Next Generation Explorer

[Rohardi]

My lease on my Infiniti is up in March next year (2017). When will the 2018 explorer available? Is everyone here confident that this will be a re-design year? Obviously I don't want to get a 2017 in March next year, just to have a new version come out a few months later. When will we start seeing concrete info on the next generation Explorer?

 

[peterk9]

My lease on my Infiniti is up in March next year (2017). When will the 2018 explorer available? Is everyone here confident that this will be a re-design year? Obviously I don't want to get a 2017 in March next year, just to have a new version come out a few months later. When will we start seeing concrete info on the next generation Explorer?

Looks like we're both out of luck. I also was hoping the 2018 would be the redesign as my lease if up April 1st next year.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3503407&postcount=15

Peter

 

[sheltonfilms]

Yeah I don't see a change happening this quick. No way would Ford do a "facelift" change for just a couple of years.

No profit. All the parts that changed, like the headlights, foglights, bumper, grille, control panel, tail lights, and roof rails costs a substantial amount of money.

Each plastic sub-component has individual molds that costs 100's of thousands of dollars. Suppliers mold the parts and preassembly them.

Headlights for instance are very complex now. They have many plastic trim pieces and each one has a mold. And then the supplier has to assemble them.

Most OEMs have the supplier do the R&D/CAD design on the molds. Then have a 3rd party make the molds. Then after the mold is "certified" by the OEM the OEM reimburses the supplier for the mold and then the OEM owns the mold. That way if a supplier can't produce a quality product they get de-sourced and the OEM takes the mold to another supplier they believe can do a better job.

Anyway there are millions and millions of dollars in a facelift. You don't want to know how much money is in a brand new redesign model.

 

[1995E]

Yeah I don't see a change happening this quick. No way would Ford do a "facelift" change for just a couple of years.

No profit. All the parts that changed, like the headlights, foglights, bumper, grille, control panel, tail lights, and roof rails costs a substantial amount of money.

Each plastic sub-component has individual molds that costs 100's of thousands of dollars. Suppliers mold the parts and preassembly them.

Headlights for instance are very complex now. They have many plastic trim pieces and each one has a mold. And then the supplier has to assemble them.

Most OEMs have the supplier do the R&D/CAD design on the molds. Then have a 3rd party make the molds. Then after the mold is "certified" by the OEM the OEM reimburses the supplier for the mold and then the OEM owns the mold. That way if a supplier can't produce a quality product they get de-sourced and the OEM takes the mold to another supplier they believe can do a better job.

Anyway there are millions and millions of dollars in a facelift. You don't want to know how much money is in a brand new redesign model.

Actually, Ford really does need to redesign this current generation Explorer. The PTU is a massive weak point in this car because they use the same PTU along many different models. That's why the torque and horsepower is capped at 365 HP and 350 lb-ft in this car. If you look at this video below, the Russians took this Explorer out for condition that are commonly seen in Russia, and guess what? They kept getting terrain management fault, the Explorer is stuck not because it can't get through the terrain, but the terrain management fault happened due to an overheating PTU, which disconnects the rear wheels and only the front wheels would turn. Making this a really unreliable vehicle to go anywhere where there is mud or snow long distances. Also, many police fleets have had an issue with the PTU leaking/ failing because they actually use their cars as intended, stressing the AWD system. I've heard from a MoCo officer that the PTU is the main issue they have with the Explorer and that Ford is going to redesign soon.

I had my PTU replaced at 3 days before warranty ended (thank god). Then the giant blizzard came to MD, and I was driving in it almost everyday during that blizzard because I volunteered for the local hospital. The AWD system gets me everywhere without me getting stuck... when it works right. I eventually got stuck because the terrain management management fault occurred due to an overheating PTU and I started to smell burning. Sure, this isn't an offroader but at least be able to power all 4 wheels effectively and continuously when you need it to:

The redesign is what I'm waiting for because I am betting you that PTU is going to be one of the biggest things in the redesign that will be beefed up so that it can function 24/7. That and hopefully more legroom. This current platform is based off an old Volvo platform which was designed to use aluminum. However, as you may know, Ford uses steel in the Explorer instead which adds a lot of weight. So it's a massively out dated platform.

Check around 7:47 and 8:48 where the terrain management fails twice. Great to see people actually beat the hell out the Explorer nonetheless.

 

[blwnsmoke]

There is nothing to say they can't beef up the ptu with the current configuration if they wanted to.

As it stands, 2 of us on here have been told from internal sources it will be a 2019MY which typically comes out in the summer of 2018.

 

[Sgt1411]

Blwnsmoke is correct, and I can elaborate a little more on the PTU, it is currently being redesigned or may already be done. I was hoping to see the newer PTU on the 17MY but that might be too optimistic.

The Police and Sport PTU's are water cooled so they have a higher tolerance to heat, probably the Platinum as well, but not confirmed.