2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Concept

Those that live on an automotive diet knew that an update to the popular truck was forthcoming anyway, having been prepared

"The sport utility truck segment is red hot, and it's time for the original to raise the bar again for everyone else to try to follow," said Chris Feuell, Ford Motor Company SUV group marketing manager. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

for the 2005 auto show circuit much further in advance than the when the rollover test news hit the proverbial fan.

Of course, an update to the Sport Trac makes a heck of a lot of sense, being that the sport utility truck has become an extremely popular and ever-growing segment, and that its chassis dates back to the previous generation Explorer.

"With the addition of a number of new competitive offerings, the sport utility truck segment is red hot, and it's time for the original to raise the bar again for everyone else to try to follow," commented Chris Feuell, Ford Motor Company SUV group marketing manager. "This

From a styling perspective, Ford has updated the model with Explorer/Ranger/F-150 design cues. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

concept magnifies all of the aspects of Sport Trac that customers already love and introduces some street-savvy cues."

Few specific details have been released about Ford's upcoming sport-utility truck, but the Dearborn-based automaker has let a bed-load of photos and a few specifications out of the bag prior to its January introduction. From a styling perspective, Ford has updated the model with Explorer/Ranger/F-150 design cues, two sporty hood scoops, plus a nifty set of engine vents just above the front wheel cutout ahead of the A-pillars, similar to the vents first shown on 2003's SVT Lightning and more recently, the Land Rover LR3.