SPIED: The RETURN Of The Ford Explorer, Do YOU Think It Has Land Rover Qualities?

CAR Magazine reports:

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...

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PlanB - 3/26/2010 3:23:21 PM

+2 Boost

It does have the profile of a Land Rover but all I see is design cues from all their other trucks + the Taurus grille. It looks good but nothing ground breaking, typical Explorer.

Ab311 - 3/26/2010 3:25:07 PM

+4 Boost

What we can see of the front looks similar to the Taurus. So, not really. Either way...who cares. Looking like a Land Rover isn't a bad thing. If it looked like a Chrysler or a Chevy...that may be a bad thing.

009load - 3/26/2010 3:37:17 PM

-5 Boost

SPIED aka ripped off, copied, stolen from another website.

Agent00R - 3/26/2010 6:15:57 PM

+5 Boost

Ripped off? Stolen?

Clearly, credit was given at the top of the article and we do not simply rewrite and reword like the other guys do.

Additionally, we provide a link to the FULL article at the bottom of the page.

CAR does not have an issue with us bringing them more traffic.

Thanks for reading!

91z4me - 3/26/2010 3:43:35 PM

+1 Boost

Obviously it will look better when trimmed out and painted but it doesn't look horrible.

I do expect those headlights are just for running duty. The shape is likely correct but the actual part will probably be much closer to the updated Edge.

M35MT - 3/26/2010 4:50:18 PM

+1 Boost

I dont really seen any LR. Maybe the chisled lines? That's about it. Not as blatant a rip-off as the Escape was to the Freelander.

I see the new F-150 grill upfront.

kornholio - 3/26/2010 7:29:04 PM

+2 Boost

I'm sorry, but I don't see the point in building "this" Explorer and the Flex at the same time on the same platform. Why not just call it the Taurus-X? I would rather see the merge Explorer and Expedition as two different configurations of truck bodied suvs than build another crossover which is essentially a different looking version of the Flex.

LACMAN - 3/26/2010 9:13:43 PM

+1 Boost

Escape, Edge, Explorer, and Flex all FWD based crossovers? WTF? Why? Whats going to happen with the Expedition?

WorldofLuxury - 3/26/2010 11:39:39 PM

+1 Boost

It's a little too "soft" to be an Explorer.

dt32886 - 3/28/2010 9:30:30 PM

+1 Boost

It looks too feminine to be an Explorer. Remember when the 92 Eddie Bauer was the pinnacle of SUV's? I was having high hopes with this car, but im really disappointed. Flex is horrid, Edge is out for the sake of a crossover, Expedition/Navigator have engines that are over 10 years outdated, and this new Explorer looks like they went the "safe" route aka uninspired. If it wasn't for the Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade, there would be no good American SUV. How are the Jap/Euro companies making better SUV's than us? We are the ones that actually drive them! Leave the crossovers to the imports, and PLEASE make a masculine SUV that us men are proud to tow with, and have our wives crash into other cars safely with!

Type707 - 3/30/2010 12:59:38 AM

+1 Boost

Has the looks of Land Rovers LR2. Its great that FORD is finally out of the picture of Land Rover/Jaguar.