Comments on: 2011 Ford Explorer [Spied again]

By: FORDSALZMGR

FORDSALZMGR — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:50:36 +0000

With over 24 years of sales experience and as a Ford Internet Sales Director, my humble opinion is simple. The Explorer replaced the Bronco II, which was huge at the time, by keeping a strong off-road capable station wagon they invented a new type of family vehicle. No longer was it a choice of a car or a truck only you now have the choice of a Sport Utility Vehicle. Now, if the 2011 Explorer is designed with a “Unibody” updated platform, it will soon be a failure. Not due to a poor made vehicle, due to the perception that its just another AWD station wagon, i.e. Taurus X. There are 2 major lessons that should have been learned here, the failure of the Taurus X and the 1970 Framed Mustang to the 1971 Unibody Mustang! (dont forget the 4 cyl Mustang in the 70’s for better MPG!) The Government needs to stay out of the design process and let the only true AMERICAN AUTOMAKER, produce and design vehicles that keep FORD the innovation leader of automobiles. Call me crazy but I bet people would pay a “Gas Guzzler Tax” for a vehicle that is designed for a purpose and not designed to fit Government Regulations and CAFE requirements!

By: 85ZingoGTR

85ZingoGTR — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:52:29 +0000

I agree with you arumage. I will admit the interior in the Flex is nice. But I have to stay inside it to not hurt my eyes by looking at it from the outside.

By: fordman

fordman — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:04:37 +0000

Hey everybody,Ford Sucks! Do you think Ford will get daring and put a four bar grill on that turd!

By: Dr.Martens

Dr.Martens — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:19:13 +0000

technically the explorer is not an extra suv, the edge &flex are. explorer and expedition are now staples to the brand, and have been.

By: arumage

arumage — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:42:43 +0000

@85ZingoGTR:

Escape: Not body-on-frame. Based on CD2 platform co-developed with Mazda from their GF platform, which underpinned the Mazda626 way back in 2001. It’s still on the CD2 platform to this day.

Flex: I personally love the Flex and sales are starting to pick up in my part of the country, but I could see them replacing it with the Explorer. I wouldn’t be terribly upset as long as the Explorer had the same level of quality regarding the materials and the simlar passenger room for all three rows.

By: 85ZingoGTR

85ZingoGTR — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:02:29 +0000

Fordman. You should change your name if you are so anti-ford. lol

By: fordman

fordman — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:53:43 +0000

Hey everybody,Ford SUCKS! I’ll be short and to the point,sell it with the bag over it,it looks better! I bet it looks like a Toyota without the bag seeing as Ford and Toyota steal or should I say share technology. We don’t want to offend anybody!

By: 85ZingoGTR

85ZingoGTR — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:42:18 +0000

Well alot of it is in the name as well. The Taurus name returned because Ford felt the Taurus was one of their most successful models. From a marketing standpoint, it makes sense to keep the Explorer name. But for christs sake get rid of that Flex. I don’t know what the hell ran through Ford’s mind when they designed that thing.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:16:21 +0000

85Zingo, you’re a smart guy. That the Explorer should take the place of the Flex is a stroke of observational genius. Only then can the Flex take it’s place on the mantle of Ford’s monumental failures like the Blunderbird and the fwd Cougar.

By: 85ZingoGTR

85ZingoGTR — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:07:30 +0000

Let me reply to this.

Escape-Technically not a crossover. Its actually body-on-frame. But correct me if Im wrong. All I know is that the hybrid model is very popular with the taxis here in NYC.
Edge-Like you said. Designed to be Ford’s answer to the Murano.
Explorer-Was a body-on-frame that liked to perform cartwheels if it wore firestone shoes. But never the less a huge success for Ford to do away with it. Now ford converted it into a crossover to keep up with the competition (Unlike other american companies we know that dont seem to know how to *ahem* GM and Chrysler)
Flex-I ain’t got a f@#$ing clue what the purpose of this overgrown shoebox looking thing for a vehicle is for. All I know is it looks like a freakin beefed up 1980 Crown Vic stationwagon and I never see it in the streets so I can see Ford scrapping this one quick and use the Explorer to fill in its place.

By: iluvamcars

iluvamcars — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:47:43 +0000

here is Ford’s crossover lineup:
Escape-comopact
Edge-in between. designed to compete with the Murano and Venza
Explorer-in between mid and full size. designed to take on the Highlander
Flex- full size. designed to take on the Traverse

The Taurus X is gone.

-iluvamcars

By: 85ZingoGTR

85ZingoGTR — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:35:29 +0000

Hold the Firestone tires and the explosive gas tanks please.

By: key4wheels

key4wheels — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:58:30 +0000

Man I hate the spy shots, seems like a waste of time and money paying some photographer for pictures of a rolling glad bag.

I agree with most here that don’t understand the need for the Explorer to blend into the sea of crossovers. I’d like to see Ford get back to building a purpose built 4×4 and compete with the Wrangler…that Bronco concept a year or two back looked awesome.

By: headofmyclass2010

headofmyclass2010 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:52:30 +0000

Let’s face it, there’s a reason Ford & Toyota’s seemingly overlapping SUV lineup.

Back in the boom years, the Ford Explorer and 4Runner. Factor in 2009 issues (higher gas prices, less money, no jobs, etc) and it’s clear to see why there are so many choices. The flex doesn’t target the same customer as the Edge, as the Rav4 doesn’t target the same customer as the Venza. If they did, there wouldn’t be a reason for the products. Flex is more big family oriented, while the Edge is an Explorer substitute (higher seating while better on-road manners and better mpg). The Rav4 is geared more toward younger buyers/new families while the Venza is most likely for older, more established people.

That being said, I don’t seem to get the reason for Ford to switch the Explorer from body on frame to unibody. Unless it’s like the Grand Cherokee (unibody, yet very capable off road), I don’t see how it will get any respectable sales. The Explorer really doesn’t have a set market. It used to be the Camry of SUVs. Oh well, we’ll see how it goes.

I agree with idrinorbarsaku, just show us already!

ps, does anyone know if the explorer is gonna ride this low??

By: Bankruptcy2009

Bankruptcy2009 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:22:46 +0000

Well it looks like FORD will “OWN Toyota and GM” entirely in the SUV lineup too. Oh Well That’s Life.
Kay Sera Sera.

By: 09Accord

09Accord — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:55:21 +0000

I agree with higheriq.

By: DB9

DB9 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:49:58 +0000

idrinorbarsaku
dammmiiiittt!!! Just show us the pics already!!!
______________________________________

No!!! Cuz you’ll only HATE IT!!!

DB9;-)

PS:-))) Dude, they’re playing with your mind…

By: S-60-driver

S-60-driver — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:14:32 +0000

HEY LEFTLANE NEWS—-

STOP SHOWING SAME (DIFFERENT) PICS!!!!! IS IT SLOW NEWS DAY???

i bet the spy photographer sent LLN over 50 similar pics and the LLN is spreading the pics to post them over time each week , making it look like they recieved the pics just recently. PUH-leaze!!!

Still waiting for the Explorer to be uncovered……. I KNOW THAT IT WILL OFFER NAVIGATION unlike the lame Camaro…… lol

By: A4

A4 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:01:13 +0000

Cmon Ford, it’s not like this thing is the Camaro. Let’s get on with it.

By: cocojoe53

cocojoe53 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:23:25 +0000

The name itself is just to valuable to give up, so we will be treated to yet another unibody crossover. I agree, looking at there current lineup I don’t see how this fits in. I would perfer a rugged barebones body/frame smaller 4X4 (Say, 170″ overall) based on the Bronco concept of a few years back. EconBoost and a Diesel option and a base price of 23,000= sure winner

By: kingston

kingston — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:10:52 +0000

no one cares about the pictures if they just keep showing the same crap.

By: higheriq

higheriq — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:34:39 +0000

Overkill? Tell that to Toyota (RAV4, 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoya, FJ, Land Cruiser, Venza [who that of THAT name?].

By: JakeK66

JakeK66 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:33:24 +0000

Yeah Johnny, the current Explorer rides on actualyl a pretty high-tech platform too. It’s got the IRS everyone whines the Mustang doesn’t have too. I think a refresh/remodel using an updated platform is all they really needed. Not this!

By: JakeK66

JakeK66 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:31:04 +0000

So let me get this straight… If you want an SUV from Ford, one that can seat 4 comfortably you’ve got the smaller Escape, the slightly larger Edge, the more box-like Flex and this new Explorer… Nevermind the soon to be here Kuga… A little overkill?

By: netguru2000

netguru2000 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:28:51 +0000

Got it, Ford can effectively tonneau cover and entire vehicle 3x over since April.

If it looks like the Illustrations, I’ll take a serious test drive. If they water it down like most of thier vehicles in an effort to please the largest volume of people essentially creating a legacy of boring vehicles, then keep the tonneau on it.

By: And The Winner Is...

And The Winner Is... — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:06:32 +0000

So far it look more like the crate the concept was shipped in.

By: vicdub85

vicdub85 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:00:16 +0000

So what was the update from Oct 12, 13, and the 20th. The Camo was different?

Common LLN….

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:59:41 +0000

Just what are they trying to turn this into? My buddy up in Prince George B.C. who was in road construction chose Explorers for his work vehicles for over a decade because they were simple and tough. OK… granted the company was paying for the gas but that’s some pretty rugged country up there and they held up so well he bought out the lease on all of them.

C’mon Ford, you’ve already got the Flex and the Edge. Do you really need a third wheel at the same dance?

By: idrinorbarsaku

idrinorbarsaku — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:47:08 +0000

dammmiiiittt!!! Just show us the pics already!!!

By: And The Winner Is...

And The Winner Is... — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:45:12 +0000

1 SUV too many.