FORD INVENTED THE SEGMENT

Ford invented the sport utility truck segment in 2001, bringing to market the Explorer Sport Trac – the first sport utility vehicle with the versatility of four full doors, a roomy feature-filled interior and a pickup truck's cargo box.

"The Explorer Sport Trac is all about versatility; customers call it 'The Swiss Army Knife of SUVs.' Sport Trac created new possibilities for the marketplace and gave customers real value by combining the comfort, safety, and image of Explorer with a new level of versatility," said Chris Feuell, Ford SUV group marketing manager. "We saw a customer need for fitting passengers comfortably and hauling gear without messing up the back of an SUV. The Explorer Sport Trac was on the leading edge to meet their demands."

Versatility is central to Explorer Sport Trac's sales success. Today's Explorer Sport Trac is the only vehicle in its segment to offer a durable color-coordinated cargo box and an available swing-over tubular bed extender that dramatically increases its capability to haul oversized cargo.

More than half of Explorer Sport Trac buyers are new to Ford and they are called "conquest" customers. The Sport Trac generates strong customer loyalty – such as the grassroots group from the www.mysporttrac.com Web site who stage an owner rally every year at the Louisville, Kentucky assembly plant where their vehicles were built.

Despite increased competition, Explorer Sport Trac continues to perform well, selling nearly 60,000 units annually over the past four years. Since its introduction in 2000 as a 2001 model, more than 300,000 Explorer Sport Tracs have been sold.