Editing Ford Explorer (section)

==First generation (UN46; 1990)==
{{Infobox automobile
| name = First generation
| model_code = UN46
| image = 1991-1994 Ford Explorer, Front right.png
| caption = First-generation Ford Explorer XLT
| layout = [[Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout|Front engine]], [[rear-wheel drive]] / [[four-wheel drive]]
| assembly = United States: [[Louisville, Kentucky]] ([[Louisville Assembly Plant]]); [[St. Louis, Missouri]] ([[St. Louis Assembly]])<br />Venezuela: [[Valencia, Carabobo]] ([[Valencia Assembly]])
| production = February 1990<ref name="Jr.2019">{{cite book|first=J. “Kelly” |last=Flory, Jr.|title=American Light Trucks and Utility Vehicles, 1967–1989: Every Model, Year by Year|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tz-7DwAAQBAJ&q=bronco+ii+last+february++1990&pg=PA1359|date=October 31, 2019|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-2652-9|page=1359}}</ref> – November 1994<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-aug-24-mn-9479-story.html |title=Documents Show Ford's Concerns Over Explorer|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 24, 2000|last1=Levin|first1=Myron}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.fordexplorerrollover.com/history/default.cfm |title=Ford Explorer Rollover History Tire Recall Chronology |publisher=Willis Law Firm |access-date=September 17, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150919074742/http://www.fordexplorerrollover.com/history/Default.cfm |archive-date=September 19, 2015}}</ref>
| model_years = 1991–1994
| body_style = 3-door [[SUV]]<br />5-door [[SUV]]
| engine = '''[[Petrol engine|Gasoline]]:'''<br/>4.0 L OHV ''[[Ford Cologne V6 engine#4.0|Cologne]]'' [[V6 engine|V6]]
| transmission = 5-speed ''[[Mazda M5OD transmission|M5OD-R1]]'' [[manual transmission|manual]]<br />4-speed ''[[Ford C3 transmission#A4LD|A4LD]]'' [[automatic transmission|automatic]]
| wheelbase = 3-door: {{cvt|102.1|in|mm|0}}<br />5-door: {{cvt|111.9|in|mm|0}}
| length = 3-door: {{cvt|174.5|in|mm|0}}<br />5-door: {{cvt|184.3|in|mm|0}}
| width = {{cvt|70.2|in|mm|0}}
| height = 3-door: {{cvt|67.5|in|mm|0}}<br />5-door: {{cvt|67.3|in|mm|0}}<br />Eddie Bauer: {{cvt|68.3|in|mm|0}}
| related = [[Ford Ranger (North America)#First generation|Ford Ranger]] [[Mazda Navajo (SUV)|Mazda Navajo]]
}}
The Ford Explorer was introduced in March 1990 as an early 1991 model to replace the Bronco II. As Ford sought to balance off-road capability with family use of the vehicle,<ref name="auto-brochures.com">{{cite web |title=1991 Ford Explorer brochure |url=https://www.auto-brochures.com/makes/Ford/Explorer/Ford_US%20Explorer_1991.pdf |access-date=May 30, 2021 |website=auto-brochures.com}}</ref> the Explorer underwent extensive design changes from its predecessor, though still retaining commonality with the Ranger pickup truck.

Growing from the compact Bronco II (similar in size to its 1960s namesake), the Explorer was a mid-size SUV, competing directly against the [[Jeep Cherokee (XJ)|Jeep Cherokee]] and [[Chevrolet S-10 Blazer]]. To better compete against both model lines, a five-door body style was included as part of the launch (introduced in the same month as the five-door S-10 Blazer) alongside the three-door wagon. The new, wider body of the five-door allowed for three-across rear seating. To optimize cargo space usage, the traditional swing-away spare tire carrier was deleted in favor of an underfloor location. Similar to the [[Ford Taurus (first generation)|Ford Taurus]] station wagon, the rear liftgate was fitted with a flip-up rear window.

=== Chassis ===
As with the Bronco II, the first-generation Explorer (design code UN46) shares its chassis underpinnings with the [[Ford Ranger (Americas)#First generation (1983–1992)|1983–1992 Ford Ranger]]. The three-door version uses a 102.1-inch wheelbase (8.1 inches longer than the Bronco II); the five-door uses a 111.9 wheelbase (17.9 inches longer).

As with the Ranger, the UN46 Explorer has a Twin I-Beam (4×2) or Twin-Traction Beam (4×4) coil-sprung front independent suspension and a leaf-sprung solid rear axle.<ref name="auto-brochures.com" /> Brakes are discs in the front with drums in the rear. Anti-lock (ABS) on the rear only for early years<ref name="auto-brochures.com" /> with 4 wheel ABS available by 1994.

==== Powertrain ====
The first-generation Explorer was equipped with a 4.0&nbsp;L ''[[Ford Cologne V6 engine#4.0|Cologne]]'' V6, an optional engine for the Ranger and the [[Ford Aerostar]]. Initially producing {{cvt|155|hp|kW|0}}, the engine output was raised to {{cvt|160|hp|kW|0}} for 1993. A Mazda [[Mazda M5OD transmission|M5OD]] 5-speed manual was the standard transmission offering, with the option of the Ford 4-speed [[Ford C3 transmission#A4LD|A4LD]] overdrive automatic transmission.

Along with the standard rear-wheel drive powertrain, at its launch, the Explorer was also offered with two configurations of part-time four-wheel drive, using a [[Borg Warner]] 13–54 transfer case. The "Touch Drive" electric-shift transfer case was standard (shared with the Ranger and the previous Bronco II); it allowed the vehicle to be shifted from [[two-wheel drive]] into high-range 4x4 drive (at any speed) and into low-range 4×4 (when stopped). As an option, the Explorer was also offered with a manual-shift transfer case (the option was paired with manual-locking hubs).<ref name="auto-brochures.com" />

All Explorers were equipped with the [[Ford 8.8 axle]] in either a limited-slip differential or open version; multiple rear-axle ratios could be specified. Four-wheel-drive front axles were the TTB ("[[Twin Traction Beam]]") [[Dana 35]] with some [[Dana 44|Dana 44-spec]] components; 4×2 models shared Twin I-Beam components with the Ranger.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Engine
!Production
!Configuration
!Power
!Torque
!Transmission
!Transfer Case

|-
|Ford [[Ford Cologne V6 engine#4.0|''Cologne V6'']]
|1991–1994
|{{Convert|245|cuin|L|1}} OHV 12-valve V6
|{{Convert|155|hp|kW|abbr=on}} (1991–1992)
{{Convert|160|hp|kW|abbr=on}} (1993–1994)
|{{cvt|220|lbft|Nm|0}}
|5-speed manual (Mazda [[Mazda M5OD transmission|''M5OD-R1'']])
4-speed automatic (Ford ''[[Ford C3 transmission#A4LD|A4LD]]'')
|Borg Warner 13-54 Electric Shift ''Touch Drive''
Optional: 2-speed manual transfer case
|}

=== Body ===
[[File:1993 Explorer Interior.jpg|thumb|left|Interior]]

Shifting into the midsize SUV size class,<ref name="CNET">{{cite web|last=Carrillo III|first=Manuel|date=January 10, 2019|title=6 generations of Ford Explorers: A history of the groundbreaking SUV|url= https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/ford-explorer-generations-history-1991/ |access-date=August 4, 2020 |work=CNET}}</ref> the first-generation Explorer is far larger than the Bronco II. The three-door Explorer grew 12.6 inches in length, with the five-door Explorer 22.4 inches longer and 730 pounds heavier than the 1990 Bronco II.<ref name="CNET" />

As with the outgoing Bronco II, the Explorer shared many design elements with the 1989-1992 Ranger, adopting its front bumper, headlamps, and wheels; the grille was sourced from the off-road oriented Ranger STX (moving the Blue Oval to the top of the grille). Alongside the introduction of the five-door body style, the body was styled with multiple aerodynamic upgrades over its predecessor, including its own door stampings to eliminate exterior drip rails and bracket-mount sideview mirrors (replaced by ones integrated into the doors).<ref name="auto-brochures.com" /> In what would become a design feature of the model line, the B-pillar and D-pillars were blacked out. The three-door body shared a similar roofline as its five-door counterpart, fitted with pop-out rear quarter windows (instead of roll-down windows) and a forward-sloping C-pillar.

The interior of the Explorer was fitted largely with all-new trim (though carrying over the dashboard in its entirety from the Ranger/Bronco II), with model-specific door panels and seats. On three-door Explorers, four-passenger seating was carried over (though with a body increased over two inches in width), with front bucket seats and a split-folding rear bench. Five-door Explorers were fitted with standard front bucket seats and a three-passenger split-folding rear bench seat. A front split-bench seat was offered as an option (dependent on trim), expanding seating to six passengers.<ref name="auto-brochures.com" /><ref name="auto-brochures.com-2">{{cite web |title=1994 Ford Explorer brochure |url= https://www.auto-brochures.com/makes/Ford/Explorer/Ford_US%20Explorer_1994.pdf |website=auto-brochures.com}}</ref> 

=== Trim ===
[[File:1992 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer (6005113836).jpg|left|thumb|1992 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer]]
[[File:1994 Ford Explorer Sport rear 7.28.18.jpg|thumb|left|1994 Ford Explorer Sport rear]]

The first-generation Explorer followed the rest of the Ford light truck line in trim nomenclature, marketing a base-level XL trim and higher-range XLT trim. Sharing the features of the XLT, the outdoors-themed Eddie Bauer was the highest-range trim. The XL was distinguished by a black grille (chrome optional) with steel wheels, while the XLT offered a chrome grille and alloy wheels; the Eddie Bauer offered alloy wheels and two-tone paintwork.

The three-door Explorer differed slightly, sharing the XL and Eddie Bauer trims with the five-door. In place of the XLT trim, the Explorer Sport was offered, distinguished by its black lower bodywork, grille, and standard alloy wheels.<ref name="auto-brochures.com" /><ref name="auto-brochures.com-2" /> From 1991 through 1994, the Explorer Sport was marketed by Mazda as the Mazda Navajo (see below); the 1991 Mazda Navajo became the first SUV to win the ''[[Motor Trend]]'' [[Truck of the Year]] award.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 12, 2014 |title=Past Truck of the Year Winners |url= https://www.motortrend.com/news/truck-of-the-year-winners/ |work=Motor Trend}}</ref>

For 1993, Ford introduced the Explorer Limited as a luxury-trim version of the model line, offered only as a five-door. Slotted above the Eddie Bauer,<ref name="auto-brochures.com-2" /> the Limited was largely introduced as a direct competitor for the [[Oldsmobile Bravada]] and [[Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ)#Grand Wagoneer (1993)|Jeep Grand Wagoneer]]. Distinguished by its monochromatic exterior (including a color-matched grille, headlamp trim, and bumpers), the Limited was also fitted with model-specific alloy wheels and lower bodywork. The trim was fitted with nearly every feature available to the model line (the only options offered for the Explorer Limited were a sunroof, compact disc player, and the towing package<ref name="auto-brochures.com-2" />), also serving as the introduction of several features offered as options on other trims for 1994, including an anti-theft system, keyless entry, and automatic headlights.<ref name="auto-brochures.com-2" />

{{clear}}