First look of new car-based Ford Explorer

The quick shutterbugs at KGP just snapped these first pictures of what appears to be a test mule for the new Ford Explorer running around on a car platform on the streets of Dearborn, MI. We've already reported the next-generation Explorer will be more car-like, something hinted at with the Ford Explorer America concept shown at Detroit earlier this year. The mule captured by KGP appears to be a mixture of the Ford Flex and Taurus X but with a taller ride-height, higher cowl and a revised A-pillar. All of this points to a taller, shorter vehicle than the current Explorer. Full spy report below the jump.


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pchera01 - 10/23/2008 8:51:10 PM

-2 Boost

WTF is ford is thinking?
Pretty soon there will be new big 3
Toyota, Honda and GM (or Nissan)

kornholio - 10/23/2008 9:32:56 PM

-9 Boost

Barack Obama built this car in his garage in an attempt to get a head start on putting America's companies out of business.

M35MT - 10/24/2008 11:25:53 AM

+2 Boost

^love it!

deboost away, socialists.

w209w114 - 10/24/2008 1:19:40 PM

+1 Boost

LOL

0to60 - 10/23/2008 10:24:00 PM

+2 Boost

GM has improved! Chrysler isnt to bad with the Challenger and Charger. WTF is this!?!

91z4me - 10/23/2008 10:28:05 PM

+10 Boost

It is an engineering mule. They are ALWAYS cobbled together.

Spectator - 10/24/2008 11:13:39 AM

-2 Boost

That horrendous elevated rear end dosen't look all that cobbled to me.

Apparently they tried to go the Land Rover route but failed miserably.

Poor Ford...apparently they caught whatever design VD that Honda seems to have contracted...unless they were the ones to give it to Honda in the first place...hmmmm?

91z4me - 10/24/2008 11:19:57 AM

+3 Boost

The elevated rear end is directly from the Taurus-X (a vehicle already in production.

PlanB - 10/23/2008 10:45:41 PM

+5 Boost

You can't really call this a first look at the next Explorer since its just a mule thats been cobbled together. The front nose is from a Flex and the back is from the Taurus X.

umik - 10/23/2008 11:10:37 PM

-5 Boost

hahahhaha, oh wow...seriously?! ahahahaha

umik - 10/23/2008 11:13:17 PM

-5 Boost

hey hey ford...i got an idea...build an escort based f150..i swear it will be a smash hit and will return you to profitability. haha

B7FAN - 10/24/2008 7:37:29 AM

-4 Boost

Looks like all the crappy loking explorers no change

Shredmo - 10/24/2008 9:56:20 AM

-2 Boost

Wasn't the original Explorer built on a Crown Victoria chassis?
Why mention this one as being car based?
Nothing new here.

91z4me - 10/24/2008 11:21:30 AM

+1 Boost

The original Explorer was NOT on the Panther chassis (there have been NO SUVs or trucks built on this chassis by Ford). Car based is a lay person's term for uni-body as opposed to truck based which typically means body on frame.

AMiodynski - 10/24/2008 11:27:40 AM

+1 Boost

The current and "next" generation Explorer is why I'm still driving my 03 Explorer Limited. I think that the Second Gen Explorer's are the best looking so far. I hate all the new FORD stuff, and thats hard for me to say, as I own the Explorer, and my 3rd Fox Body Stang.. I can't imagine liking the new ones.. TOO bad

doctorproctor - 10/24/2008 9:23:49 PM

0 Boost

First it was the Freestyle....then it was the Taurus 'X'.....now it's the Explorer!....another Ford original!

andy0168 - 12/14/2008 12:38:51 PM

+1 Boost

Ford already has three cross overs in this size why do they need another? I say keep the explorer truck based, just add the new Direct injection V6. I don't think its a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket. Thier are people who want to be able to tow a large trailer and occasionally be able to go through the muck on a fishing or hunting trip.