Looking to edge into more of the overland, soft roading arena, Ford has an upcoming off-road version of the Explorer. Our spy photographers spotted this off-road version of the Ford Explorer in what we believe may be close to its final form, production ready trim.
A closer look reveals this version of the Explorer sports key indicators that it’s different than the "standard" Explorer. Note the new upper and lower grille area resulting in a unique front fascia. It also appears to have a higher front-end approach angle and a set of red tow hooks that are hard to miss.
In the rear, a set of tucked-under exhaust tips and new aesthetic tail-end aspects. The model is running on a set of blacked-out wheels wrapped in rugged all-terrain tires.
All badges for the vehicles we saw had tape over them, including on the C-pillar and cargo cover. A 4WD logo was clearly visible.
Originally expected to be called the Explorer FX4, our sources at Ford Authority recently reported that Ford is planning to introduce a new Explorer model called Timberline. We’re guessing that this is it.
Expect a launch in the first half of the 2021 calendar year as a 2022 model.