Ford Officially
Begins Building New Explorer Sport Trac
The 2001-model
Explorer Sport Trac, the newest addition to Ford Motor Company's
sport utility and pickup truck lineup, was officially launched
February 3rd by the men and women who build it.
"We've got
a lot to celebrate," said Louisville Assembly Plant (LAP) Manager
John Tankesley. "In addition to Explorer Sport Trac, more than
3,400 employees here build the best-selling four-door Ford Explorer,
the two-door Explorer Sport and the Mercury Mountaineer."
As of January
31, Ford had received more than 20,000 dealer orders for the new
Explorer Sport Trac.
And
we're the only plant producing Explorer Sport Trac," added UAW Local
862 Building Chairman Don Mitchell. "Explorer Sport Trac is not
an ordinary vehicle. It combines the benefits of the four-door Explorer
with the added usefulness of an open cargo area."
The four-foot-long
cargo bed is made of durable sheet molding composite.
It features
an optional device that extends the length of the bed as well
as an optional, lockable hard tonneau cover. Prices for the 2001-model
Explorer Sport Trac will range from $23,050 (for the 4X2 model)
to $25,820 (for the 4X4 model), including destination and delivery.
As the name
implies, Explorer Sport Trac is the sportiest member of the Explorer
family -- catering to customers who are young, active, independent-minded
and looking for more fun and adventure than he or she can find
in a car.
LAP employees
also built best-selling Ford Ranger pickup trucks until April
1, 1999, when they ceased production to free up capacity for the
Explorer Sport Trac. (LAP's Ranger production was split between
Ford's Ranger plants in Twin Cities, MN and Edison, NJ.) During
Ranger production, LAP ran two body shops - one dedicated to producing
boxes for the Ranger.
