Ford Explorer America Concept
 

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/06/d...e-bye-to-body/

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.au...nt-1k-copy.jpg

Explorer America: Concept for Next Explorer
 

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/06/d...e-bye-to-body/

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.au...amercon_45.jpg

Great. Add it to the long list of other concepts this company will never build, leastwise not anything like what you see above. :rolleyes:

Either way: Escape, Edge, Taurus X, Flex, Expedition...Mariner, MKX, Mountaineer, Navigator.

Anyone think we need another 'truck'?

Merged Threads . . .

Some highlights that are of interest.

All great, great "stuff" . . . does it need to be in the Explorer nameplate? Maybe, maybe not. I'd rather see the above in a sedan application, and leave the Explorer to a body-on-frame application. I actually used my past Explorer to camp, trail ride, etc. I suppose given that I didn't "push" the 4x4 to the limits a unibody would be sufficient, but I agree, how many darn unibody SUV, Crossovers does FMC need?

I do (as with most FMC concepts) like this Explorer Concept. I'd give this a look if I were in the market and it stayed true to concept version.

The more I see the more I like . . . .

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.au...amercon_49.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.au...amercon_11.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.au...amercon_01.jpg

I liked the Reflex, too. Didn't build it.

I really liked the 427 concept. Didn't build it.

I liked the Interceptor concept. Whoops, didn't build that either.

Ford's strategy is beginning to remind me of a Britney Spears song.

Oops!... I Did It Again. :doh:

You forget that Mulally hates building concepts that never see the light of day. I have a little more confidence in this one. My only question: how much will change? Obviously the interior will but 95% of the exterior is doable.

I've heard that the Taurus X goes away when the redesigned Explorer hits the market. So basically it's like this:

Traditional truck-like SUVs: Escape/Mariner, Explorer, Expedition

Car-like CUVs: Edge/MKX, Flex/Lincoln Flex

Its like vaporware....

Don't forget the Bronco concept and the the GR1....

At the dealer I work at, TaurusX is moving at the same rate as Explorers.

This reminds me of the Toyota FJ Cruiser

Which part, that it has 4 wheels?? I don't see any resemblence. :dunno:

Ford mentioned earlier that next Explorer will be a crossover. So production model may be very similar to this concept.

2 responses to the serial pessimists:

1 - The Autoblog article and the Ford press release pretty much annoint this thing as the next Explorer. Sure, some stuff will change to make it more producable, but this hing is getting built.

2 - Just becuase its not BOF doesn't mean its incapable of being an SUV. Look at the Merc GL and LR2. Lets see what capabilites they dial into it before we mourn the not exactly king of the dirt current Explorer.

Bonus: This could be the luanch vehicle for the GRWDP. Stil waiting to see what the BON insiders have to say on it.

I think this is a grea looking vehicle thats for sure.

The only difference is that next Explorer won't be SUV. I read somewhere a while ago that next Explorer will be crossover.

I just thought there was a little resemblance in the body-style...
http://www.toyotaoflewisville.com/GS...ser-2-2007.jpg

Serial pessimists for a company that has long displayed serial strategies.

Don't get me wrong: I REALLY wanna be wrong here, but I keep being reminded of the story of the boy who cried "wolf".

I understand where you're coming from but I try to be one of the "glass-half-full" kind of people. As a counterpoint to you, I REALLY DON'T wanna be wrong here.

Two other concepts that were released before Mulally arrived. I personally LOVE this thing. Very tough and modern. The exterior is basically doable. The interior has to get more toned down to production, but I don't think all that much. What I want to know is what is the deal with the seats? On Autoblog, where they have 30+ pictures, there is a name for the seats, "STAC" as they lift up and slide on a track and "stack behind each other". Must me a new flex-seat Ford developed. Mark is totally right on this with the Mulally thing. He HATES having concepts build that don't become reality. This thing is hitting the streets in a few year, BOOK IT.

Oh and BTW, the thread on Blueovalnews.com on this vehicle is over 6 pages long and 95% positive (which is hard to believe on that site). Everyone loves it. Thank you Ford for building a cool looking vehicle that grabs people's attention. :banana:

And another thing, the motors touted for this are as interesting as the vehicle itself. VERY impressive HP & Torque ratings for a 4-cylinder and V6!! And these things are coming too, guaranteed!!:nice:

Blue II says this is a D3 vehicle, though he doesn't say whether that's both production and concept or just concept. Possible he's wrong, though he's right more often than not.