最近谍照记者首次拍到了2019款福特探险者早期测试车照片，当时该车正在密歇根州迪尔伯恩福特总部附近的开放公路上进行测试。虽然该车进行了重度伪装，但可看出它采用了现行的第五代车身。但该车内部则搭载了福特新的D6平台，未来福特和林肯多款车型将采用该平台。而现行版采用的D4平台也将应用于福特Flex和林肯MKT平台。新一代D6平台将可提供前轮、后轮和全轮驱动。这辆原型车似乎采用了后差速器，这表明新车仍可提供前轮驱动。至于动力系统，现行版搭载的2.3升四缸和3.5升V6 EcoBoost引擎很可能将进行升级。而3.5升V6自然进气引擎将被砍掉，此举旨在提供探险者的燃油经济性和降低尾气排放。第六代探险者七座SUV预计将于明年晚些时候发布，或许选择11月的洛杉矶车展，也有可能在2018年初的底特律车展发布，随后将作为2019款车型于2018年夏季上市。

2019 Ford Explorer spied for the first time
These are the first images of an early mule of the 2019 Ford Explorer, spotted tested on the public road in Ford’s hometown of Dearborn, Michigan.

Beneath the heavy disguise, the mule appears to be wearing the current, fifth-generation body. But that body is sat atop Ford’s new D6 platform, which will eventually be pressed into service on a number of Ford and Lincoln models. The current car's D4 platform is also used by the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT.

It is thought that the D6 platform can be configured for front-, rear-, or four-wheel-drive. This prototype doesn’t appear to have a rear differential, suggesting the front-wheel-drive theory could well be true.

The existing 2.3-liter, four-cylinder and 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engines are likely to be transferred over in updated form; the naturally-aspirated, 3.5-liter V6 could be axed, though, in an effort to improve the average fuel economy and emissions of the Explorer range.

The sixth generation of the seven-seat Explorer is expected to be unveiled late in 2017 - possibly at the Los Angeles auto show - or early in 2018 at the Detroit show. It is likely to go on sale sometime in summer 2018 as a 2019 model.