A prototype of the new generation Explorer has been spied once again, yet in contrast to the last time when the car carmaker used the mule, this time we are looking at the new shell. Ford’s future mid-size SUV is still totally wrapped, but we can recognize some new styling cues, especially in the front end.
2019 Ford Explorer: Redesign Changes
The 2019 Ford Explorer will come totally redesigned, but it won’t get any drastic styling changes. The new exterior is likely getting a new nose with reworked hood and completely new grille. The camo is particularly pronounced below the grille which suggests that the new generation Explorer might get a massive bumper. Of course, they won’t skip the chance to add a pair of the headlights too, but we can’t figure out the new shape. The back of the new SUV seems to have new taillights already. They appear to be connected through a red bar; at least the testing model features the detail. However, this could be a temporary solution, so the production-ready model may not get the same treatment. In any case, the rear bumper is definitely bigger, while the exhaust design appears to be unchanged at the moment.
New Platform
The new generation SUV won’t continue with the same D4 architecture. Instead, the car manufacturer will switch the 2019 Explorer to the all-new D6 platform. The new chassis will employ more lightweight materials, which will definitely have a big influence on crossover’s fuel economy numbers. Of course, the new dose of aluminum and high-strength steel will additionally improve the rigidity and handling too.
Changes Under The Hood
The D6 architecture can accommodate all types of drive configurations. Yes, the next-generation Explorer could be offered with front-, rear-, and all-wheel drive setups. Still, this won’t happen. At least we think so. The popular mid-size will probably come with a standard FWD and optional AWD. You can say goodbye to the naturally aspirated V6 engine. Instead, the 2019 Ford Explore will keep the current 2.3-liter and 3.5-liter Ecoboost engines, and will probably add a 2.7-liter mill. The manufacturer might also add some kind of plug-in hybrid powertrain, but we can’t say anything more precisely about that. On the other hand, we expect to see a new 10-speed automatic transmission among options.
Estimated Arrival and Price
According to information we have, the 2019 Explorer will be introduced at 2018 Detroit Auto Show. This means there will be more testing models in the coming months, so we should find out more in the coming months. The SUV will receive evolutionary rather than the revolutionary redesign, but the changes under the skin are really big. However, we think that this won’t have any big influence on pricing. More precisely, the carmaker will probably keep the current prices.
