Spied: Ford Explorer
03-26-2010 | 03:41 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,600
From: Pewee Valley, KY
Spied: Ford Explorer
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-...d-Rover-style/
Pics at link.
Edit: Left Lane News has WAY more pictures.
Ford Explorer (2011) gains Land Rover style
By Tim Pollard
Spyshots
26 March 2010 13:47
This is Ford's new 2011 Explorer – and we think you'll agree there's more than a dash of Land Rover about the Blue Oval's new SUV, codenamed U502.
It's a new unibody design geared up for on-road performance above mud-plugging. And that design is clear for all to see, after a 'gust of wind' apparently blew the covers off this test vehicle. We're always suspicious about such claims (a publicity stunt, cynics may ask?) but there's no disputing the result.
Yep, there's more than a hint of Land Rover Discovery/Freelander to it!
Perhaps Ford kept the secret potions and lotions from the Gaydon design studio when it sold Land Rover to Tata... There's certainly something boxy and architectural about the new 2011 Explorer. That front three-quarters shot looks a spitting image of the Freelander. And is that a hint of old-school Merc ML in the raked C-pillar?
The big news with the new Ford Explorer, which will be shown at a motor show in summer 2010 not in New York next week, is the switch from a ladder chassis to unitary construction. It's designed to trim fuel consumption by a claimed 25%, according to Ford insiders.
The D4 platform architecture is the same as the hardware underpinning the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT. Likely engines include a 230bhp 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine and a naturally aspirated 285bhp 3.5-litre V6 petrol.
Inside are three rows of seats, including occasional sixth and seventh pews. The rear seats will feature a world first: seatbelt airbags, to reduce the risk of injury in severe shunts and submarining. They inflate in the blink of an eye and share the crash energy over five times greater a body area to spread the load.
No Mercury or Lincoln derivatives of the Explorer are likely this time round. The new Ford Explorer will be built in the Chicago, US factory. It's a big launch for Ford; it's sold more than 6 million Explorers since launch in 1990 and has been America's best-selling mid-size SUV for 15 of the past 19 years.
And what's all this about a new Ford concept car?
That'll be the new show car being readied for the 2010 Beijing motor show in a month's time. On 25 April Ford will unveil its first car designed and developed especially for the Chinese car market – in a move mirroring GM's new EN-V concept car which it developed with its Chinese partner SAIC.
We're not sure yet what the new 2010 Ford concept car is, but hear it'll 'be of interest' to Europeans. A Fiesta derivative, perchance?
By Tim Pollard
Spyshots
26 March 2010 13:47
This is Ford's new 2011 Explorer – and we think you'll agree there's more than a dash of Land Rover about the Blue Oval's new SUV, codenamed U502.
It's a new unibody design geared up for on-road performance above mud-plugging. And that design is clear for all to see, after a 'gust of wind' apparently blew the covers off this test vehicle. We're always suspicious about such claims (a publicity stunt, cynics may ask?) but there's no disputing the result.
Yep, there's more than a hint of Land Rover Discovery/Freelander to it!
Perhaps Ford kept the secret potions and lotions from the Gaydon design studio when it sold Land Rover to Tata... There's certainly something boxy and architectural about the new 2011 Explorer. That front three-quarters shot looks a spitting image of the Freelander. And is that a hint of old-school Merc ML in the raked C-pillar?
The big news with the new Ford Explorer, which will be shown at a motor show in summer 2010 not in New York next week, is the switch from a ladder chassis to unitary construction. It's designed to trim fuel consumption by a claimed 25%, according to Ford insiders.
The D4 platform architecture is the same as the hardware underpinning the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT. Likely engines include a 230bhp 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine and a naturally aspirated 285bhp 3.5-litre V6 petrol.
Inside are three rows of seats, including occasional sixth and seventh pews. The rear seats will feature a world first: seatbelt airbags, to reduce the risk of injury in severe shunts and submarining. They inflate in the blink of an eye and share the crash energy over five times greater a body area to spread the load.
No Mercury or Lincoln derivatives of the Explorer are likely this time round. The new Ford Explorer will be built in the Chicago, US factory. It's a big launch for Ford; it's sold more than 6 million Explorers since launch in 1990 and has been America's best-selling mid-size SUV for 15 of the past 19 years.
And what's all this about a new Ford concept car?
That'll be the new show car being readied for the 2010 Beijing motor show in a month's time. On 25 April Ford will unveil its first car designed and developed especially for the Chinese car market – in a move mirroring GM's new EN-V concept car which it developed with its Chinese partner SAIC.
We're not sure yet what the new 2010 Ford concept car is, but hear it'll 'be of interest' to Europeans. A Fiesta derivative, perchance?
Edit: Left Lane News has WAY more pictures.
Last edited by 91_z28_4me; 03-26-2010 at 03:45 PM.
03-26-2010 | 05:21 PM
#3
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 427
From: Perrysburg, OH
No 4WD, what's the point? I loved my 92 Explorer. 4.0L with a 5-speed. It was fun to drive and could go anywhere I needed it to anytime I needed it to. I hate these crossover remakes, some of us still like the utility the old systems provided but don't need a full-size truck
03-27-2010 | 01:48 PM
#6
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 104
From: Pittsburgh PA
No 4WD, what's the point? I loved my 92 Explorer. 4.0L with a 5-speed. It was fun to drive and could go anywhere I needed it to anytime I needed it to. I hate these crossover remakes, some of us still like the utility the old systems provided but don't need a full-size truck
03-27-2010 | 10:00 PM
#7
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,285
From: Albany, NY
Wow, somebody else who agrees with me. This is a disgrace to the explorer name, it should of been named something else so the explorer could die with some dignity. Now it will just be another lifted car. 2010 will be the last year explorer i will ever buy. I want my real SUV.
03-28-2010 | 12:38 AM
#8
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 104
From: Pittsburgh PA
The grand cherokee is nothing like it use to be either, the whole jeep lineup is sissified now except for the wrangler, the range rovers are extremely overpriced. Just my opinion though. You are hard pressed to find any true suv's left on the road unless you want a full size like suburban, Yukon etc etc, even these vehicles have been toned down, I blame the soccer mom's for 95% of it
03-30-2010 | 07:24 AM
#9
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 427
From: Perrysburg, OH
I have no problem with AWD but they're saying FWD only is a possibility. I don't really have a problem with unibody either as long as it can still tow crap. What can this thing tow with it's car drivetrain?
03-30-2010 | 09:19 AM
#10
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,285
From: Albany, NY
GMC Acadia tows 5200lbs. I bet Ford tries to out do GM. Maybe up to 5500-6000lbs.?
The current V6 Explorer can tow:
5,375 (4x2)
5,205 (4x4)
5,000 (AWD)
The new unibody AWD V6 will out tow the old BOF V6 AWD.
Engines will range from a 230hp to 365hp, much more than the current Explorer
03-30-2010 | 09:20 PM
#11
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,375
From: Sarasota FL
What PROOF do you have that this is true?? Is this your opinion, or actual concrete fact? If its fact, I have to hear where you got it from. Other than the Compass, every Jeep offering is as capable or more capable than previous offerings...period.
03-30-2010 | 10:50 PM
#12
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 427
From: Perrysburg, OH
Ok, I GOTTA bite on this one...
What PROOF do you have that this is true?? Is this your opinion, or actual concrete fact? If its fact, I have to hear where you got it from. Other than the Compass, every Jeep offering is as capable or more capable than previous offerings...period.
What PROOF do you have that this is true?? Is this your opinion, or actual concrete fact? If its fact, I have to hear where you got it from. Other than the Compass, every Jeep offering is as capable or more capable than previous offerings...period.
I'm still a bit miffed that the Explorer is going to a FWD platform. I read about Ford trying to do this to the Mustang in the mid 80's.
Anyway, is there anything with more room than a Wrangler with 4x4/AWD, ground clearance and a manual transmission that's not a 4-banger?? I don't think such a thing exists anymore.
03-31-2010 | 08:34 AM
#13
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,600
From: Pewee Valley, KY
03-31-2010 | 08:58 AM
#14
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,285
From: Albany, NY
An Explorer is a lot different than a Mustang. It doesn't matter to 99.99% of people if the AWD/4WD system is based on FWD or RWD. All that matters is when they need it both the front and back wheels spin.
