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Braunability-Ford brings the world's first wheelchair-accessible SUV

By Swati Sanyal Tarafdar,

Added 27 July 2015

BraunAbility-customised Ford Explorer – the best-selling SUV in the U.S. for the last 25 years – will be the company’s first mass-produced wheelchair-accessible SUV

The BraunAbility MXV – a wheelchair-accessible vehicle based on Ford Explorer – gives wheelchair users the quality and dependability of a BraunAbility mobility vehicle

The BraunAbility MXV features patented sliding-door technology, removable driver and passenger seats, and a powered, lighted in-floor ramp. In addition, the interior space of the vehicle is maximised to create ample room for wheelchair navigation and comfort.

"For our first-ever wheelchair-accessible SUV, it was important we worked with the best," said Nick Gutwein, BraunAbility president and CEO. "We wanted to create a vehicle that personifies freedom and independence, and the Ford Explorer provides the ultimate base to achieve that."

BraunAbility scoured the popular SUV segment in search of the right vehicle before settling on Ford Explorer - the best-selling SUV in the U.S. for the last 25 years.

Innovative sliding-door technology and the lighted, in-floor ramp are highlights, but they are just two of the features that make this a uniquely accommodating ride. Wheelchair users will be able to drive the vehicle from a wheelchair, or ride as a passenger.

With Explorer's middle-row seat removed, the BraunAbility MXV provides interior space to fit the most common power wheelchair models, and its 56-inch cabin height provides a spacious interior for a comfortable ride.

Featuring a 3.5-liter V6 engine, the BraunAbility MXV delivers performance and capability Explorer drivers have embraced for years, including an EPA-estimated rating of 17 city mpg, 24 highway mpg and 20 combined mpg. Actual mileage will vary. The MXV also delivers an estimated 5,000-pound maximum tow capacity.

"The MXV is a revolutionary vehicle, and we're thrilled with Explorer's role in helping bring it to market," said Craig Patterson, Ford utility vehicle marketing manager. "For 25 years, the Explorer name has symbolised freedom and adventure, and the BraunAbility MXV adds another chapter to that story."

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