Ford says its upcoming replacement for the evergreen Explorer SUV has not been delayed, despite rumors we’ve heard to the contrary from Ford’s suppliers. The automaker says that the Explorer is still on track to arrive in about a year as a 2011 model. We spoke to Ford’s Jay Ward for the automaker’s side of the story.
Code-named U502, Ford’s first unibody Explorer is set to start down the production line in July 2010 at Ford’s Torrance Avenue plant in Chicago. Supplier sources have indicated that the start of production has been delayed until at least September, but Ford tells us otherwise.
“While we are unable to talk specifically about the program timing, I can categorically state that the Explorer program has not been delayed in any way whatsoever,” spokesman Ward told Leftlane.
We circled back to our sources, following Ward’s statement, and it’s worth pointing out they stand by the original report, reiterating their claims of a delay. Moreover, they say this is the second the time the vehicle has been delayed.
The current Explorer has been mostly unchanged since its 2006 refresh, though much of the design dates back to 2002. Despite the conflicting reports, it seems certain the ‘ute will arrive as a 2011 model. What remains unclear is whether it will come in the summer or autumn of 2010.



06/26, 5:28 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
As long as Americans are willing to drive mid-sized and large SUVs and CUVs, there will be a place for The EXPLORER.
But I would like to see more done with the EDGE. It is clearly a good (and good looking) machine but needs some love.
06/26, 5:44 PM
posted by:
Borat
OK ladies a bit of the variation on the same topic. Who’ve seen great milf in Explorer? I personally never did. Mostly batter cup faces, homely girls. Ergo, who gives a dime or two about this mobile. Let’s have a poll: which one (or few) of those mommy machines usually carries the best set of tits? You know, my vote for either X5 or MDX. Any comments, objections, your own choices?
06/26, 5:49 PM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
X3s. Around here they always seem to be driven by a 20-something with long blonde hair
06/26, 6:15 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
Hmmm. Depends on the age you want Borat. Civics/Cobalts/G5s probably hold the best a$$ if you are around 20, older than that, you’ve got Xterras/VWs (any besides the ones with turbos and Routan)/ Mustangs and the ones who still own their College cars – The Cavaliers and Sunfires and Bugs. Those in much more expensive cars are usually older women, BMW is a MILF haven, though, I agree.
06/26, 6:16 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
i thought jettas were the de facto coed chick car…not sure about cougars and milfs…there is one older hottie i work with (not a mom yet, but if she was she’d qualify for milf-dom) that just picked up a g35 after ditching her murano…
so if we’re talking suvs i’m going murano…
06/26, 6:33 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
^Could be a Midwest/STL thing, but I say you’re 100% right on Leftwing
06/26, 7:28 PM
posted by:
Borat
See guys, now we have our own survey and topic for discussion, albeit barely related to diesel, uhm cars in general. But heck, there will be no more news till Monday (oh yeah Jackson dead and Frrah Facet). Sort of sad and related:: a lot of young boys beat off to that poster(they now drive cars and trucks), and another legend beat off a lot of young boys (who moved to San Francisco)…….
06/26, 9:09 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
It’s equally important to be able to recognize the MIWNFIAMYEIIWGMI (moms I would never f*ck in a million years even if it would grant me immortality) wagons. Any Astro Van or Safari, any Ford minivan ever built, any Mazda MPV, any van with Plymouth on the back, and last but certainly not least any Suburban, Yukon, Expedition or Excursion that despite being capable of towing oil tankers is nonetheless listing noticeably to the left: you’re pretty much guaranteed that what’s behind the wheel is the reason you should always look closely at the mother cow before buying the farm.
Oh and check for bumper stickers. Not the funny ones but anything to do with children or weight loss programs. Chances are the former is all they have left in their pathetic lives after having failed miserably at the latter. It’s an ugly world out there- always wear shades, drive aggressively and never park next to anything that has ‘wash me’ permanently etched into the paint.
06/26, 9:34 PM
posted by:
TL
That is one nasty grille. >.>
It makes Acura’s Power Plenum Grille stunning.
By the way, why hasn’t “Need More Oil for GM” added his biased comments?
06/26, 10:38 PM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
TL NFMOGM is in seclusion like some trappist monk or Friar but when “Your” Parent company goes into chapter 11 or rather Bankruptcy for Protection from going out of Business altogether; then you have the tendency to keep your mouth shut and eat as they say “Humble Pie” instead. I on the contrary see that there is improvements to this Explorer over last. I just want to make sure its done right. But Ford no Flex or Edge Faced Fronts this has got to be a distinct Explorer Front end.
06/27, 1:12 AM
posted by:
llun00
Love that brutishly sexy grill.
06/27, 11:52 AM
posted by:
jayjc08
And the worst offenders- the ones that you will find no hot MILF’s in- is Pontiac, Saturn and most any Dodge aside from their most expensive crap. Yeah, you may find a few hot college girls in your Pontiac or Saturn, maybe even a Dodge Neon, but milfs are for the most part never found in such cars.
To find hot milf’s on the street, keep your eyes out for soccer stickers on the cars back bumper. Unless she’s borrowing the daddy’s car, keep away from cars with tow hitches on them, it’s not befitting of her.
06/27, 2:30 PM
posted by:
Borat
I have to agree with Lefty on Murano. MILFs in those are less surgically altered then in X3,5 MDX, RDX, Caddy, Lincoln. The most altered I would say are exiting from Lexus. I think they do even vaginal alterations in the case of encounter (I am sure not with the putz who pays for set of wheels).
Johnny on a topic of MIWNFIAMYEIIWGMI. What ’bout on biz trip in a strange town, in hotel with a bar and not much else going on (central Wisconsin comes to mind) ? Does that count as a sin or it is OK? Then again how one knows what that thing drives?
06/27, 3:10 PM
posted by:
ahnuconun
@TL: Nasty grill? That thing looks like it could shave King Kong’s back!
06/27, 3:16 PM
posted by:
ahnuconun
And BTW, TL. The new Acura grille is the Schick Intuition for female gorillas.
06/27, 4:30 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Borat, just as in real estate it’s all about location, location and location.
06/27, 6:51 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
LOL! This thread has gone seriously wrong! While I appreciate the discussion of MILFs and MIWNFs, I can’t help but wonder why Ford would ever need to delay the “new” Explorer, considering it is pretty much just the third generation of the existing Freestyle/Taurus X platform with a new butch body! I’m guessing they won’t even cough up the cash for a new dashboard, and will just drop in the unit from the new Taurus. C’mon Ford.. the MIWNFs and MILFs alike are waiting!
06/28, 3:25 AM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
I don’t care I don’t want a Mother I want to make an all natural girl with no kids yet a Mother! lol
06/28, 9:17 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
I’m seeing a lot of MIWNFIAMYEIIWGMI’s in Hondas lately – specifically Honda Accords although it’s trickling down to Civics now. I’m talkin’ pigs whose stomach extend forward enough to interfere with the steering wheel who drive while chomping on some greasy sh¡t in a fast food burger wrapper. Odyssey’s never have hot chicks.
Toyota’s are one the same trajectory as Honda but they are full of geriatrics. The one exception there is the hottest chick at my office (in fact the only extremely hot chick there) drives a Camry. Damn I wish she weren’t married.
Borat’s right on the Explorers, and LWA pegged it on Muranos. Infinitis are mostly old people in my parts, and Mustangs are hit and miss – either a fat pig or a hot chick. As I approach Mustangs I simply look to see if it is tilting down on the drivers side due to the obesity of the driver – if not then a hot chick is driving.
Have only seen guys in Challengers and Camaros so far, but I disagree with Johnny on Yukons and Expeditions – in my area there is some insanely hot MILFmeat driving those, and also driving F150s.
Oh yeah, and on topic, I rearely see Explorers on the road anymore.
06/28, 1:50 PM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
I want a FHMTNBMALGIATB. Figure that acronymn out will ya. That is what I want in a woman.
06/28, 5:09 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Oh c’mon, you can’t leave us hanging!
I’m guessing F*cking hot mom that’s never been married and looks great in a tiny bikini?
06/28, 5:59 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Fat Haggety Mom That Needs Botox Majorly And Lavishly Generates Inexplicable Aromas Thru Burping.
That’s what Bankruptcy2009 wants in woman.
06/29, 9:07 AM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
Mayer Ray your brain needs a tune up, but wow Johnny Canuck you almost got 100% correct. Care to give that T another Try or should I tell you?!
06/29, 9:21 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Tubesteak?
06/29, 10:31 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Topless. Of course. I can’t believe I missed THAT one!
06/29, 11:42 AM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Ford is taking a page out of GM’s playbook with the hot Lambda utes. They want to build a vehicle that can truely compete with the big boys rather than be just another Pilot or Highlander failure. In the end, it’s still a Ford so expect more problems and lower quality than a Lambda, but if the performance is comparable, Ford may regain some glory they once had with the original Exploder.
GM. An American Revolution
06/29, 12:13 PM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
You were on the Right track the 1st time Mr. Calgary Canucks. Its “THONG” BIKINI
Y or just use the vernacular Crackini Bikini! and yes one hot lookin babe that is all woman.
06/29, 12:16 PM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
LOL NMOFGM I can’t believe you showed up here. Listen we know your company is choking right Now. So give it a rest. Oh don’t talk to be about the Super Heavy and Overpriced Lambda GM Chassis for 4 Divisions. It must be why the High Quality and Class Leading selling Ford Edge has got your GM Beat by a Mile!
06/29, 12:59 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
The only thing choking is you with all the BS you are spewing right now. The Edge is an unreliable pile of garbage which is why so many of them end up on GM lots as tradeins for Lambda. When was the last time you saw a Lambda trade on any other manufacturers lots? Right, because there are none. Nobody would be stupid to trade their Lambda for a lesser vehicle. We have Q7’s, MDX’s, Pilots, Highlanders, Lexus RX’s, X5’s and ML’s that we can;t get rid of becuase nobody wants them (they should go to the crusher) but we are out of Lambdas for the next year. There is a waiting list the size of War and Peace for people who can’t wait to get into a GM Lambda SUV. They pay thousands over MSRP just so we can get them out of their POS and into a Lambda.
GM – An American Revolution
06/29, 1:02 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
We don’t even keep any Fords that we get in trade right now because nobody wants them and they’re resale value is pathetic. Everyone would rather drive a GM vehicle so there is no reason to let them take up the space on our lot. They go to auction and demand pennies on the dollar. The previous owners take the bath on them tho.
GM – An American Revolution
06/29, 2:02 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
LMAO – a quick search of the GMC dealer new my office shows 20 Lambdas (Acadias) in stock now waiting for somebody to buy them.
06/29, 2:05 PM
posted by:
non_biased_enthusiast
Now you are just flat out lying. There is no waiting list for Lambdas, you moron.
06/29, 2:10 PM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
NMOGM you know what you sound like to me is a country car Dealer obviously GM that hardly ever see’s a soul way out in burnt Nutz New Mexico in the middle of No where.
And I think you just about listed all your competitors trouble is you might see them alright but its as they drive past your dealership and not on a used car stand at yours!, and I doubt seriously you would be taking any of those competitors and putting them up on your used car lot. I think we got your number NFMOGM your Lying out your ASS about tade ins of your competitors.
And truth be known the competition is Fairing much better in the market place than your Chevy Traverse or Buick EnClave, of Saturn OUtlook aka Lambdas that all suck.
But I see your alive and well at a GM Car dealership that either was save from closure or the ax has’nt fallen on you yet, because GM has’nt gotten around to eliminating your GM Dealership just yet.
06/29, 2:21 PM
posted by:
shaver
The hottest women are the ones not smart enough to drive.
06/29, 2:51 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
No lie, sorry you can’t come to grips with facts. The Lambda is the hottest SUV on the market. The Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia are the hottest right now with the Saturn Outlook and Chevy Traverse close in sales. We took 3 Land Rovers over the weekend as trades. We took 3 Acura MDX’s 4 Lexus SUV’s and 7 Toyota Highlanders in the past week. All of those owners could not wait to dump their unreliable pieces of sh1t for a vehicle that will last hundreds of thousands of miles and won’t give them a lick of trouble. They are very happy with their upgrades. And our dealer is happy because all of them were bought for 5 thousand to 10 thousand dollars over invoice! They also accepted a paint protection along with a few other aftermarket addons which we made huge profits on.
I don’t know why we keep any of these vehicles for trade, they should just go off to auction because we won;t get anybody to take them off our hands once they get a hold of a superior Lambda.
06/29, 2:52 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
GM – An American Revolution
06/29, 3:09 PM
posted by:
non_biased_enthusiast
Oh yeah, well over here at Ford USA we took 289 brand new Camaros as trades for brand new Mustangs and they paid $10K over MSRP just to get out of their stupid Camaros.
06/29, 3:14 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Yeah right. Good story buddy, you should be a comedian. That would be 289 people who will have buyers remorse the first time the transmission blows or the engine self-destructs after the warranty period is up. Oh ya, and Ford doesn;t offer the best warranty in the business like General Motors warranty. Wonder why? Hmmm. I don’t expect an answer for that one from you.
Buy American. Buy GM. An American Revolution
06/29, 3:37 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Damn, those Lambdas are such hot sellers that GM is putting cash on the hood and dealers are discounting just to get them off the lots-uhhhhh, I mean get them off the waiting lists.
Source: Carsdirect – jcheck any major zip code
06/29, 4:34 PM
posted by:
non_biased_enthusiast
What I wrote in jest looks just as stupid as each post from you.
06/30, 7:27 AM
posted by:
carstuff
Mayer, took a look at your carsdirect.com and an Enclave in my zip code:
$750 rebate
$2300 off MSRP
Toyota Highlander:
$1000 rebate
$2300 off MSRP
Not sure that your point of lambdas sitting is true but it looks like they are being reduced less than their Toyota competitors. Now I have never said that the Lambdas are currently “flying off the lots” but they do seem to be holding their own, if not better, than their competitors in this awful market. Lambdas have been around awhile.
06/30, 7:29 AM
posted by:
carstuff
I should add though that in this area Lambdas are everywhere and are replacing the family Explorers and Suburbans/Tahoes. This is a very family oriented area in the suburbs.
06/30, 9:54 AM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
No I would disagree with you there carstuff people that own quality like Ford, Toyota, or Lexus don’t trade those vehicles in for junk ahem brand new GM lambdas. Its like saying Hey here is some Gold and I would like to trade it in for some Lead instead. AH hhhh No. It does’nt happen.
Oh Yeah and did you here non_biased_enthusiast
That there is a Line at every Ford dealer of over 1000 Impala Owners a piece to actually Pay Ford for the Priviledge to Scrap and Burn and Melt down to whatever truly useable metal there is in those **** BOXES to have a car company like Ford actually that knows how to make something out it.
But Also the reason these owners have line up their pieces of GM junk Impala’s is they want to get rid of not only the garbage they have and also the bad stereotype of GM owners like NMOFGM have about them!
But Most importantly there willing to pay for the Priviledge to Pay $25,000 over Invoice for the Chance of Redeeming themselves and getting themselves in an Absolutely Gorgeous, Beautiful, High Quality, High Tech 2010 Ford Taurus Instead.
Ford – America’s Automobile- Found -On the- Road to -Domination!
06/30, 5:27 PM
posted by:
Ring-Taxi
The only reason the lambda crossovers have cheaper rebates right now is because they’re new. Give it 12 months and 10K on the hood just to move a handful per day.