This weeks edition of Automotive News highlights the next 4 years of Ford products. First a glossary of styling terms used.
Carryover - Identical to the model sold the previous year; new colors, seating fabric may be offered.
Freshen - Sheet metal untouched; may include new grille, fascia, headlights or taillights.
Reskin - Minor styling changes to sheel metal; front and/or rear styling changed from previous year.
Restyle - Same platform as previous year, but extensive changes to interior and exterior design; looks totally different from previous year's model.
Redesign - New platform; new interior and exterior styling; engine & transmission could be carryover from previous model year.
Now for the changes:
Explorer/Mountaineer - Redesigned for 2002 (released in early 2001 as 2002 model).
Escape Pickup (baby Sporttrac) - Possible for 2003 (Sporttrac styling using the Escape as the platform).
Expedition/Navigator Reskin - Scheduled for 2003. Also possible stretched Expedition.
Ranger freshening likely for 2003.
F-150 restyling scheduled for 2003. May be delayed until 2004.
Lincoln SUV based on Ford Escape debuts in 2003.
Lincoln SUV (baby Navigator) based on Ford Explorer debuts in 2003.
Explorer ISG debuts in 2004. (Intergrated Starter-Generator is for 42-volt systems).
Lincoln Blackwood reskin scheduled for 2004.
Focus-based activity vehicle debuts in 2005.
Mid-sized sport wagon (ala Taurus Sport Wagon like Volvo cross country/Subaru Outback) debuts in 2005.
Explorer/Mountaineer restyling scheduled for 2005. May be delayed until 2006.
Ranger redesign scheduled for 2005. May be delayed until 2006.
Explorer Sport and Sport Trac is unclear whether, or when, they will be redesigned.
Keep in mind that any of the above changes may be seen as much as a full year before the given model year (i.e. 2001 ST debuts in 2/00, 2002 Explorer debuts in spring 2001). Based on this information, it appears unlikely that the Sport Trac will see any major (or minor) changes for either the 2002 or 2003 model years (sorry kids, no V8 on the horizon).