2011 Ford Explorer finally revealed...

[Camaro_Corvette]

Originally Posted by lexlueger

Holy chit thats boring...

Isn't that the basis of Fords entire lineup? As long as it gets the job done

[jcamaro]

Good looking vehicle, but sorry it's not an Explorer. Make up another new name for it.

[n!ght r!der]

very similar. but also, very different.

[guiLT]

Eh...

[guiLT]

Originally Posted by n!ght r!der

very similar. but also, very different.

The headlights kinda look like the last Honda Pilot makeover..

[motorhead]

That's a very impressive looking vehicle. Love some of the options also. IT's funny too read the post in this thread. It makes it very easy to see who are the brand loyalist and who can appreciate a well done ,well thought out american made vehicle. I'd buy one ,but I just bought a new traverse.

[SS 376]

Looks good. If it didn't say Ford on it, your badge-obsessed buyer would probably pay $60K for it.

[Zabo]

I have a feeling that with the Flex being the sales flop that it was and the Acadia/Enclaves/Traverses selling like they do that Ford will drop this right in the segment of 'pseudo SUVs' being generated by those three and potentially the new Grand Cherokee and Durango makeover from Fiatler.

Effectively killing the Flex/Freestyle/whatever the F'k Ford was smoking.

Then market the '11 Edge/MKXLMNOP as an Equinox/Terrain fighter. However, problem being seats suck, and gas mileage sucks the GM entries still win. Try again Ford.

[Number 3]

Certainly attractive, but now as a FWD/AWD SUV, it places itself right in the middle of a bunch of great vehicles. Lamba from GM, Pilot and MDX from Honda. By changing the vehicle they are now even competing with themselves to a degree with the Edge and Flex. And clearly with that feature line they are going for a Taurus look.

Also, the poster that said the Ecoboost V6 is coming better be right. Although the I4 is a FE play, my Sky Redline with the GMPP calibration is making 290 HP and 325 lb-ft of torque and it still launches like a 2.0 liter. Doesn't come into the sweet spot down that low. So a sub 3,000 pound car vs. a 4,500 pound SUV??? I am not sure that will work. But I'd guess if they didn't think it was at least passable they wouldn't charge more for it. Have to wait and see on that one.

[Dan@showstopper]

Ford has ruined the Explorer. I had two of them in college and loved them. The explorer was still a truck but was the perfect size. It was a tough little truck too. This thing is terrible. It looks like a 2nd gen TaurusX. How many crossovers can Ford have? Escape, Flex, Edge and now this??? Seems like they have created a lot of inter brand competition. I'm glad we bought the Equinox when we did and didn't wait for this to come out like I wanted to. That is not what an explorer should look like. They really didn't increase the mpg's that much by by going uni-body and FWD either. I would buy a new Grand Cherokee if I were looking for an SUV for myself. This is a fail IMO.

[The_Blur]

I fell asleep looking at it.

[syr74]

Originally Posted by Zabo

I have a feeling that with the Flex being the sales flop that it was and the Acadia/Enclaves/Traverses selling like they do that Ford will drop this right in the segment of 'pseudo SUVs' being generated by those three and potentially the new Grand Cherokee and Durango makeover from Fiatler.

Effectively killing the Flex/Freestyle/whatever the F'k Ford was smoking.

Then market the '11 Edge/MKXLMNOP as an Equinox/Terrain fighter. However, problem being seats suck, and gas mileage sucks the GM entries still win. Try again Ford.

The revised for 2011 Edge has the best V6 fuel economy in it's class, significantly better than the Equinox in fact.

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by syr74

The revised for 2011 Edge has the best V6 fuel economy in it's class, significantly better than the Equinox in fact.

That may be nice, but if they didn't change ride quality or the seats I'd still pass. We absolutely hate our Edge. Worst purchase ever. And that's the honest to god non GM kool-aid truth.

I could not feel my lower back after 40 minutes of driving. My T/A has better seats and it's from the middle of the 'lackluster' GM age. Simply pathetic.

Mind you none of this is aimed at you, syr74 but rather that POS that sharing garage space with my Trans Am.

[syr74]

Originally Posted by Zabo

That may be nice, but if they didn't change ride quality or the seats I'd still pass. We absolutely hate our Edge. Worst purchase ever. And that's the honest to god non GM kool-aid truth.

I could not feel my lower back after 40 minutes of driving. My T/A has better seats and it's from the middle of the 'lackluster' GM age. Simply pathetic.

Mind you none of this is aimed at you, syr74 but rather that POS that sharing garage space with my Trans Am.

No explanation needed, I'm not a fan of the current Edge either. Interior quality is horrible with the only bright spots being decent interior space and styling that isn't quite as bland as some competitors.

The new model addresses the existing mediocre driveline and interior...I'll be curious to see if that is enough to make this particular car competitive since, IMO, Ford has been seriously lagging behind GM in crossovers for some time. In fact, until the Edge refresh and the news of this new Explorer the only crossover bright spot at Ford for me was the Escape, which I think it arguable the only true compact, ute wagon left on the market. And even that would be outdated were it not the only player in the game.