http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=102312

What's with so many manufacturers using this nappy looking grille theme? Audi, VW Jetta, .... Titan and Armada to a degree.....now Explorer.... :blah:

 

I'd say Ford is using a squared-off version of VW's new "chromed happy face" on the Explorer. It's sort of in keeping with the Audi-cloned styling of the Ford Five-Hundred.

 

I don't like it. It's not as bad as the chrome grill on the new Jetta though

 

Not a fan. My dad owns a 2002 Explorer. I like those front ends the most. I wish they would have went with an adaptation of that front end.

 

front is nasty, i too am not liking that styling direction of many companies

 

Nice, 4.6L from the 2005 Mustang. 292 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque should give it some decent power.

 

Grill makes it look a generation older rather then newer.

 

FWIW, I think the headlights are little odd too... that little "pimple" in the lower corner looks very wierd.

 

They certainly didn't do much to distinguish what was already the most generic-looking SUV on the market.

 

I don't like the new facelift, though i don't HATE it either. I like the older one better.

On the plus side, it's good to see the 4.6L getting the 3valve and VVT treatment and getting a bumb bto 294hp. The 239hp on the pre-06 car was getting pathetic, especially with many v6's in SUV/truck's approaching 250hp.

I do wish they'd do something about the 210hp 4.0L Sohc though. That motor is atleast capable of mustering out 230hp and the 254lb-ft of tq they already make is quite competitive with many of the v6 powered mid-sized SUV's on the market. They could use a 20hp boost minimum.

 

Holy crap that looks not so good. Bad front end, bad taillights (if those are indeed the correct lights; they almost look camo-ed), bad wheelwell moldings...

Cool that it gets a power bump, I guess. Now the V8 should be able to keep up with/pull ahead of the line 6 in the GMT360s... (the six speed auto is nice, though).

Good news for the Explorer in the powertrain department, but dang the outside is :blah:

 

The chrome shield makes me sick on a VW and it looks far worse on a Ford

 

I don't like, or dislike the exterior............. I will reserve judgement until I see the different trim levels in person.

The big differences are the new frame, new suspension tuning, new V8, 6-speed auto trans on all, and completely new interior.

If fancy exterior styling was all that mattered in the midsize SUV market, the Durango would not sell................ and neither would the Sante Fe.

I will be interested to see the new performance stats with the V8 and 6-speed. It should also give a good bump to fuel economy.

 

In my opinion the 91-94 explorer was the best looking and most rugged. My 93 actually rides like a truck (god forbid). I can't stand the looks of the new explorers, they just keep getting bigger and ride less and less like a truck. The early explorers would run rings around these new ones offroading, if your into that. Don't get me wrong they are a nice vehicle, but when i buy a truck-suv thats what i want not some car-minivan type thing. Sorry for the rant long day at work

 

Looks OK.. I wished they would've sticked with the squared off tail lights. It should look better with a chrome XLT grille similiar to what I have.

I love Explorers, best midsize SUV in my opinion.