Well, I hate to say it. But I think the title of the thread is correct. Consider:
1. The Explorer is made by the same company that tried to kill the Mustang. Repeatedly. Heck, Ford saw no value in the brand built by "Taurus" and only brought the name back after "500" tanked badly. Is this a company that could see what we see in these vehicles?
2. Ford desperately needs to dramatically improve their sales to stay alive and people just aren't interested in rollover-prone, gas-guzzling, rough-riding trucks. 30 mpg mini-Utes and crossover wagons designed with
pregnant women in mind are the vehicles in demand by the masses.
3. Ford cut back production at its Louisville Assembly Plant, where it makes the Explorer and Explorer Sport Trac, last November because demand for the Explorer had decreased over the previous three years, and the vehicle's sales rate fell "well below the plant's capacity." as the AP reported.
4. Techieman33 has already pointed out that current Explorers are as different from 1st and 2nd gen Explorers as Ford could make them without going the expense of ditching the platform. But even with these changes, the formerly best-selling Explorer hasn't been making anybody's top-10 list of SUVs lately. I think with the Escape, Freestyle, and now Taurus X, you can be sure Ford's actively seeking a replacement.
Is the Taurus X the death nail for the Explorer? Who knows? But I do think time is running out for the Explorer. I just hope if Ford does kill it, they really kill it. I, for one, don't ever want to see the name "Explorer" on something that looks like a Rav4.