Mountaineer shares its design with the Ford Explorer, and both are redesigned for 2002. They have a wider stance, longer wheelbase, and gain independent rear suspension, but Mountaineer gets more-expressive styling inside and out. It also has a standard 3rd-row seat for 7-passenger capacity. A V6 is standard. The optional V8 is a new overhead-cam design in place of an overhead-valve V8. Both come only with a 5-speed automatic transmission; V8 Mountaineers previously used a 4-speed automatic. Mountaineer is available with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive without low-range gearing (Explorer's 4WD has low-range gearing). Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes and tilt/telescoping steering wheel are among the standard equipment. Options include a rear-obstacle-warning system, power-adjustable pedals, and a driver-seat memory. Torso side airbags are not offered, but the optional curtain side airbags are designed to provide head protection in a side collision and at midyear gained sensors intended to deploy them in a rollover. Due as a 2003 model is the Lincoln Aviator, a more-powerful, luxury-oriented version of the Mountaineer.