As I'm sure you all know, the next gen Explorer will migrate to unibody construction, Ford's D4 platform to be exact which also underpins the Flex, and Taurus and a few other Ford products.

With that brings only two drivetrain options, FWD or optional AWD. RWD will no longer be available. The V8 will also disappear, but Ford has that covered with their 3.5L EcoBoost engine which will be available in the next gen Explorer and produces 355 HP and 350 lb. ft. of torque. both more powerful than the current 4.6L. The base engine will more than likely be a 2.0L EcoBoost engine and word is that it's producing around 280 HP and likely similar torque numbers, that's way better than the base 4.0 motor right now and nearly matches the Explorers optional 4.6.

So, knowing this. Would you all be interested in the next gen Explorer even without RWD? Are you all going to consider it and take it seriously, or is it going to be written off as just another uncapable unibody crossover?

I'd really like to hear what you all think.

 

Probably depends on how they distinguish it...I assume it's gonna have a "tougher" image intended than the other crossovers. But they just killed the Taurus X (formerly Freestyle) because they have a big concentration of vehicles in that market segment--the Escape, the Edge, and the Flex. (What was the point of the Taurus X in that lineup?)

I'm guessing the new unibody Explorer will fit in between the Edge and the Flex--and have 3 rows unlike the Edge. Maybe it will be tougher and tow more(?) Probably more ground clearance than the Flex, maybe more than the Edge has.

George

 

Its styling is definately going to be tougher and more suv like than Ford's other crossovers.

As far as towing cababilities, the D4 platform is designed to tow up to 5000 lbs so they have that covered if you ask me.

I've also heard rumors that Ford is planning on bringing out a next gen Sport Trac that will share platforms with the next gen Explorer just like the current Explorer/ Sport Trac. Figure something along the lines of a Honda Ridgeline.

Here's the Explorer America Concept that debuted at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. This concept more than likely shows the basic design for the next Explorer; it should borrow the concepts design heavily for production models.

 

How stupid could Ford be to get rid of the 4x4 SUV. Certainly many people only drive their SUVs on the highway, but many of us use the 4x4 high and low features. Before I got my 2008 Explorer I looked at Jeeps and found out they only offer AWD. So I went with another Explorer. I guess I'll go to a GM product in a year when my lease is up. BTW - if that's what the new Explorer is really going to look like, the 2008 would be the last in a string of three straight Explorers for me anyhow.

 

Looks like a minivan to me. I got disgusted with explorers after the 2nd generation. they lost all offroad capability.

 

i actually iike it except for the front end.
by the way, if people had continued to buy the current model ford would still want to produce it so i suggest that all of you that want a rwd/4x4 rush down to your friendly ford dealer and buy one or two lol!!
jim

 

They forgot to include headlights!!!!

 

Yuk! Ugly! How could they design something to look like that?

 

How were you expecting it to be designed? Maybe like this?

 

I don't know how I feel about until I see the production vehicle. I am some what disapointed.New buyers probally will love it, die hard explorer owners will probally miss alot about the old explorers. I love the body on frame & rwd. I pull both my trailers with it, camp in the back of it at nascar races, all my explorer's did just the right things for me. The escape was to small and expedition to big, the explorer was in the right spot for most families and mine. I would never put the edge on my list. I'll keep an open mind, but change sometimes is hard to swallow, I think it's going to be a sad day for the explorer.

 

I have always liked Explorers as well, but this is a vehicle which used to sell at 400,000 units per year, and in Jan-March 2009, they sold 10,000 of them, meaning annual sales in 2009 are probably going to be 40,000, or one TENTH of what they used to sell. It is already a sad day for the Explorer.

The writing is on the wall. Find a good deal on an '08 or '09 Explorer and buy one for yourself if you want one going forward....alternatively, there will likely be a good supply of low-mileage used Explorers out there for a number of years to come.

George

 

YoGeorge seems to understand what I'm going to say.

The die-hard Explorer owners think of the Explorer as some type of niche vehicle which it is cleary not. The reality is that the Explorer is a main-stream, high volume, bread and butter vehicle for Ford... or at least it used to be. As YoGeorge pointed out, sells of the Explorer are WAY down from what they once were so that means one thing, a new strategy for the Explorer.

A simple redesign did not work for the Explorer in 2006 and it will not work for the next gen Explorer.

Ford needs to get the Explorer back to the main-stream, high volume, bread and butter vehicle it once was and the only way to achieve that is by drastically changing the Explorer. The marketplace has changed and the Explorer needs to follow suit.