Why isn't this the new Explorer?!

[MinisterofDOOM]

Ford and GM are dumbasses. Their unfounded fear of the midsize truck and SUV segment in the US is a bit like a child being afraid of the dark. The terror is real but the cause is entirely imagined.

And while we're driving around in bloated rebadged Tauruses (bloat on bloat = bloat squared?) and Traverses, the rest of the world gets real trucks Americans would really like to buy. It's already a damn shame that Chevy won't bring the current Trailblazer (related to the Colorado and Canyon we ARE getting) here because they don't understand that two unrelated vehicles can't cannibalize each-other's sales unless you're too stupid to market them properly (I guess we should expect nothing more from two automakers who can't even manage basic brand identity issues [Mercury/Oldsmobile]). But now Ford is selling this thing elsewhere while we get to put up with undersized sub-par turbo powerplants and wrong-wheel-drive.


It's called the Everest, which was also the name of earlier-generation real-truck Explorers in other markets.

Body on frame.
2-speed transfer case.
Longitudinal drivetrain.
Solid rear axle.
Manual transmission.

How would this not sell in the US?!

The only real downside is the powertrain options, which are all seriously underspecced except the turbodiesel 5 cylinder, which is related to the "baby" Powerstroke we get in US market commercial vans.
Oh, and those fender vents. WHY WON'T THAT FAD JUST DIE ALREADY?!

[Looneybomber]

Even if that thing had an auto, it'd be great. There are not enough SUVs on the US market anymore. They're all unibody crossovers except for the FJ Cruiser, Xterra, G-Class, and Jeep Wrangler. I think that's it?

[SX APPEAL]

How would this not sell in the US?!

Manual transmission.

This.

But also, in America, anyone who has the need for a body-on-frame, live-axle 4x4 (ie they have to haul stuff) is going to buy a full size truck or SUV. Here, midsized SUV's/crossovers are just for soccer moms who occasionally have to drive in snow, so why would they need a 2 speed transfer case?

In Europe and elsewhere around the world, however, many more people have the need for a vehicle that can pull a trailer through some mud without getting stuck but still needs to be able to drive into towns which, on average, have much narrower streets than your average US city, therein lies the need for a truck based midsized SUV. Just not here.

my $0.02

[Dattebayo]

in America, anyone who has the need for a body-on-frame, live-axle 4x4 (ie they have to haul stuff) is going to buy a full size truck or SUV. Here, midsized SUV's/crossovers are just for soccer moms who occasionally have to drive in snow, so why would they need a 2 speed transfer case?

You don't know that. Because the way it is, is that people are FORCED to buy a truck or SUV because it's not offered in any other form.

[BusyBadger]

You don't know that. Because the way it is, is that people are FORCED to buy a truck or SUV because it's not offered in any other form.

^This

When Holli & I needed to replace the old Explorer we bought the Xterra because everything else that Holli test drove was unsatisfactory. It was her daily so her vote was the one that mattered and in her words, "Everything drives like a mini-van, I. Want. A. Truck."

If this new beast was available at the time there's little doubt we'd have another blue oval on the garage.

[Jesda]

GM is getting lots of orders for Colorado and Canyon.

This could be a US hit for Ford.