Earlier this year, we showed you the first spy shots of the upcoming 2006 Ford Explorer. Now, a Michigan reader has spotted the '06 Explorer on the street - and we have the pictures.

Ford's current model Ford Explorer four-door SUV was completely redesigned for the 2002 model year. Now these latest photos of a prototype under test show that Ford is developing an update to the Explorer with new styling front and rear.

While most of the sheetmetal stays unchanged, there is a new front-end design, which can be seen somewhat through the disguise front cover. The new headlight design replaces the old square look with the now-fashionable design of overlapping round lights. The updated grille has a simpler design, replacing the many small square boxes with a lesser number of larger, rectangular openings. The lower bumper is also restyled, with a wide horizontal slot for air entry that is not as tall as the air opening on the previous design. Also note that the truck does not have any plastic side cladding, as was used on most (but not all) current-model Explorers.

The freshened Explorer will likely be introduced in mid-2005 as a 2006 model.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/Enth...178.A8547.html

 

When you see this new face on the 2006 Ford Explorer this fall, remember to look behind the grille for what’s really important: a new, higher-output 4.6-liter V8. Like its Mercury Mountaineer sibling that debuted at the Chicago auto show in February, the new-look Explorer gets an optional V8 lifted directly from the 2005 Mustang.

Variable valve timing and three valves per cylinder boost the 4.6-liter’s output to 292 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque, up from 239 hp and 282 lb-ft in the two-valve V8 it replaces. The V8 Explorer also gets a new six-speed automatic transmission.

For those who don’t like change, the base Explorer will still come with the same 4.0-liter, 210-hp, 254-lb-ft V6 and five-speed automatic.

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

 

wow :wtfgrill:
reminds me of the chrome grill on the new jetta

 

Reminds me of the Jetta grill too. It's still just another big ugly piece of crap Ford SUV.

 

It's amazing how many new vehicles you see driving around the central Michigan area. I saw a camo'd car last Saturday night but unfortunetly didn't have my camera...it was a midsize sedan and it was too dark to make out any features.

This thing looks alright, if you like Land Rover front ends and the new VW/Audi corportate grille...Ford needs to get original.

 

It looks more like a toy now, like one of the GM midsizers.