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The Ironman Triathalon is the world’s most challenging endurance event. This fast-growing sport now hosts 28 events worldwide, pitting participants in a grueling 140.6-mile event that comprises a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike race and a 26.2-mile run, all done consecutively and typically in just over eight hours. After attending several events, Ford Explorer Marketing
Manager Glen Burke saw a correlation between Ford sport utility vehicles
and the Ironman participants. “The strength, endurance, passion and dedication I saw in the contestants echoed the same attributes that are found in Ford sport utility vehicles,” says Burke. Combining that with the fact that a high percentage of the participants were sport utility owners, Burke saw a perfect opportunity for a tie with the Ford brand, signing a three-year agreement in 2005 to serve as the title sponsor for the Ironman World Championship. “As we developed this relationship, we decided to generate a buzz vehicle within the Explorer lineup that would not just celebrate the relationship, but embody the spirit of Ironman,” says Burke. The limited-edition 2007 Ironman Explorer made its debut at the Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Ironman Triathalon the weekend of June 25, 2006.
Just like the triathletes, the Ironman Explorer is unique in its class, with black body-side cladding, rivet-designed wheel lip moldings and a black grille. The Ironman wears its own 18-inch machined-aluminum wheels with painted pockets and P235/65Rx18 A/S outlined white letter tires. Fog lamps with amber-tinted lenses flank the unique front fascia that features a bold silver bumper embossed with the Ironman logo. A blackout treatment on the headlamps and a black roof rack and crossbars complete the look. Inside, front-seat occupants are greeted by comfortable two-tone Black-and-Stone 10-way adjustable leather seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The silver center stack bezel adds to the vehicle’s tough image, and easy-to-clean rubber floor mats carry the Ironman logo. Exterior color choices are a unique-to-Ironman Orange Frost along with Oxford White, Ebony, Redfire and Silver Birch. The Ironman Explorer will be in dealer showrooms in September 2006. |
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