Besides offering a new XLT Sport Appearance Package for the popular Explorer, Ford also thought to open the path for a new segment. A new segment dedicated to those in need of having a dedicated car. So the Explorer now becomes the world’s only volume-production wheelchair-accessible SUV.
Ford Motor Company and BraunAbility have joined forces to create BraunAbility MXV, a wheelchair-accessible SUV that gives wheelchair users the quality and dependability of a BraunAbility mobility vehicle.
Available with Explorer base, XLT and Limited models, the BraunAbillity MXV features patented sliding-door technology, removable driver and passenger seats, and a powered, lighted in-floor ramp. A sliding shifter and front seat base design provide for increased space, while an integrated key fob operates both door and ramp. There’s also an available tow package.
Interior space is maximized to create room for wheelchair navigation and comfort. Wheelchair users can drive the vehicle from a wheelchair or ride as a passenger. Notable dimensions include: 55-inch usable side door opening height, 28 1/2-inch usable ramp width, 58-inch interior height (vehicle center), 59-inch interior height (for driver and passenger), 55-inch interior floor length behind front seats, 59 1/2-inch interior width at B-pillar.
Featuring a 3.5-liter V6 engine, BraunAbility MXV delivers an EPA-estimated 17 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined rating. Actual mileage will vary. MXV also delivers an estimated 5,000-pound maximum tow capacity.
BraunAbility MXV is produced at BraunAbility’s 170,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Winamac, Indiana and it is sold through more than 200 authorized dealers throughout the United States.
