ExplorerDude

Well lets fill in the blanks, shall we? They are returning to real names as each vehicle goes through a complete redesign and not just a refresh. MKZ - - - - - - - > Zephyr MKS - - - - - - - > Continental MKC - - - - - - - > Mark C or Mariner? MKX - - - - - - - > Mark X MKT - - - - - - - > Aviator Navigator - - - - > Navigator Just some thoughts. Any other ideas?

Howdy All, I was poking around on Ford.com last night and came across a new page that they recently added, "Ford Discontinued Vehicles". On this page they had 3 specific vehicles listed: 1. Bronco 2. Ranger 3. Thunderbird https://www.ford.com/vehicles/discontinued/ I find it very interesting that these 3 particular vehicles are listed, especially with the rumors that the first two (Bronco and Ranger) are most definitely making a return in the 2018/2019 timeframe. The reason I believe it's a hint is so that they don't fall too far out of people's memory. I mean if the goal was to list just "Ford Discontinued Vehicles" then why not list the other most recent discontinued products. Seeing that these products were all discontinued long after the Bronco. 1. Escort 2. Excursion 3. Explorer Sport Trac 4. Crown Victoria 5. Five Hundred 6. Freestyle 7. Freestar 8. Windstar Just some food for thought and for a friendly discussion. Anyone have any thoughts on the subject?

Looks like the new Super Duty is taking shape in its new skin. http://www.trucktrend.com/features/news/2015/1503_spied_2017_ford_f_series_super_duty/

Job 1 for the 2011 Edge/MKX is scheduled for tomorrow Monday, July 12, 2010

Rest assured it will be a 2011 model. It would be very silly to not call it a 2011, as they would go from the 2010 to 2012 skipping a model year. They need to keep that "consistency of purpose" mantra going. Don't give the press the time of day to run a story that Ford discontinued the Explorer for 2011. You know that's the way they are and it will come across as that. Be smart Ford!

I am and so would my father. So is the D4 program still on? Is that gonna be called the Sport Trac and will the F-100 actually be a smaller/lighter F-150?

The Explorer Sport Trac has been downplaying the "Explorer" part of its name since the redesigned 2007 Sport Trac came out! I remember because I thought it was a pretty stupid idea to do at the time. However, you may be onto something there in Ford deciding to possibly separate out the Sport Trac from the Explorer itself eventually. I guess we'll have to wait and see but I know the current Sport Trac can't soldier on as it is on an orphaned platform. The first generation was so popular because its starting price was around $21,000 for a 2wd model, now that price has skyrocketed to around $28,000. Ford has priced the Sport Trac out of its original market. The Sport Trac has crossed into F-150 territory. Ford should redesign the Sport Trac and price it closer to the original as it hit the sweet spot of the market. It really is the swiss army knife of vehicles. Not everyone needs a truck as huge as the F-150.

I believe that the current Explorer/Mountaineer/& Sport Trac will remain in production until Sept. 30, 2010. So if your looking at getting one in June, then I believe you should be okay.

Yes they have indeed, I believe I heard that Ford wants the 2011 Explorer to sell somewhere between 150,000 and 175,000 units. I think that's possible once the economy improves.

CAPlineWORKER, can you tell us anything about what it looks like, possibly your thoughts? How close to the Explorer America Concept is it?

Very true, but I can't wait to see this thing! Anyone know how much it is costing Ford to develop the next Explorer?

Well I heard through the grapevine that the 2011 Ford Explorer is slated to begin production on November 1, 2010 at Chicago Assembly. We still have to wait over a year for this thing to make it into showrooms!

Everyone knew that was coming. The Mountaineer I can see going into the sunset but I really think the Sport Trac still has a market. When you don't advertise you can't expect to sell it!

Every little improvement to fuel economy helps!

I would love to start seeing pictures of some of the real 2011 Explorer test mules, not these frankinstein bits and pieces of a Taurus X, Flex, and the new Explorer's nose. Let's see the real deal soon!

If they reintroduce a minivan they need to name it the Windstar. I can't even begin to tell you how many people love or loved their Windstar and were upset that it turned into the Freestar and then got discontinued. Ford needs to build a high quality, feature packed minivan to compete against the Odysesy and the Sienna. I'm sure it would be stylish based on all of Ford's recent great designs. But you need that brand recognition once again. Name it the Windstar. Period.

I really hope that Ford introduces/greenlights a new Sport Trac. The Sport Trac has the 2nd highest owner/cult following only behind the Mustang itself. Those are customers Ford needs to keep and not lose. Maybe the F-100 was shelved because it was going to be too much like a regular F-150 afterall. So instead they are going to bring out the new global T6 Ranger and a uni-body Sport Trac to fill that spot. You really gotta remember that the Sport Trac sold 60,000 units a year for a long time back in its heyday, and the only reason people flocked away from it was because of high gas prices. A much more fuel efficient Sport Trac with PROPER marketing could do wonders for that market. A Ranger and Sport Trac could both be the same but different. Ranger could become more offroad worthy and able to tow. While the Sport Trac could focus on carrying people and stuff in the bed. Ford has a lot of crossover options, why not have a few different truck options as well?

While I don't completely hate the 2010 Fusion's grille, I don't understand why they didn't try to create a stronger family look with the 2010 Taurus. After all they are both the same model year, what happened to consistency of purpose?

Well back when the Explorer was selling between 250,000 to 400,000 units a year, the Sport Trac consistently sold about 5,000 to 6,000 units a month. Now I would say probably about 500 to 1,000 units if that monthly. But you gotta remember the Sport Trac is sold through out North America (USA, Canada, Mexico) plus Japan and the Middle East.

Doesn't the Sport Trac have one of the largest Ford "cult" followings only behind the Mustang? It's definitely a vehicle to keep, redesign and improve. Don't throw away customer's like those.

Sounds great, I would buy a unibody Sport Trac! Build it, sell it, and advertise it already so people know it exists!

The '08 and '09 Sport Trac's are pretty much the same. I believe the only new standard feature that the 2009 has that the 2008 doesn't is the new standard trailer sway control.

The 2010 Explorer, Mountaineer, and Sport Trac will be the last model year of the current generation and being BOF. There probably won't be any changes except for maybe colors. This will also be the last model year for the Mountaineer and Sport Trac as there are no plans to redesign them once the Explorer switches over to the D4 platform. So yea, they will all last together until the 2010 model year is complete, with only the completely redesigned 2011 Explorer coming out.

Ford will probably offload Volvo within time, but to who? Possibly a Volvo AB and Renault joint ownership of Volvo Cars?

There will be a 2010 Sport Trac but it will be pretty much the same as the 2009 Sport Trac. The 2010 Model Year will be the last of the current generation Explorer, Mountaineer, and Sport Trac. For the 2011 Model Year only the Explorer is being redesigned now as a unibody on the D3.2/D4 platform. There are sadly no plans to bring out a new Mountaineer or Sport Trac. It's kinda sad because I always thought the Sport Trac was an awesome vehicle, but thats what happens when you don't advertise it.