Sources tell us that Ford is making up for their “extreme losses” (thanks to its leased out vehicles) by increasing the prices for the Ford Explorer, F-150, Sport Trac, and Super Duty. The flaw in this plan is that Ford will have to raise the price to an amount that no one would even want to pay them. It won’t surprise us if they shut down soon after they discover the negatives of this effect.

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Unveiled last year, the Adrenaline was supposed to have been the world’s first high-performance sport utility truck. It was to be built at Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky. Harmon would not discuss the specific reasons for the decision, but said Ford was focusing on giving its customers what they want.

The Sport Trac Adrenalin follows the Ford Explorer Sport Trac concept, which debuted at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. In fact, the Explorer Sport Trac concept’s “slammed” appearance and large wheels and tires foreshadowed what SVT had in mind with the high-performance Adrenalin.

Adrenalin exterior features bold red paint that instantly communicates its performance mission, while discreet SVT badging on the wheels will catch the eye of discerning enthusiasts. Stylized front and rear fascias, an aggressive “black chrome” grille and grille surround with matching headlamp bezels and SVT signature fog lamps helped communicate the supercharged performance latent in the Adrenalin.

Inside, four comfortable bucket seats feature supportive thigh and chest bolstering. Unique red leather seat inserts match red leather interior door trim panels, adding to the Adrenalin’s sporting flair. The instrument panel houses easy-to-read, white-faced instruments, an SVT design hallmark. A navigation system is also included, a first for an SVT-badged vehicle.

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Under the hood of this surprisingly good-looking SUT is an intercooled and supercharged 4.6-liter V8 that belts out 390 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. Ford used a forged crankshaft, reinforced con rods and forged pistons to assure this four-valve V8 can withstand both high-performance driving and extended tow duty.

A six-speed automatic borrowed from Ford’s full-size SUVs handles the shifting chores and gives the Adrenalin a useful 6,000-pound tow rating. Full-time all-wheel drive is a first for an SVT vehicle giving the Sport Trac the off-the-line traction the Lightning never had. You can forget burnouts, but a 40/60 front-to-rear power bias should at least give it a performance feel in the corners.

Two inches longer than the previous Lightning, the Sport Trac also rides on a 10-inch-longer wheelbase. Front and rear sway bars work with recalibrated springs and shocks to give it a more precise feel than the hopelessly vague setup in the standard Sport Trac. The show car rode on 21-inch wheels, but the production model that’s set to arrive in 2007 is likely to have a slightly smaller setup.

SVT’s quest for “balanced performance” is further emphasized by an interior that’s performance-oriented but not stripped. Four heavily bolstered captain’s chairs provide comfort for four while SVT’s signature black-on-white gauges distinguish the dash. Additional metallic trim dresses up the dash and the optional DVD navigation system is a first for SVT.

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Like Honda’s Ridgeline, Sport Trac has independent rear suspension designed to provide a more carlike ride than the solid rear axle common to pickups. XLT and uplevel Limited models are offered. A 210-hp V6 is standard.

A V8 is optional for the first time; it has 292 hp. Both team with automatic transmissions, the V6 a 5-speed, the V8 a 6-speed. Sport Trac offers rear-wheel drive or Ford’s Control Trac 4WD that can be left engaged on dry pavement and includes low-range gearing.

Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes and antiskid control with rollover sensors are standard. So are front side airbags. Optional are curtain side airbags that cover both seating rows and include rollover deployment.

The cargo box, now made of dent-resistant composites, has three in-floor covered bins with drain plugs. Other options include heated windshield, rigid bed cover, frame bed extender, DVD entertainment, and rear obstacle detection.

 

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