2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Concept

A Clear View of Ford's Future Sport Utility Truck

Ford's Sport Trac concept truck, due to appear in Detroit next week, looks ready for production. Is it a thinly veiled 2006

Is Ford's new Sport Trac concept just a veiled 2006 model? (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

model? Most think so, being that the current Sport Trac, which debuted in 2001, is due for replacement.

But why should Ford release photos of its new concept prior to the North American auto industry's most important auto show? One reason is to garner attention for a vehicle that, despite being something many new truck buyers will no doubt be interested in, might get lost amid the certain deluge of new model and concept announcements that begin flooding media channels starting with the L.A. auto show in the

The early release of the Sport Trac photos is a good public relations move, due to the fact that the current 4x4 model was given a worst in industry rollover rating. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

first week of January, and followed by the Detroit show in the second week.

Another reason? The Sport Trac's press release and initial artist's renderings appeared just after the current 4x4 model was given a worst in industry rollover rating, with a risk of 30 to 40 percent according to U.S. safety regulators.

News that the model would be updated shortly, and equipped with standard rollover protection when it becomes available, thwarted the media's rush to propagate pandemic hysteria over the negative rollover test results.