2016 Ford Explorer Offers Wheelchair-Accessible Conversion

DEARBORN, Michigan — A wheelchair-accessible 2016 Ford Explorer, dubbed the BraunAbility MXV, will hit the market this fall, Ford said on Friday.

"The Ford Explorer-based MXV is a great new option for the many wheelchair-bound athletes and adventure-seekers out there who feel a minivan just isn't for them," Ford spokesman William Mattiace told Edmunds.

He said no specific pricing is available from BraunAbility, one of the leaders in wheelchair-accessible vehicle production.

"It's very dependent on what their customers order," Mattiace said.

BraunAbility buys the Explorers from Ford and then converts them. The MXV is not sold through Ford dealers, but rather is available for purchase at more than 200 authorized BraunAbility mobility dealers in the U.S.

Production of the special Explorer begins in August.

Ford notes that Sunday marks the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a landmark law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodation, communications and governmental activities.

Edmunds says: The mobility industry mainly has been focused on converting minivans up until now. This is an excellent option for those who want something different.