Ford to end Explorer Sport Trac and Mountaineer production in 2010

The current Ford Explorer lineup will get a little smaller in 2010 when FoMoCo drops the Explorer Sport Trac and the Mercury Mountaineer SUV. The move will come when Ford switches the Explorer from a body-on-frame to a unibody platform, suppliers told Automotive News.

The unibody 2011 Ford Explorer, based on the D3 platform used on the new 2010 Ford Taurus, will go into production in 2010 at the company’s Torrence Avenue plant. Expect an EcoBoost model to follow after the standard gasoline engine choices make their debut.

Sales of the Explorer have seen a drastic decline since the model’s popularity in the 1990s. In its peak year in 1999, FoMoCo sold...
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rxh8me9000 - 7/28/2009 12:24:29 AM

+3 Boost

wow me either. o well i doubt they will be missed.

theoptimisticpessimist - 7/27/2009 3:44:32 PM

+8 Boost

And the world snored on.

91z4me - 7/27/2009 8:56:31 PM

-1 Boost

Honestly if Ford had marketed and positioned the Sport Trac properly it could have replaced the extremely dated Ranger. It is a true midsize crew cab truck with V6 and V8 powertrains 5 and 6 speed automatic transmissions, good towing capacity, good interior room, a IRS, and good exterior styling it had the goods to compete against the crew cab Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, and Dodge Dakota but I never once saw it marketed or tested in a magazine. An extended cab option could have easily replaced the extended (barely) cab Ranger and Ford could have kept putting out the 4 cylinder regular cab for fleet purposes. But I guess they just didn't want to compete.

I may be weird but I find them a nice balance between fullsize and compact and think it is a cool vehicle.

WorldofLuxury - 7/27/2009 9:17:34 PM

+1 Boost

I think it's a great idea to replace the Ranger with the Sports Trac. It'll be like replacing the Excursion with the Expedition EL - it lowers cost by A LOT. Sharing the same (and good) interior would then be excusable.

veyron1001 - 7/28/2009 2:16:07 PM

+1 Boost

...................................and in other news.

91z4me - 7/28/2009 2:22:46 PM

+1 Boost

Invisible, are you sure the Ranger is better at truck duties?

V6 ST/ V8 ST/ V6 Ranger
Towing 5310 / 6800 / 5860
Payload capacity 1450 / 1390 / 1260

If you want a cheap truck to do non truck stuff (4 cylinder, 5 speed regular cab) the Ranger is a better choice but if you haul things or if you plan on towing things then the Sport Trac is a better choice. Also if you plan on having the ability to carry more than 2 people then the Ranger shouldn't even be considered.