nothing interesting….

I hope its not FWD based.

I like it. Of course, with the A-Bat being the last concept I remember seeing, there is no way that I wouldn’t like it. It isn’t butt ugly, but I wish it weren’t a crossover. I hate those things

The lines internally are very tidy - externally it needs a slight clean up around the front area. The rear is a bit bland and needs some extra style features.
I can see this vehicle in Ford’s 2010 lineup in a modified form.

Its nice, but it owes a lot to Nissan’s Quashqai concept of a few years ago….even down to the colour. The front is a bit messy however. Not the killer punch that it really should be for Detroit 08

I generally HATE corssovers. This one looks very nice. Smooth lines and an interesting front end. Hope they give it some genuine power and full time AWD.

This thing looks good Too bad it s Ford

Where is the Kia Borego LLN ?

So…that’d be four crossovers in the Ford lineup then? Or would this finally kill the Taurus X?

I think Ford has more important things to do than develop yet another CUV/SUV/FUV.

gbb: What is your problem with crossovers? When everyone was buying traditional trcuk-based SUVs, you all whined about how they were wasteful since no one goes off-road in them. So they take out the mass, add some fule efficiency and essentially make a station wagon. Can’t call them that so they come with “crossover”. You got what you wanted, so stop complaining. I’m guessing you have no kids, and therefore have no need for something like this. Those of us that need something this size could not be happier that they are now slightly more sensible.

RHead: With the crossover market still in high gear, and the Explorer in free fall, what would you expect Ford to be working on?

I think this concept looks great, except for the MDX-like front end. Otherwise very tasteful and a clean update to the Explorer. So come on Ford, bring it on in less than 8 years this time!

MikeFX - just saying with the Escape, Edge, TaurusX, and upcoming Flex, Ford’s got better things to do right now than add a redundant Explorer to the mix.

Way to go Ford.
Thanks for letting the design studio break loose from the giant cutter of cookies. The freedom really shows. I love the melted ice look and most all of the exterior details. Very creative and actually finally bold. The interior is obviously show – but follow through with creative there and this should be a huge replacement for the Explorer. I’m stunned.

Brendino - I would have no problem if they kill the Taurus X and replace it with this.

Holy crap! Red White and Bold continues into the future! But if that’s the case, then how did Ford survive to make this new SUV?!?! Ahhh! The paradox!

With the exception of some idiotic details on the grill/front fascia, this looks pretty good. Too bad they’re too stupid to build it.

Nothing revolutionary, nice looking though. Autonut is an ignorant bigot, in this day and age, very sad.

Gotta get rid of the Bic Shaver front ends, Ford. I like the switchgear though. If those are real aluminum knobs, you might have something there. Not sure why they put a sliding door on it, looks like you can only get in and out if the front door is also open.

This is a great new approach for Ford. It’s refreshing to see them add a little innovation to an existing nameplate to update/remake it to fit in with existing market conditions and expectations. I’m not sure exactly where this crossover would fit into Ford’s future lineup (I agree that it will probably bring about the elimination of the Taurus X), but it’s great to see that Ford is not abandoning the Explorer nameplate. The EcoBoost engine technology is interesting and exciting, also.

I still see traces of the three bar “Red, White, and Bold” styling language in the front grille treatment. It is toned down and altered quite a bit, but it’s still there. I have never had a problem with the idea of this styling element, but it has been poorly executed on some of the division’s products (the current Focus immediately comes to mind). It looks good in this application although the detailing needs to be cleaned up just a little.

Overall, this concept points to an exciting new direction for the future of the Explorer.

If nothing else, this proves Ford still has a pulse. I genuinely hope it is well received. I firmly believe the key to the domestics future success, especially when it comes to Ford and Chrysler, lies in the hands of the their design teams.

Handcuff the bean-counters to the boiler in the basement and let ‘em sweat. Cheap just doesn’t cut it with today’s buying public. There’s just too much choice out there to think they can still get away with their past indiscretions.

YAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWNN !
another day another crossover

The Explorer is an excellent truck (I drive an ‘06 Eddie Bauer) but the fuel mileage is terrible, even with the V-6. This is a exciting concept, mainly because it shows Ford isn’t abandoning the once best-selling Explorer like they did with the old Taurus, and additionally, moving into the crossover segment where there is clearly more consumer interest. Hopefully this redesign will put the Explorer back on top once again. I can’t wait for the production version.

I love this thing, I don’t like the green X and the hood scoop is so so with me, but I love the overall design! I wish the rear window was positioned at an angle, along with the belt line (although higher, following the windows), and I wish the front hung a little bit lower, but I can imagine a lot of these things going into production, soon. I love how it pronounces it’s from Ford, and American too, I love the roof and the very clean design. Very clean and very bold, just how an SUV should be, pronounced and simple. I also like the doors, although I must ask why one side has a sliding door and the other seems it’s a normal opening door.

I’m also very impressed with Ford’s photography. It looks like they finally got some good photographers and effects. You’ll all probably criticize me for saying such a thing, but come on, look at Cadillacs horrible commercials, some girl driving her Cadillac with a bunch of flashing lights and effects, not really dynamic. And Jaguar, if you look at the XF’s trailer videos, they all end with the damn car running through some wet pavement, and it’s so repetitive. Then look at some of the Japanese vehicles advertising, some of it’s horrible (Honda), but Infiniti has a great tag line, Toyota’s got a lot of “green hype” (Note I said hype, because most of it is) and Nissan has some alright advertising.

For all of you talking about the Taurus X, Ford’s stated it’s going to be a station wagon variant of the Ford Taurus in the future. This won’t conflict with the Ford Taurus (station wagon), although it is sort of confusing with the Ford Edge. Their whole SUV lineup is conflicting, not bad, just confusing.

Autonut- Seriously, don’t say another words about form follows function, you have no clue what your talking about.
Yeah, the square steering will probably be a pain, but it depends on what steering system they use. I’ve seen a lot of recent concept vehicles have square steering wheels because they don’t need 2 turns till lock; they’re electronically assisted or else “drive by wire”, so there’s maybe one turn till lock.
And you know, really you shouldn’t care if your SUV has sliding doors, unless your a panzy, or you think other people will consider you “small”. Everything from the Pinzgauer, Unimog, RG-12’s, and other off-road military vehicles have used sliding doors (many of the fore mentioned vehicles either came or could be modified by a company with sliding doors).

I bet those window switches would be broken off within a few miles if the buyer has children since I doubt they would make it to the market made of metal. Reminds me of the aftermarket cup holders in my dad’s ‘92 G20. They were made of plastic and folded out of the wall on flimsy hinges. I lost count of how many times my dad went to the dealer to get replacements. After a while he just gave up.

Holy ****! Now THIS is a bold move, Ford! Built it with AWD and a Diesel engine and you’ve got a killer SUV.

I like it! 275HP from a 4 banger!! Turbocharging makes most boring cars wake up. Glad to see the turbo engine making a comeback.

What the Master Chief drives in peace time.

Red, White, and Bold definitely lives on. The headlights remind me of the Ford Interceptor concept. Ford is brining its American design to Europe while bringing European engine standards (turbo 4’s) to America. Finally a truly global platform.

99.9% of the Explorers never see dirt, so implementing a unibody design makes a lot of sense. What would be interesting is seeing these new fuel economy technologies melded into the Escape/Mariner hybrids. Perhaps they can break the 40 MPG barrier?

One word. AWESOME. This is what Ford needs, and if it makes it to production, there might actually be a blue oval in my driveway. Wow. I love the idea of a unibody crossover that still looks tough and boxy. Man, I love this thing.

can anyone explain the green compass in place of the nav system?

I’ll explain the green compass.

Basically, if you have a nav system in your car, you are just another dipshït putz failing to look cool while whacking it every nite, but if you have that green compass on your dash and you are out on a date, you are guaranteed to get some boo-tae that night because chicks go apeshït over things like that.

“Help! My X-Box turned into a truck!”

Why would be calling for help? Go for a drive.

Hell, Ford - reading these comments?
Get this thing out.
This is as big as the lamdas for GM.
You have finally shown that you have a set.
You go Ford.

I think this might just be crazy enough to work!

Get over SUV’s. They are the reason the American car industry is in such a **** way!!!! In Australia we drive…..cars!!!!! Unbelievable, SUV’s are only for wankers. You guys should just rely on Ford Australia to supply your vehicles as Ford US is obviously out of ideas and just keeps introducing SUV’s……………yawn. And Ford Australia is nothing special…………

We might be better off in a world where we just drive German sedans and coupes. Thats where i wanna live!!

well said V2.
I like this,hopefully a global design direction for Ford. of course commodore has to compare the a-bat to this and remind us that he hates Toyota. where you run over by a toyota driver once or something.

Another future no-build…..ala-Interceptor.

The Ford design people can never get to production.

V2: Repair shops around the world wanna live there too.

AHAHAHA CA36GTP! Yep, that would be my career move if that happened. Lots of money in repairing that “German Engineering…”

Ford will not be able to build enough of these! You Go Ford!!!

GetReal, Your totally right!!! I was thinking the same thing. Why do they waste all this money and time on somthing that never going to build. “IF” they build this it will probably go to europe not U.S. anyway!

V2 I think the only way this will happen for your utopian world is for the Germans and Japanese to start buying out parts of the American market and actually show them how to build cars…

Its happened before…..With the british..

Just think Simpsons when the Germans bought out Mr Burns Nuclear Power Plant.

I actually think if Mr. Burns ran Ford N.A. the company would actually be doing better and maybe we’d have some real cars to drive.

This could repeat Explorer sales of the 90’s.

I predict in the next 10 years no Fords or Holdens will be made in US or AUS.
It will come as a showdown to these contenders.
Korea, China, Japan or EU companies will bid for buyouts and strategic mergers.
I understand the SUV market though.
With an SUV you are distracted in thinking your paying alot of money for alot of car mass, but inside………….but inside…………………

This is Ford’s future. Doooooooooo itttttt!!

The Explorer America, the Flex, the Taurus X, the Edge… how the hell many vehicles is Ford going to launch at the same market segment? What the hell sense does this make?

If they launch this they should kill the vehicles in their own lineup that would cannibalize sales.

It better be rugged and pretty damn decent off road, otherwise i hate you ford.

V2, your comments about SUVs are partially correct. I hope that you are a Kraut to live in Germany (or Austria). Otherwise worm crematorium may be a fitting place of residence.
You can drive german cars build by turks, croats and serbs in Australia as well.

All I can say is that if the sweet digi compass and the guage readout makes it to production, count me in!

I would hope that this points to a new direction for FORD to pursue. Not So much for the SUVs, though this could be interesting, but for smaller engines with more power.

Turbo-fours are nothing altogether new for FORD. They were used in the 1980s, in the Mustang and Thunderbird, to name a couple. It seems FORD is trying to Come around full circle now. I would like to see where this goes.

I would loathe a Mustang with a Turbo Four, I’ve had the benefit of being in one driven hard. It’s actually quite quick (And lighter). So It might not be such a bad thing, at least as base to mid-range engines options. “Special” and specialty Mustangs would have V8s.

I’m not a big fan of SUVs, but if FORD can field mid-sized SUV like this Explorer concept, with over 30MPG for a 4-banger, then I think American performance will benefit as well. But I still do not want to see American Performance V8s ending up like European V8s, that is costing an absurd amount just to put one in.

GM’s done quite well to trickle down CORVETTE engines to less expensive cars over time. Chrysler, of course has had no problem there. But FORD could boner this, like so much else. I could see it. FORD decides to build the Mustang as a serious sports car to compete with CORVETTE and the world (A spot spiritually set aside for the THUNDERBIRD), and the cost of performance V8s by FORD just spiral out of site.

At any rate, I look forward to this concept more than almost any other SUV concept this year I can think of. I just hope FORD takes a hint and builds it.

I’ll take my compass in Blue or Gold through thank you. XBOX green looks cheeky in such huge amounts.

i would drive it.

I believe Toyota/Lexus have/has more SUV’s than Ford. The headlights and grille will most likely not make production, but something close will be just fine!

This is a very nice design evolution of the Explorer, considering the last evolution of all three Ford SUVs (Escape, Explorer, Expedition) were barely undetectable to the average car buyer. This will make a nice replacement for the Taurus X.. the question is, what are they gonna replace the Explorer with?

if they make it diesel they’ll have a winner.

If they make it Diesel, then they will definitely meet the new F/econ targets and…

Yes I most hardily agree, This would be a winner.

zoomzoomr,

The Taurus x would, hypothetically, be dropped. It won’t because it is actually rather popular with those with families to tote about.

Not the Crossover lineup for FORD would in size be something like
Escape (Likely a Volvo Mini-ute)
Edge
Flex
Explorer

Feel free to correct me here.

But now what about the cars?

Could we see those more efficient and powerful engines in cars soon? Dump that hog of a 4L V6 for that Ecoboost in the Mustang, and use it in the Fusion AWD and the Focus.

Oh wait… I forgot. FORD is trying to be a Truck company.

There you go Ford, this would actually be a bold move. And it actually moves away from the boxy shape accustom to the explorer.

Arn’t they dropping the Taurus X this comming year? I heard they had plans to hang on the the Taurus X only through the first year of the Flex?

Man, this thing looks sweet! Not sure purists will like Ford’s abandonment of BOF, though.

Rover3500: That Quashqai looks pretty cool.

lucklaster: I’m also stunned, but depending on the percentage of Explorer buyers in the soccer-mom segment, this car might have a tough time. The “I-want-a-truck” crowd won’t care for it. A4 wants a real Explorer.

Deantj: “Too bad they’re too stupid to build it.” I hope not.

johnnycanuck: “If nothing else, this proves Ford still has a pulse.” Good call.

joshthenurse: “The Explorer is an excellent truck.” Duh.

jayjc08: sliding doors make sense for people who park in crowded lots. I think any non-sedan should have them.

C6Racer: I hate those hanging cup-holders.

lucklaster: Funny you should mention the Lambdas, because I was thinking this is Ford’s chance.

V2: How many kids do you have? Do you know what “wanking” is? Do like the commodore, though.

RicardoHead: “I actually think if Mr. Burns ran Ford N.A. the company would actually be doing better and maybe we’d have some real cars to drive.” I agree.

Fleming: rav4, Highlander, LC, Sequoia, 4runner and FJ. You ain’t lyin’.

this car is sweet. the interior is awsome, & 340 hp! I really hope Ford makes this car