NAIAS Highlights: Concepts
Ford Explorer Sportsman: go fish
A tackle box with four wheels one might call it. The Ford Explorer Sportsman concept is, of course, more than that. But there's no doubt that it is geared to a specific audience.
Aside from a distinctive body, one of the most prominent features that makes the Sportsman more than an Explorer is the fully detachable roof rack. It extends forward and folds down so that fishing rods, nets, and other items can be loaded from the side of the vehicle. Modular attachments are positioned on the rooftop to carry additional sporting equipment. In a fixed position, the roof rack arms swing outward to form a basket, the bottom of which is trimmed with Bloodwood slats.
Additional storage area for fishing rods and other equipment is incorporated into the running boards, the tops of which function as lids. The running boards stow under the vehicle and deploy when the doors are opened.
Outfitted with Scott fly-fishing rods, the Explorer Sportsman is finished in a low-gloss, satin metallic green, coupled with satin-finished front and rear chrome skid-plates that provide durability for off-road travel. The hood and grille are integrated. Also featured are 17-in alloy wheels, horizontally oriented headlamps, and rear LED lighting.
The instrument panel features a GPS screen that is operable by an onboard "mouse." The seatbacks also have detachable carry packs that deploy out to function as workbenches for fly tying. The benches are removable to allow an angler to tie flies on site. A fish tank, complete with a clean-air filter, locks into position in the middle of the back compartment and has rollers for easy loading and unloading.
Many of the Explorer Sportsman concept features and improvements are borrowed from the all-new 2002-model Ford Explorer.
- Patrick Ponticel
