Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, SUVs, Crossovers/CUVs, Ford
Detroit 2008: Evolving the Explorer - Ford Explorer America concept LIVE
by Damon Lavrinc on Jan 13th 2008 at 11:00AM 
Update: Video of the Explorer America concept reveal is available after the jump.
click above for morel live images of the Ford Explorer America Concept
The unveiling of Ford's Explorer America concept might finally prove that the end of the SUV era is upon us. FoMoCo's stalwart 'ute has left the body-on-frame world and joined the ranks of crossovers that – if you believe the hype – are quickly filling up the SUV-sized vacuum left in garages across the country.
On the outside, Ford decided to keep several of the design cues that have defined the Explorer over the years, simply smoothing the edges, raising the belt line and giving it a healthy injection of futuristic lines that would make it a shoe-in as Robocop's next black-and-white cruiser. The sliding door on the passenger side might not make it to production, but it would be a smart addition to bridge the gap between machismo and minivan.
Check out our previous post for all the details on the Ford Explorer America.
click above for morel live images of the Ford Explorer America Concept
The unveiling of Ford's Explorer America concept might finally prove that the end of the SUV era is upon us. FoMoCo's stalwart 'ute has left the body-on-frame world and joined the ranks of crossovers that – if you believe the hype – are quickly filling up the SUV-sized vacuum left in garages across the country.
On the outside, Ford decided to keep several of the design cues that have defined the Explorer over the years, simply smoothing the edges, raising the belt line and giving it a healthy injection of futuristic lines that would make it a shoe-in as Robocop's next black-and-white cruiser. The sliding door on the passenger side might not make it to production, but it would be a smart addition to bridge the gap between machismo and minivan.
Check out our previous post for all the details on the Ford Explorer America.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ed 11:35AM (1/13/2008)
Aren't concept cars supposed to have *GOOD* looking interiors? Blech..
Reply
rooster 11:47AM (1/13/2008)
Looks like they went high tech as opposed to opulence.
Anthony 12:35PM (1/13/2008)
This isn't a goodlooking truck at all. I really tried to find something to like about it but I couldn't.
FoMoCo........Please stop embarrassing yourself & get out of the car game, face it................you lost!
Reply
Randy 1:46PM (1/13/2008)
Anthony, are you serious? I really like the softened edges. I like it better than the new F-150. I honestly think this and the Verve are the best two looks that came out of Ford! Just wondering what you don't like about it.
Tagg 2:33PM (1/13/2008)
Hey "Tony" get out of the comment game, face it........... you lost!
Chase 2:37PM (1/13/2008)
I don't like 90% of SUVs, but if they kept the general shape and especially the front end of this in the production version, I'd definitely like it. The interior is quite a bit less appealing to me, but it does have some nifty tid-bits like that compass with integrated topographical GPS.
I hate nav systems in cars because they are too distracting, but something like that I'd be much more keen to have, even in a small car. It isn't part of the driving experience, but is still integrated into the car -- a very cool idea.
Reply
Tagg 2:37PM (1/13/2008)
I am all for constructive criticism but wow, some of the comments on here lately are pretty sad. It seems that if an automaker made a car that got 100 MPG, zero emissions, was as safe as bubble wrap and cost $50 someone would blast it for some strange and self-promoting reason.
Reply
That One Person 11:28PM (1/13/2008)
Better than the recent Toyota D-Bag concept.
Reply