Saw the 2011 Explorer today - "naked"

[Gus Gorilla]

On a second note. Every year the bean counters talk about killing the Ranger. How about killing Ranger, redesigning a solid rear axle, coil over front, small truck with 4 wheel discs and reviving the F-100 badge. Once that is solid, use the front end and platform to make a new Explorer. The Ranger and Explorer would share a platform, grow up a bit to allow either the new 3.5L or the 4.6L and retain their functionality of a truck and an SUV. Lets be honest, the average American doesn't need an 8500lb GVW F-150 every day of the week. The F-100 could become the new "everyman" truck. Plus help with the CAFE ratings of Ford which would pasify the tree huggers.

 

[Tavery1]

It looks like a Subaru wagon/Mitsubishi Outlander love child.

 

[dmc80]

chicago auto show is next month, i will definately have a camera on hand to see what they have.

 

[BBQ Bandit]

Just announced that Chicago will be the next Ford location for the uni-flex Ex

http://www.freep.com/article/20100125/BUSINESS0102/100125064/1318/Ford-to-build-Explorer-in-Chicago

Within the article:
"Ford has said very little about what the new Explorer will look like but has confirmed that it will build Explorer off of a car platform but will still give it adequate towing capacity for 80% of Ford’s consumers."

Betcha that's translated to: "too weak to wheel or pull over 3,000 lbs ."

 

[dmc80]

1200 new jobs at a ford plant 30 min. from my house. I havent worked in a year. Hmmmm.

 

[Gus Gorilla]

The news today on the interweb about the plant and future production suggested an Explorer on a car chassis/platform which is shared with the new Taurus. ...brrrrrp...gulp.... had to swallow that little bit of vomitt there. Also some unsightly rumors on available powertrains. Like No V8.
But for you DMC80, go for it. The news said there are 600 people laid off who get first dibbs and the other 600 should be new. Any jobs are good news.

 

[highstick]

Hearse

Wow. almost looks like a Hearse to me.

Exactly my thoughts!

 

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

ive seen some turds that look better on wheels...

 

[highstick]

I really don't understand "why"! I've got a 2006 Explorer and love it. I wouldn't have had one of the smaller earlier models, but love the chassis and drive of the 2006. Why would you want to mess up a good thing? I hate Guv'ment Motor Company products now and admire Ford for creativity....but this is a total lack of creativity and and understanding of the market! Mess it up and I'll be looking at a Pilot or something else! I don't want an Expedition, but I don't want a toy either!

 

[Lanky]

http://www.thefordstory.com/our-pla...orer-will-be-built-at-chicago-assembly-plant/

 

[Lanky]

The above post is to a link from the Ford website. An interesting read. They are gonna move the Explorer assembly plant to Chicago and redo the truck plant in Louisville, Ky to make smaller cars like in Europe. What will become of the F150. Where will it be built?

 

[Tbars4]

...This link has current street spycam pics from Michigan..
http://www.ridelust.com/2011-ford-explorer-caught-wearing-ugly-car-coat/

"If Ford insists on messing around with the Explorer, they had better make sure the final product is as close to a Land Rover LR2 as you can get – no one’s going to buy an Explorer for its sedan-smooth highway performance unless it’s got some serious off-road cred to accompany it."

 

[specialized7]

my god thats ugly

 

[SleekSilver]

Guys, that ISN'T what the new Explorer is going to look like.

That is called a development/test mule. The chasis and drivetrain is what the Explorer will have, the shell is a mish-mash of different body parts that they can bolt on to the frame to complete the car. In this case, it is parts off of the Flex and Taurus X. This doesn't represent what the new Explorer is going to look like at all.

Many different manufacturers do this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_mule




EDIT: Holy crap, registered in 2004 and this is my first post. :lol:

 

[Joe Dirt]

Sleek, you'll drive yourself batty trying to explain this. It's a mystery to me how people really think that Ford is going to graft a Freestyle/Taurus X onto a Flex and launch it as an Explorer.

2 reasons to calm down people-

1.) Have faith, this is the same Ford that gave you the Edge, the new Fusion, and the new Taurus. The New Ex will grow on you, even if you don't love it initially because it doesn't look like your Gen II. Ford gets it. They do. After being in the development group for the new Taurus SHO, I know first hand that they listen to people that drive the cars. And the product that came out of it was amazing, even if it wasn't 100% what we wanted.

2.) Remember the last graft car they had? They will never do this again:

Although the story of how the Escort EXP came about is pretty cool, actually.

CLICK ME

Another blurb I saw on the EXP site (pretty cool actually- I like the coloring book!) was this gem- and we thing we have it bad? How's this for inflation:

As the 1983 model year began, Ford offered what was then low- interest financing (10.75 percent rate) to customers who would buy one of the leftover ’82 models.

And we complain at 1.9% for 60 months! LOL!
Worst part- I'd rock one of those.

 

[Inoc]

I hope you guys are right and that isnt the new explorer ( I'm sure it's a test mule ) because I'm planning on getting it, my extended warranty expires in a little over a year and after having to fix the transmission and radiator, the prospect of owning an explorer without ESP is kinda scary.

 

[briwayjones]

Mess it up and I'll be looking at a Pilot or something else!

Oh a Honda Pilot is so much better and such a truck.

 

[BBQ Bandit]

Oh well... so much for a good thing.

Maybe I'll just hand-down my 97 AWD to my daughter since been looking at upgrading...
... to a GMC Yukon Denali AWD.

 

[jrzytrac]

Speaking of having faith, the new SHO is a visual disappointment. It doesn't differ enough from the regular SHO in styling. I had a '93 and there was just enough departure that you knew it was something special from a distance yet still knew it was a Taurus. That era of SHO produced a cult following that I don't think will happen this time. That said, I'm not holding my breath for the new Explorer.

 

[YBCold]

flexsplorer. yuck. i just dont like the cars that are coming out these days. i hope they dont confiscate my first gen to save the enviroment.

EDIT. i read the rest of the post and see this may not be the way the final product will look. but im sure i wont like whatever they do decide on anyways i just dont like cars these days.