2007 Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin Preview

Think of the 2007 Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin as an SVT F-150 Lightning with a rear seat and all-wheel-drive.Back in the early 1990s Ford introduced the world to one of the original sport trucks, the F-150 SVT Lightning. It offered pickup truck utility and immense power that only increased over its twelve-year run. But, with the recent redesign of the F-150, Ford killed the Lightning and left a gaping hole in the hearts of sport truck lovers everywhere. Fear not, horsepower haulers, for the 2007 Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin is on the way. Powering the existing Ford Explorer Sport Trac is a 4.0-liter V6, and the underpinnings are mostly based upon the first-generation Explorer. Not exactly exciting. Quite the opposite is the redesigned and muscular Sport Trac Adrenalin. Packed under the hood is a supercharged 4.6-liter, 32-valve V8 cranking out 390 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque, and the four-wheel independent suspension has been tuned by the gearheads from Ford's SVT (Special Vehicle Team). Power is managed by a six-speed automatic transmission, and massive 21-inch wheels connect it all to the pavement. The F-150 SVT Lightning may be dead, but its heart and character are alive and well in the 2007 Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin. And now two extra passengers can go along for the ride.

Making its debut at the 2005 New York International Auto Show, the Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin will go into production in 2007. Pricing has not been released.

What it is

The 2007 Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin is a juiced version of the redesigned pseudo pickup due to hit the market within the next year or so. However, the Adrenalin makes a stop in the SVT shop, where it receives a hot rodding treatment to the engine, suspension, brakes, and tires. The Sport Trac is basically an Explorer with a composite pickup truck bed in back, and the Adrenalin serves to add some zest to an otherwise plebeian vehicle.

Why it matters

There has been a lot of speculation about the future of the SVT group, Ford's Special Vehicle Team. And for good reason - the SVT F-150 Lightning went away in 2004, as did the SVT Focus and the SVT Mustang Cobra. And with the onslaught of product coming out of DaimlerChrysler's SRT division, the lack of SVT-badged vehicles has been especially concerning. What a difference a day makes. Debuting at the 2005 New York Auto Show is the 2007 Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin, and in terms of power and design, it definitely earns the cachet of the SVT name. Also debuting at the New York show is the 2006 Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500, a vehicle that was co-developed by Carroll Shelby and Ford's SVT division. These two models are crucial for Ford - they demonstrate the brand's commitment to performance, and they offer a very competitive alternative to what the minds in the SRT office are cooking up.

When you can buy it

Ford plans on starting production of the Sport Trac Adrenalin in 2007 and models should be available for sale sometime that same year. The concept vehicle seen at the 2005 New York International Auto Show is actually very close to production, though the remote doors won't likely make it to your dealer's showroom.

How much it costs

Pricing has not been finalized for the 2007 Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin, but regardless of when the figures are set, Ford doesn't plan on discussing price until just before the vehicle's sales launch. The current Ford Explorer Sport Trac Adrenalin model starts between $28,000 and $31,000, but that's not the redesigned model and it's powered by a measly 4.0-liter V6. Based on that information and considering the significant upgrades on the 2007 Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin, we expect pricing to start in the mid- to high-$30s.

How fast it is

While we're sure that the gearheads at Ford have planted the throttle and wound out the 2007 Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin on the track, they're not letting the rest of us in on the results. But consider that this trucklet packs a supercharged 4.6-liter, 32-valve V8, consisting of a cast-iron block and aluminum heads that puts out 390 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque. Controlling that considerable output is a six-speed automatic transmission. And keep in mind that the composite pickup bed helps to keep the curb weight down. So, chances are, the 2007 Sport Trac Adrenalin will be pretty freakin' quick.

What it looks like

Introduced earlier this year was the redesigned Ford Sport Trac in concept form, which exhibited much smoother body lines and a less hodge-podged look when compared with the first-generation Explorer Sport Trac that debuted in 2000. There's a large center grille and the bed appears to be more integrated with the rest of the design rather than simply bolted onto the rear end. The Adrenalin looks much like the concept Sport Trac released earlier, yet is clad in bright red paint, includes an all-black honeycomb grille, unique 21-inch alloy wheels sporting 295/45 tires, and two-tone door inserts. Thickly bolstered sport seats wear matching two-tone leather, and rear seating consists of two beefy buckets that are divided by a center console. Where the current Sport Trac model is a quirky concoction, the 2007 Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin looks like a serious performance machine.

What it does best

What attracts us most to the 2007 Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin is the fact that's it has been developed by the SVT group. Those same folks have been responsible for transforming Ford's small econocar into a serious sport compact contender right off of the showroom floor, and they've taken a regular ol' pickup truck and turned it into piece of automotive art that could roast its tires mercilessly as easily as it could tow your boat. And now those same minds have focused on a new segment, the small truck. They've combined the practicality of the SVT Focus (four-passenger seating) with the unrestricted grunt of the F-150 SVT Lightning. And you can still load it up at Home Depot.

What we think

It's a tough time to be an automotive manufacturer. On one hand, we consumers say we're tired of paying for expensive gas and want more hybrids and better fuel-efficiency. On the other hand, we readily dismiss vehicles that lack what we perceive as enough power. But, companies like Ford are taking it all in stride. For some of us, they offer the economical Focus and Escape Hybrid, and for those of us with the "resources schmresources" attitude, Ford will soon be offering the 2006 Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500 and the 2007 Sport Trac Adrenalin, vehicles that are all about power and performance and offer less concern for economy. Sure, there are millions of shoppers who look at vehicles like the Adrenalin as wasteful, but it's quite obvious that there are also a significant number of shoppers who want all the horses they can get wrapped in a sweet package that also provides some versatility and practicality. And for those folks, they'll be happy to find just what they're looking for at the local Ford dealer.

Photos by Erik Hanson