<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/crossovers-cuvs/" rel="tag">Crossover</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/08/video-2011-ford-explorer-plays-in-the-california-sand/#continued"><img hspace="0" vspace="4" border="1" alt="2011 Ford Explorer playing in the dirt" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/2011-explorer-offroading.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>Click above to watch the video <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/08/video-2011-ford-explorer-plays-in-the-california-sand/#continued">after the jump</a></small></strong></em></div>
<br />
The outgoing <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/explorer">Ford Explorer</a> was a rear-drive-based body-on-frame SUV with a substantial thirst for fuel yet little in the way of off-road capability. The 2011 Explorer is built off a front-drive architecture, which would lead the uninformed observer to believe that dirt and rocks won't get along with the newly redesigned CUV. But Ford has worked its magic with a clever all-wheel drive system that works in tandem with a Terrain Management System that promises a modicum of off-road capability. Without skid plates and higher ground clearance, we're not talking hardcore rock crawling, of course, but perhaps there's more ability here than one might otherwise expect out of a unibody three-row crossover.<br />
<br />
Of course, it will take time to get this message across to the car-buying public, and the first effort in Ford's educating process comes in the way of this sand-filled video. Ford put its newest 2011 model on display at the "San Diego Vision" media event, taking a bright red Limited model for a spin on very loose dirt. There are no rocks and no obtuse articulations; instead there are a bunch of different angles of the new Explorer doing dirt donuts with earth flying everywhere. It's far from the most impressive off-road video we've seen, but it sure is pretty. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/08/video-2011-ford-explorer-plays-in-the-california-sand/#continued">Hit the jump</a> to watch the video for yourself. <em>Hat tip to Yaroukh!</em><br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-southern-california-live-debut">2011 Ford Explorer Southern California Live Debut</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-southern-california-live-debut/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/01explorer2011debutca_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-southern-california-live-debut/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/02explorer2011debutca_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-southern-california-live-debut/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/03explorer2011debutca_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-southern-california-live-debut/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/04explorer2011debutca_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-southern-california-live-debut/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/05explorer2011debutca_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
<strong><em><font size="1">Photos copyright (C)2010 </font></em></strong><a href="http://www.drewphillipsphotography.com/"><strong><em><font size="1">Drew Phillips</font></em></strong></a><strong><em><font size="1"> / AOL</font></em></strong><br />
<br />
[Source: Ford via <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_Y7FjeWAxM&feature=player_embedded">YouTube</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/08/video-2011-ford-explorer-plays-in-the-california-sand/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Video: 2011 Ford Explorer plays in the California sand</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/08/video-2011-ford-explorer-plays-in-the-california-sand/">Video: 2011 Ford Explorer plays in the California sand</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:34:00 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/2010/12/08/video-2011-ford-explorer-plays-in-the-california-sand/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19751085/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/08/video-2011-ford-explorer-plays-in-the-california-sand/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>Click above to watch the video <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/08/video-2011-ford-explorer-plays-in-the-california-sand/#continued">after the jump</a></small></strong></em></div>
<br />
The outgoing <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/explorer">Ford Explorer</a> was a rear-drive-based body-on-frame SUV with a substantial thirst for fuel yet little in the way of off-road capability. The 2011 Explorer is built off a front-drive architecture, which would lead the uninformed observer to believe that dirt and rocks won't get along with the newly redesigned CUV. But Ford has worked its magic with a clever all-wheel drive system that works in tandem with a Terrain Management System that promises a modicum of off-road capability. Without skid plates and higher ground clearance, we're not talking hardcore rock crawling, of course, but perhaps there's more ability here than one might otherwise expect out of a unibody three-row crossover.<br />
<br />
Of course, it will take time to get this message across to the car-buying public, and the first effort in Ford's educating process comes in the way of this sand-filled video. Ford put its newest 2011 model on display at the "San Diego Vision" media event, taking a bright red Limited model for a spin on very loose dirt. There are no rocks and no obtuse articulations; instead there are a bunch of different angles of the new Explorer doing dirt donuts with earth flying everywhere. It's far from the most impressive off-road video we've seen, but it sure is pretty. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/08/video-2011-ford-explorer-plays-in-the-california-sand/#continued">Hit the jump</a> to watch the video for yourself. <em>Hat tip to Yaroukh!</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-southern-california-live-debut">2011 Ford Explorer Southern California Live Debut</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-southern-california-live-debut/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/01explorer2011debutca_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-southern-california-live-debut/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/02explorer2011debutca_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-southern-california-live-debut/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/03explorer2011debutca_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-southern-california-live-debut/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/04explorer2011debutca_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-southern-california-live-debut/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/05explorer2011debutca_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
<strong><em><font size="1">Photos copyright (C)2010 </font></em></strong><a href="http://www.drewphillipsphotography.com/"><strong><em><font size="1">Drew Phillips</font></em></strong></a><strong><em><font size="1"> / AOL</font></em></strong><br />
<br />
[Source: Ford via <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_Y7FjeWAxM&feature=player_embedded">YouTube</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/08/video-2011-ford-explorer-plays-in-the-california-sand/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Video: 2011 Ford Explorer plays in the California sand</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/08/video-2011-ford-explorer-plays-in-the-california-sand/">Video: 2011 Ford Explorer plays in the California sand</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:34:00 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/2010/12/08/video-2011-ford-explorer-plays-in-the-california-sand/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19751085/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/08/video-2011-ford-explorer-plays-in-the-california-sand/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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