Ford has just announced that it will build the next generation (2011) Ford Explorer at its Chicago Manufacturing facilities creating an additional 1,200 new jobs.
According to Ford:
"- Ford will produce the next-generation Explorer SUV at its Chicago Assembly Plant beginning in the fourth quarter of this year, bringing approximately 1,200 new jobs to the Chicago region.
– Ford will invest nearly $400 million in its Chicago Assembly and Chicago Stamping plants to launch production of the Explorer
– The next-generation Explorer will feature significant fuel economy gains of at least 25 percent over the current-model Explorer thanks to EcoBoost engine technology, six-speed transmissions and a unibody construction
– Ford has sold more than 6 million Explorers since the vehicle was originally launched in 1990; Explorer has been America’s best-selling midsize SUV for 15 of the past 19 years."
Ford rolled out this Explorer concept at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. Perhaps a more realistic picture of the 2011 Ford Explorer can be seen in THESE spy photos.
Unlike the previous generation of Explorers the new model will be a crossover most likely built on a car (and not truck) platform.
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