Spy Shots: Unibody 2011 Ford Explorer cometh
by Damon Lavrinc on Oct 13th 2009 at 2:58PM 
2011 Ford Explorer - Click above for high-res gallery
A 2011 Ford Explorer prototype has begun making runs around Michigan, and although the camo is thick, we're getting out first glimpse of what Ford has in store for its unibody 'ute.
Built on the same platform that underpins the Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS and – more importantly – Flex, the all-new seven-seater Explorer will trade a bit of off-road prowess and towing capacity for a smoother ride and increased fuel efficiency. Under the hood, expect a choice of Ford's newest EcoBoost engines – the 3.5-liter V6 and a new 2.0-liter inline-four – with the latter possibly mated to an all-new dual-clutch gearbox.
Although the camo obscures most of the design details, the A-pillars and greenhouse are reminiscent of the Flex, although the hatch appears canted slightly inward, with a set of LED taillamps mounted in back. The overall shape is sure to take cues from the Explorer America concept show at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, and we plan on getting our first look at the production model early next year before production begins at Ford's Louisville, Kentucky plant in late 2010.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Brian 3:00PM (10/13/2009)
Why have this when there is the Flex? WTF!?
What's the difference if it's unibody? More conventional styling? Ok, wasn't that the supposed selling point of the failed Taurus X.
Ford continues to flail around uselessly with its product line.
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Tim 3:06PM (10/13/2009)
No, the selling point of the Taurus X was its best in class combination of price and room. It was an excellent family vehicle, but sales fell flat due to poor marketing and frumpy styling. It didn't look like a traditional SUV, and if you thought it did then you're probably blind.
Jared 3:11PM (10/13/2009)
The new Explorer will have higher ground clearance and some off-road capability (that will likely not be used by owners). The Flex has no off-road capability.
Matt 3:47PM (10/13/2009)
"but sales fell flat due to poor marketing and frumpy styling."
Sounds like the Flex' problem...only the Flex really does have piss poor marketing while the Taurus X had ZERO marketing.
Funny...despite actually having an advertising budget, in it's first year on the market...the Flex sold at the EXACT same rate as the TAurus X...only within 1K units of each other.
Talk about a very poor investment. And this Explorer will be no different. This Explorer will be just as stupidly redundant with the Flex as the 5-passenger, 3500 pound towing capacity Escape is with the Edge...Fords other 5 passenger, 3500 pound towing SUV
brad 4:14PM (10/13/2009)
This will have more towing and little more off road capability then the Taurus X or Flex. I'm guessing its sized between the Honda Pilot and Chevy Traverse and will look more like a traditional suv/cuv. This will be going after buyers who do not like the Flex's box on wheels look.
SS 6:03PM (10/13/2009)
Think of this as Pilot competition and and Flex,the Odyssey competitor(flex is infact Fords iteration of a minivan I think)-like the Hondas,all based on the same platform as the Taurus. Failed Taurus x was styled more like a wagon than a corssover. I however agree that this overlaps with the edege(except probably for a 3rd seat option and more conventional SUV styling)Edge however is completely different and is based on a Mazda platform.It is a little pathetic that all of these "new"Fords are based on a discarded Volvo platform though.
Dan 6:38PM (10/13/2009)
"the selling point of the Taurus X was its best in class combination of price and room."
The frumpy wagon as big as an Odyssey was a class of one.
Mike 6:58PM (10/13/2009)
Brian, you really need to pull your head from your arse. If Ford has been flailing around uselessly with it's product line, what have your precious imports been doing considering Ford's market share continues to rise each month (retail also up with fleet down)?
Then there's good 'ole Matt. Again, spews out some unresearched BS and tries unsuccessfully to pawn it off as if it were truth instead of his ill-wished imagination towards Ford. Hate to tell you buddy but Flex is up YOY over Taurus X and with sales across the industry down 30ish percent, a breakeven in models sold is a win for a replacment vehicle, especially one in the higher ranges of a company's offerings in the worst economy in 90 years. If sales had been static this year, Flex would most likely be up more than 30% from where it is now. You are so sad and pathetic it's sad and pathetic.
Brian 12:24AM (10/14/2009)
They're NOT imports Mike, they're transplants. Unless you consider Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, and South Carolina to be "foreign". Dumbass.
Brian 12:26AM (10/14/2009)
They're NOT imports Mike, the proper term is "transplants" since they build cars in this country now. Understand?
Tang 3:06PM (10/13/2009)
Brian is a party pooper. I think this Explorer is rather exciting, even if it is a unibody vehicle.
The Flex is in a class of its own, and that's a good thing.
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Joey Mazz 7:08PM (10/13/2009)
I agree, I like the way that the explorer is shaping up, it certainly has better proportions than the mules we've been seeing as of late. It looks like it has just enough ground clearance to handle the "my suv can kinda go off road but probably never will" segment that is so important in the automotive market, and I'll bet it gets much better fuel economy than the extremely outdated explorer that we have now. And with an ecoboost v6 it will definitely tow more than 3,500 pounds.
LimeDaiquiri 3:10PM (10/13/2009)
I forgot all about this thang.
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ForgedInternals 3:18PM (10/13/2009)
I think the biggest question is if this uses the F-150 or the Escape's 4x4 sytstem, I'm hoping for the former because I want to see someone shoehorn an Ecoboost 4cyl into the Ranger.
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Jared 3:42PM (10/13/2009)
My guess is neither. IIRC, both the F150 and Ranger have part-time 4WD systems that can not be used on dry pavement. I suspect this will get some type of AWD system that can be used on pavement.
Greg Aryous 3:18PM (10/13/2009)
Ford has too much brand equity in the Explorer, plus over 4 Million owners to abandon it, so here it is... 2-3 rows, 5-7 passanger...
The really big question is - if it is on the D4 (Flex) platform, will it be FWD based AWD that might erode some of its "off-road" ability.
POLL: Would you buy the Explorer if it is FWD based AWD (vs. RWD)?
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ForgedInternals 3:27PM (10/13/2009)
I have no use for the Explorer, but I suspect if it can tow a good amount it's drivetrain setup will be irrelevant to the average consumer since they tend to buy AWD/4x4 for the comfort of knowing they have it in the winter. It's also not like a FWD sytem isn't capable Land Rover does use it in the Freelander/LR2 and Volvo use them for their entire lineup
The_Zachalope 8:43PM (10/13/2009)
As one of the few people who own an Escape and have actually taken it off-roading, I'd love to see the Explorer have the same FWD/AWD system as the Escape as long as it has the Auto/On switch like the early Escapes had.
Austin 3:23PM (10/13/2009)
As a correction, production will begin at Ford's Chicago plant in 2010.
Once the Explorer is gone, Ford's Louisville plant will undergo a complete conversion into a flexible c-car plant (Focus and friends, including the Grand C-Max).
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Dave 3:43PM (10/13/2009)
Wrong again....LAP will make the Kuga based Escape. Michigan Assembly Plant will make the C-Max.