-rover/">Land Rover</a>-like terrain management system. According to Ford, the company's researchers found that Explorer owners were somewhat befuddled by when to use which four-wheel drive mode, and has since simplified the process significantly. Instead of having to decide whether two-high, four-high or four-low is best for the current trail conditions, owners will simply have to select from an easy to use console mounted knob.<br />
<br />
Drivers simply pick between normal, mud, sand or snow modes and allow the Explorer's all-wheel drive setup to do the rest. The vehicle's software then uses various vehicle sensors to help provide the most traction possible. Each mode is also usable with a new hill-decent assist feature borrowed from the company's full-sized pickups. Push the button and the Explorer will automatically try to itself down any slope, no matter the condition.<br />
<br />
Ford is hoping that by leaving the traditional transfer case behind, it can save a few pounds and up the model's efficiency at the same time. Coupled to the truck's new <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/13/spy-shots-unibody-2011-ford-explorer-cometh/">unibody</a> construction (yes, the Explorer is going all crossover on us), Ford is estimating that the V6 model will benefit from a 25 percent increase in fuel-efficiency compared to current models. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/15/2011-ford-explorer-will-debut-new-four-mode-terrain-management-t/#continued">Hit the jump</a> to see a video of the new all-wheel drive system in action.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-terrain-management-system/low/">2011 Ford Explorer Terrain Management System</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-terrain-management-system/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/01-explorer_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-terrain-management-system/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/02-explorer_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: Ford]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/15/2011-ford-explorer-will-debut-new-four-mode-terrain-management-t/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2011 Ford Explorer will debut new four-mode terrain management tech [w/video]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/15/2011-ford-explorer-will-debut-new-four-mode-terrain-management-t/">2011 Ford Explorer will debut new four-mode terrain management tech [w/video]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/15/2011-ford-explorer-will-debut-new-four-mode-terrain-management-t/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19441284/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/15/2011-ford-explorer-will-debut-new-four-mode-terrain-management-t/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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