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2011 Ford Explorer Gets Teased

 
3 5,882 views May 17, 2010
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2011 Ford Explorer and Chief Engineer Jim Holland

The Ford Explorer has had a mixed past--rollover lawsuits, relatively ancient underpinnings and styling that hasn't always kept up with the pace of the industry. But that's all about to change with the 2011 Explorer, and despite its move to the unibody Taurus platform, it's upping the ante in off-roading with a new terrain management system borrowed from Land Rover.

In development for more than two and half years, the new Explorer will be just as tough as past generations despite the move to a car-based platform and the adoption of new four-cylinder EcoBoost powertrains. That’s the promise from the vehicle’s chief engineer Jim Holland, whose previously worked on the redesign of the Range Rover SUV back in 2002.

This latest teaser reveals a familial Flex-like front end and a pumped-out Blue Oval three-bar grille but most of the details are still covered. However, these previous spy shots of a prototype show the design almost completely revealed.

The 2011 Ford Explorer will go on sale in the second half of the year.

Despite the enticing performance and high-tech safety gear, there's still a lot of confusion around Ford's current lineup of crossovers and SUVs. With the Flex and Edge seeming filling out the space nicely, the tweener position of the Explorer makes for a tight fit. Balancing price, features and target market will make for a high-wire act at Ford, but given their recent ascension to the top of the American sales ranks, it's hard to argue with their planning--for now, at least.

[Motor Trend]


HI-RES GALLERY: 2011 Ford Explorer and Chief Engineer Jim Holland




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Comments (3)

  1. By Jeff Posted: 5/17/2010 9:37am PDT

    I'm actually looking forward to seeing it, although I think Ford made a big mistake going to a car platform, they already have a midsize crossover its called the Edge, and this looks like a next gen Taurus X, rather then an Explorer, they should have used the new engines in a truck platform.
     
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  2. fb_33701777 avatar Will Cheval Jr. Posted: 5/17/2010 9:41am PDT

    I think Ford will do a decent job with the Explorer from the specs that have been released, but I'm still hoping for the new Grand Cherokee to take the lead again.
    The 2011 Grand Cherokee looks like it will make a damn good dent in taking back it's leadership as the best American SUV.
     
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  3. By NoNameDenton Posted: 5/17/2010 3:49pm PDT

    Jeff, this is bigger then midsize since it seats 7, it is more likely to overlap with the Flex.
     
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