Ford introduced today its all-new 2011 Explorer, a fuel-efficient SUV that is fit for today’s modern lifestyle.

The truck-like vehicle is more aerodynamic than the old one and is equipped with more refined and creative features.

Aaron Bragman, an IHS Automative analyst, said, “It will be very interesting to put this up against the Grand Cherokee, which is still very much the traditional-style SUV. The new Explorer does not so much feel…like an SUV.”

Ford marketing head Jim Farley is up to the challenge of attracting customers that have misconceptions about SUVs, which are known to consume a lot of gas and are expensive to maintain. “My job is really to myth-bust, to really tell the story authentically and re-engage those people who lost the dream of the category,” he said.

The old Ford Explorer model had its peak in the late 90s and early 2000s, when it sold around 400,000 units each year. However, last year, only 52,000 units were sold.

With a 25% improvement on the 2011 Ford Explorer’s fuel economy, and a number of modifications to suit customer needs, the company is expecting people to consider getting one for themselves.

Ford’s executive vice president Mark Fields said, “We really want to take away the reasons people have to not buy SUVs.”

To learn more about the 2011 Ford Explorer, click here.

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