rmc523 Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 (edited) I think one of those just in the quick glimpse in the video might be an Aviator The main difference in the side profile (other than being lower) is the front wheels are much further forward of the cockpit than the current explorer. The wheel placement is more typical to RWD vehicles. The body doesn't look any different, but that doesn't mean anything, if it's just a platform or powertrain mule. And I'm finding it hard to tell if there's much difference in the wheel spacing up front. It does appear to sit lower, but aside from that, I'm not seeing much difference here. I think the body appearing lower/sleeker because there are no roof rack bars on the sides. Edited September 25, 2017 by rmc523 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev-Mo Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 (edited) Dillon Dam Road, Dillon Colorado >9000' I-70 Eastbound heading up from Silverthorne CO toward Eisenhower Tunnel >11,000' US 6 heading east between Keystone and A-Basin Ski Area (Focus). Surely, the only reason to be on that road is to run it over Loveland Pass - a hair < 12,000' Glad to see Ford using a tough proving ground. Edited September 25, 2017 by Kev-Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2b2 Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 (edited) The body doesn't look any different, but that doesn't mean anything, if it's just a platform or powertrain mule. And I'm finding it hard to tell if there's much difference in the wheel spacing up front. It does appear to sit lower, but aside from that, I'm not seeing much difference here. I think the body appearing lower/sleeker because there are no roof rack bars on the sides. I did a (rough!) comparo (not posting it) and the REAR DOORS on the new whatever look a very diff size from the Explorer's... when I matched wheelbases, the r-door looks smaller >> makes me think the new one has a longer wlb Edited September 25, 2017 by 2b2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonj80 Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 They also love I-15/395/CA190 from Ontario CA to Vegas/Death Valley circle. Nothing like running a car uphill on a 6% grade in bumper to bumper traffic in 110+ heat to test A/C and cooling systems. Then see inf the A/C can keep up in 125 temps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 It's a Frankenmule... Current Explorer bodywork riding atop... something else. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerLS Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 It's a Frankenmule... Current Explorer bodywork riding atop... something else. So, you're saying it's really a diesel RWD wagon with a manual transmission? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 It's a Frankenmule... Current Explorer bodywork riding atop... something else. CD6 platform mule? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 It's a Frankenmule... Current Explorer bodywork riding atop... something else. Attribute prototype... The front wheel position reminds me of another RWD vehicle now gone to the great beyond 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullynd Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Attribute prototype... The front wheel position reminds me of another RWD vehicle now gone to the great beyond I did actually wonder if it could be a sedan, but figured that's unlikely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 (edited) It's a Frankenmule... Current Explorer bodywork riding atop... something else. The front wheel does look like it could be a bit forward in the wheel opening. It's exciting though. Care to share anything else, or are you limited in what you can say? Edited September 26, 2017 by rmc523 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonj80 Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Parts models for Aviator are only just coming due from suppliers, and its on an all new platform so it's not like they can do with it what they're doing with the Bronco mules driving around right now and hacking up something from the same platform. Not for Powertrain mules on the new platform. Finished trim and packaging items for sure but powertrain needs 2+ years before that. Powertrain is 2021/2022CY and is early planning for 2025+. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 CD6 platform mule? If my info is correct, the timeline fits perfectly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Care to share anything else, or are you limited in what you can say? ☝️ ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 (edited) If my info is correct, the timeline fits perfectly. That would mean at minimum concepts at this year's shows, right? If we're already seeing mules. I'm going to transfer Aviator concept to "definite." Won't be surprised to see some Ford 'concepts' either. Edited September 26, 2017 by rmc523 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonj80 Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 That would mean at minimum concepts at this year's shows, right? If we're already seeing mules. I'm going to transfer Aviator concept to "definite." Won't be surprised to see some Ford 'concepts' either. Ford has been getting away from total concepts. I think if anything you'll see concepts like Honda/Lincoln have done where it is basically a production car. I could also see them showing production cars even if it is a year away. One it will hopefully get some people to hold off a purchase as well as show wall street good things are happening. An Explorer owner might be getting ready to replace their 8-10 year old one and sees the current one is the same as what they have, they might consider a Pilot/Highlander/Traverse but if they know Ford has a new one coming they might put it off to see what it offers. Even if they show something that is a year away it is not like the competition can emulate it that fast. The other issue is with all these coming launches is if they can keep quality up, that has always been an issue. Based on the mules I've seen you're going to see a Facelifted Edge/MKX, Ranger, Facelifted TC, New Explorer, New Focus, New Escape, GT500, and Facelifted SD over the next 18 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Ford has been getting away from total concepts. I think if anything you'll see concepts like Honda/Lincoln have done where it is basically a production car. I could also see them showing production cars even if it is a year away. One it will hopefully get some people to hold off a purchase as well as show wall street good things are happening. An Explorer owner might be getting ready to replace their 8-10 year old one and sees the current one is the same as what they have, they might consider a Pilot/Highlander/Traverse but if they know Ford has a new one coming they might put it off to see what it offers. Even if they show something that is a year away it is not like the competition can emulate it that fast. The other issue is with all these coming launches is if they can keep quality up, that has always been an issue. Based on the mules I've seen you're going to see a Facelifted Edge/MKX, Ranger, Facelifted TC, New Explorer, New Focus, New Escape, GT500, and Facelifted SD over the next 18 months. Sorry, I wasn't clear in my previous post - that's exactly what I was referring to - the "concepts" that are basically the production model turned into a concept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 I did actually wonder if it could be a sedan, but figured that's unlikely. Not implying it's a sedan, just comparing front wheel position in that mule to a known RWD vehicle, First too admit that it's equally possible that this mule is still FWD AWD but with better proportions. Either way, it's exciting times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 (edited) Not implying it's a sedan, just comparing front wheel position in that mule to a known RWD vehicle, First too admit that it's equally possible that this mule is still FWD AWD but with better proportions. Either way, it's exciting times. To add another wrench into the discussion, the rumor was also out there that CD6 was FWD/RWD/AWD capable.... Many of Audi's vehicles still lean further toward the FWD look than some of the competition. Edited September 26, 2017 by rmc523 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerLS Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Ford has been getting away from total concepts. If by "getting away from" you mean "gone almost completely away from." The Lincoln MKR in '07 was pretty much the last full-on concept; you could consider the Evos to be one, but it was really more of a styling exercise to show the future design language. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 If anything Evos was a Mustang concept Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 If anything Evos was a Mustang concept Or Fusion. Both vehicles took a lot of elements from Evos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerLS Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 If anything Evos was a Mustang concept Except they said at the time that Evos wasn't intended for production, just to show the new design language. IIRC, Mulally was the one who ended concepts that weren't on a production track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2b2 Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 If by "getting away from" you mean "gone almost completely away from." The Lincoln MKR in '07 was pretty much the last full-on concept; you could consider the Evos to be one, but it was really more of a styling exercise to show the future design language. just-imho the 2010 MKT*Concept* had less to do with any production vehicle (other than nomenclature), ie pure-&-misleading Concept, than the Evos had to do with Both the Stang + Fusion (** imho the T-Conc tophat was 'hung' on a CV/TC Panther platform) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerLS Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 (** imho the T-Conc tophat was 'hung' on a CV/TC Panther platform) I don't know if they did or didn't, but the MKT concept looked a lot like the production car, and the actual vehicle went into production in July of 2009, so why would they need a Panther to carry it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 If by "getting away from" you mean "gone almost completely away from." The Lincoln MKR in '07 was pretty much the last full-on concept; you could consider the Evos to be one, but it was really more of a styling exercise to show the future design language. Mulally's first NAIAS with Ford, they show the Interceptor and MKR and he innocently asks are we going to build them? Oh no, they're just concepts.... The look on Mulally's face, priceless. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.