Why did ford do it??
Why did ford do it??
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From what I've heard, there's not going to be a '06 Sport Trac. They're introducing the redesigned '07 Sport Trac early next year. Based on the current Explorer platform-- wider,longer & with the 4.6 liter V-8 option. I've also heard there may be a 6 speed automatic as well. We'll see!
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Brett Foote
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Why kill ?
The large Ford Bronco, I believe, was discontinued with the advent of the (then) new Ford F150 (the aero shaped one) that hit about '95 I believe.
It was replaced with the expedition, which shares a large chunk of tooling and manufacturing technology (if not all of it) with the '95+ F150 chassis. It is cheaper to maintain commonality among tooling and manufacturing technology, as opposed to maintaining and operating two complete sets of overhead costs to make two vehicles which are targeting the SAME market segment. It was largly an economic decision, porbably.
Furthermore, this was about the same time that the modular v8 engine series was coming of age. The cost of adapting that powertrain to an existing frame/chassis, was probably prohibitive, as opposed to dropping an expedition body on an identical F150 powertrain, already in the supply chain.
I can only assume that IF, indeed, it is true that the sprt-trac is being ditched, that the sales numbers don't support its continued production. I must admit that I have NO idea what proportion of explorer line sales is occupied by the ST. If it is being discontinued, I assume that proportion is low, when compared with the other body styles.
What would also make sense to me, given the significant change to the '06 line, FoMoCo probably, in the face of a tough economic environment, made a decision NOT to add the overhead of this body style, take THOSE lost sales in the gut, and gamble that folks looking at a ST would, with a high likelyhood, end up STILL buying an Explorer, OR move to a full size F150. JSUT A GUESS.
OK, I'll stop rambling
It was replaced with the expedition, which shares a large chunk of tooling and manufacturing technology (if not all of it) with the '95+ F150 chassis. It is cheaper to maintain commonality among tooling and manufacturing technology, as opposed to maintaining and operating two complete sets of overhead costs to make two vehicles which are targeting the SAME market segment. It was largly an economic decision, porbably.
Furthermore, this was about the same time that the modular v8 engine series was coming of age. The cost of adapting that powertrain to an existing frame/chassis, was probably prohibitive, as opposed to dropping an expedition body on an identical F150 powertrain, already in the supply chain.
I can only assume that IF, indeed, it is true that the sprt-trac is being ditched, that the sales numbers don't support its continued production. I must admit that I have NO idea what proportion of explorer line sales is occupied by the ST. If it is being discontinued, I assume that proportion is low, when compared with the other body styles.
What would also make sense to me, given the significant change to the '06 line, FoMoCo probably, in the face of a tough economic environment, made a decision NOT to add the overhead of this body style, take THOSE lost sales in the gut, and gamble that folks looking at a ST would, with a high likelyhood, end up STILL buying an Explorer, OR move to a full size F150. JSUT A GUESS.
OK, I'll stop rambling
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And I suppose you believe everything you read???
Originally Posted by fordguy101
Caranddriver said the explorer is gonna be dead by 2006. fordguy101
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Originally Posted by Kraut
The large Ford Bronco, I believe, was discontinued with the advent of the (then) new Ford F150 (the aero shaped one) that hit about '95 I believe.
It was replaced with the expedition, which shares a large chunk of tooling and manufacturing technology (if not all of it) with the '95+ F150 chassis. It is cheaper to maintain commonality among tooling and manufacturing technology, as opposed to maintaining and operating two complete sets of overhead costs to make two vehicles which are targeting the SAME market segment. It was largly an economic decision, porbably.
Furthermore, this was about the same time that the modular v8 engine series was coming of age. The cost of adapting that powertrain to an existing frame/chassis, was probably prohibitive, as opposed to dropping an expedition body on an identical F150 powertrain, already in the supply chain.
I can only assume that IF, indeed, it is true that the sprt-trac is being ditched, that the sales numbers don't support its continued production. I must admit that I have NO idea what proportion of explorer line sales is occupied by the ST. If it is being discontinued, I assume that proportion is low, when compared with the other body styles.
What would also make sense to me, given the significant change to the '06 line, FoMoCo probably, in the face of a tough economic environment, made a decision NOT to add the overhead of this body style, take THOSE lost sales in the gut, and gamble that folks looking at a ST would, with a high likelyhood, end up STILL buying an Explorer, OR move to a full size F150. JSUT A GUESS.
OK, I'll stop rambling
It was replaced with the expedition, which shares a large chunk of tooling and manufacturing technology (if not all of it) with the '95+ F150 chassis. It is cheaper to maintain commonality among tooling and manufacturing technology, as opposed to maintaining and operating two complete sets of overhead costs to make two vehicles which are targeting the SAME market segment. It was largly an economic decision, porbably.
Furthermore, this was about the same time that the modular v8 engine series was coming of age. The cost of adapting that powertrain to an existing frame/chassis, was probably prohibitive, as opposed to dropping an expedition body on an identical F150 powertrain, already in the supply chain.
I can only assume that IF, indeed, it is true that the sprt-trac is being ditched, that the sales numbers don't support its continued production. I must admit that I have NO idea what proportion of explorer line sales is occupied by the ST. If it is being discontinued, I assume that proportion is low, when compared with the other body styles.
What would also make sense to me, given the significant change to the '06 line, FoMoCo probably, in the face of a tough economic environment, made a decision NOT to add the overhead of this body style, take THOSE lost sales in the gut, and gamble that folks looking at a ST would, with a high likelyhood, end up STILL buying an Explorer, OR move to a full size F150. JSUT A GUESS.
OK, I'll stop rambling
It was 1997, and the sport trac will now be built on the explorer chassis instead of the ranger like it is now.