What’s New?
The Explorer Sport Trac is new from the wheels up and, for the first time, it is available with a V-8 engine. The new 2007 Sport Trac’s design includes a tube-through-tube frame that is 444 percent stiffer than the previous model, all-new independent front and rear suspensions for improved ride and handling, and Ford’s side air curtain Safety Canopy.

Overview
The Explorer Sport Trac, which debuted in 2001, is the successful amalgamation of two best-sellers from Ford—the F-150 pickup and Explorer SUV—making the Sport Trac a rare breed of SUV/pickup crossover. The Sport Trac’s pedigree parents have both undergone extensive makeovers in the recent past and the Sport Trac takes some of each model’s best attributes into 2007. One of the benefits is size. The redesigned midsize Sport Trac rides on a stretched version of the Explorer’s frame and is now 5 inches longer and 2 inches wider than its predecessor. The stiffer frame allows for an all-new suspension system. Its independent rear suspension—a first for the Sport Trac—is a better marriage of pickup truck capability and passenger car comfort. The Sport Trac’s composite cargo bed comes in one size only (4 feet) and features tiered storage and integrated storage bins with drains. A lockable, watertight tonneau cover is also available.

The Sport Trac comes in two trim levels: XLT and Limited. Each is available with two- or four-wheel drive and a V-8 or V-6 engine. The standard 4.0-liter V-6 has been upgraded for 2007 to produce substantially less smog-forming emissions while maintaining fuel economy ratings equivalent to the previous model. The V-6, which generates 210 hp and 254 lb.-ft. of torque, comes with a 5-speed automatic transmission and is rated to tow up to 5,310 pounds and carry as much as 1,450 pounds of payload. Another first for the Sport Trac is the availability of a V-8 engine. Ford touts the 4.6-liter, 3-valve V-8 as the most powerful engine in its class, delivering 292 hp and 300 lb.-ft. of torque. The new V-8 is coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission, giving the Sport Trac a maximum tow rating of 6,800 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,390 pounds.

The Competition
The Ford Explorer Sport Trac competes in the Midsize Pickup segment, which consists of 11 models. Buyers in this segment look for reliability, quality, and performance, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Avoider Study^SM and the Escaped Shopper Study.^SM

The top sellers in the segment during calendar year 2006, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report,^SM were the Toyota Tacoma (178,351 units sold), Chevrolet Colorado (93,876), and Ford Ranger (92,420). The Ford Explorer Sport Trac sold 47,470 units in 2006, a decrease of 21.5 percent compared to the previous year. Other models offered in the Midsize Pickup segment include the Nissan Frontier, Dodge Dakota, Honda Ridgeline, GMC Canyon, and Mitsubishi Raider.