Development work is continuing along on Ford’s all new Explorer as evidenced by this latest “mule” vehicle we’ve spotted. While previous mules were wearing Taurus X and Flex body panels, this latest mule has the production ‘11 Explorer front end grafted onto a Taurus X body.
Don’t be confused by the “prototype” of the new model recently spied undergoing testing. While the development “mule” has the underpinnings of the new Explorer, the exterior uses body parts of the Ford Taurus X to hide its true identity.
Based on the Explorer America Concept, the production Explorer will have more typical headlights and tail lamps, regular doors rather than reverse-hinged ’suicide’ doors, a simplified grille design, standard side mirrors, a bit less glass in the roof, and of course a more familiar interior.
The 2011 Explorer will be riding on the D3 platform, the same as the Taurus. Expected to debut in 2010, the SUV will abandon its current body-on-frame construction, and in the process save a considerable amount of weight. Fuel economy is expected to improve by as much as 25 percent.
04/14, 11:04 AM
posted by:
AlexTrebek
is that a Taurus X with a 2″ lift?
04/14, 11:44 AM
posted by:
71fiveanddime
yes? its getting hard to distinguish this new model from some other previous lines, as Alex just mentioned.
always been a fan of the explorer, and im eager to see if this will return as good of mileage as they are predicting with the new platform underneath. heres hoping ford hasnt screwed up one of its cash cows.
04/14, 11:47 AM
posted by:
A4
so the test mule is using alot of Taurus X components, its a mule, what do you want?
04/14, 12:04 PM
posted by:
Petrolhead20
Does anyone bother to read anymore?? It’s obviously just a mule as the text says.
04/14, 12:16 PM
posted by:
Borat
As my neighbor Ahmed would say: it is a mule, but I am looking for a camel
04/14, 12:19 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I like the way your neighbor thinks Borat. Nothing beats a good hump.
04/14, 12:26 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
So, more and more we are seeing that the next explorer is really going to be a high riding Taurus wagon. Just like the Highlander is a high riding Camry wagon.
I am waiting for Americans to come to their senses and realise that they have all been played hard by the auto manufacturers. The SUVs so many of us love to cruise around in are becoming nothing more than jacked up sedans. Maybe those guys down the street who have the 88 Caprice with a 6″ lift riding on 24’s have the right idea after all. It looks rediculous… but if you slap a big set of rims on a Highlander don’t you get essentially the same thing?
04/14, 12:34 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Thanks RaineMan. I have an ‘89 Caprice ‘woody’ wagon. And now I also have a summer project!
04/14, 1:06 PM
posted by:
ricky_b
But three Fords on the same platform? Why? Worse then that is the fact that there is also a Lincoln and and a Mazda on the same platform. And yet, they won’t bring the design of the Mondeo wagon to America. Lost my interest.
04/14, 1:14 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
… woody, hump, camels …… isn’t an “Explorer” a “probe” of some kind?
04/14, 2:07 PM
posted by:
ihustle
The new explorer will dominate. Just like it has for 16 years straight. Americans can appreciate a good SUV and with the Edge being the #1 CUV looks like there on the right track. If you support foreign then move there. As long as im living on US soil ill support my economy.
04/14, 2:35 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
Wasn’t those AMC Eagle station wagons with the higher ride height made back in the 80’s the same thing as all these new CUVs?
I think Ford maybe crowding an already overcrowded field in their own stable with the Escape, EDGE, Flex, and the Explorer. What’s the point of the Edge when this comes out anyway? What’s the point of the Edge period?
04/14, 2:52 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I don’t know Jake. What’s the point of the Blues even showing up tomorrow? Isn’t the Ice Capades in town back there or something? You know, someone at their level.
04/14, 3:05 PM
posted by:
key4wheels
Better keep an eye on your precious canucks, the Bluenotes are young, dumb and full of…ummm, I forget how that saying goes… The Ford Explorer might have left town but the Blues are back.
04/14, 5:02 PM
posted by:
dzuchowski
they cut its balls off……
04/14, 5:17 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
Well Johnny,
At least the Blues are at a level where they don’t have to have their city’s name plasterd on the front of their uniforms to remind them where they’re playing. Do people in Vancouver forget their own city’s name?
04/14, 5:17 PM
posted by:
The Realist
Completely useless vehicle.
04/14, 5:24 PM
posted by:
ihustle
jake you understand that the edge is a 5 seater right? You also can comprehend its one of fords best sellers. Why would Ford get rid of a CUV leader in sales? The explorer sits 7. There not even in the same categorie.If anything they should get rid of the flex.
04/14, 6:05 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
“While the development “mule†has the underpinnings of the new Explorer, the exterior uses body parts of the Ford Taurus X to hide its true identity. ”
The underpinnings of the new Explorer ARE the underpinnings of the Taurus X! The new Explorer is being built on the same Volvo platform that the new Taurus, old Taurus/Five Hundred and old Taurus X/Freestyle were built on.
04/14, 6:08 PM
posted by:
shane train
Hopefully this thing looks at least a little like the Illustration.
With a slimmer grille, more interesting headlights, and less junk on the bottom of the rear.
04/14, 7:49 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
I hope the grill is a little smaller and that it receives the Euro lower grill like the fusion and Taurus. Same goes for the 2011 Edge. Ford’s lineup would look awesome!
04/14, 8:06 PM
posted by:
KeithRich23
i dont think ford will mess this one up…there pretty much the best of the 3 now…my 2006 fusion is still running strong….i guess ford fell down but gotten back up after a while of laying down.
06/23, 3:59 AM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
Well if it looks a little better than the Spy Photos then I think Ford has done a good job.