Photo: Instagram | Jlord8
Save for the Mustang, which has been deemed popular enough to be worthy of a new generation, there isn't a single traditional low-slung model in Ford's US lineup. The Blue Oval chose the crossover, SUV, and pickup route to make money, sprinkled with the occasional commercial vehicle.
Any gearhead and their pet can tell you that they're not interested in minivans anymore either, as they have plenty of high-riders in their portfolio to act as substitutes for this body style, which may have gone out of fashion, but it's far from giving its last breath.
One model that those into the Dearborn-based marque's cars from back in the day surely remember is the Aerostar. It was a minivan with a front-engine and rear- or all-wheel drive layout that Ford made at the Hazelwood factory in Missouri from 1985. Based on the VN1 platform, the people carrier came with an assortment of V6 powertrains, with 2.8, 3.0, and 4.0 liters in displacement, and with a 2.3-liter straight-four for the first couple of years of production, which were mated to four- and five-speed automatic transmissions or a five-speed manual gearbox.
Measuring 174.9 inches (4,440 mm) from bumper to bumper, with 71.7 in (1,820 mm) in width, and 72.2 in (1,830 mm) in height, the Ford Aerostar had a 118.9 inches (3,020 mm) long wheelbase, comparable to that of the modern-day Toyota Sienna. The styling was not something to write home about, as it had a slopped nose, a rakish front windscreen, and a straight roof ending abruptly above the tailgate. The interior was roomy enough for three rows of seats, with either a bench for the second row or individual captain's chairs on better-equipped trim levels.
Production of the Aerostar ended in 1997, and the second-generation Windstar, which had a similar footprint, was deemed its successor. The role of the cargo van went to the Transit Connect, and that was the last time anyone heard of this nameplate. But what if Ford decided to bring it back from the dead? With this question in mind, jlord8 set out to imagine what it would look like using the Tourneo Custom as a starting point. The design kind of mirrors the slopped nose of the Aerostar, but other than that, and the sportier stance of the vehicle aided by the beefed-up styling at the front, sides, and rear, complete with the new wheels and uprated brakes, it's still a Tourneo Custom.
We think a modern-day Aerostar would sell, but probably not in great numbers to justify the millions of dollars invested in its research and development. So, if the Blue Oval decided to resurrect the moniker, would you kick that crossover out of bed for it? Speak your mind in the comments section below and let us know if it would be a good idea or not.
One model that those into the Dearborn-based marque's cars from back in the day surely remember is the Aerostar. It was a minivan with a front-engine and rear- or all-wheel drive layout that Ford made at the Hazelwood factory in Missouri from 1985. Based on the VN1 platform, the people carrier came with an assortment of V6 powertrains, with 2.8, 3.0, and 4.0 liters in displacement, and with a 2.3-liter straight-four for the first couple of years of production, which were mated to four- and five-speed automatic transmissions or a five-speed manual gearbox.
Measuring 174.9 inches (4,440 mm) from bumper to bumper, with 71.7 in (1,820 mm) in width, and 72.2 in (1,830 mm) in height, the Ford Aerostar had a 118.9 inches (3,020 mm) long wheelbase, comparable to that of the modern-day Toyota Sienna. The styling was not something to write home about, as it had a slopped nose, a rakish front windscreen, and a straight roof ending abruptly above the tailgate. The interior was roomy enough for three rows of seats, with either a bench for the second row or individual captain's chairs on better-equipped trim levels.
Production of the Aerostar ended in 1997, and the second-generation Windstar, which had a similar footprint, was deemed its successor. The role of the cargo van went to the Transit Connect, and that was the last time anyone heard of this nameplate. But what if Ford decided to bring it back from the dead? With this question in mind, jlord8 set out to imagine what it would look like using the Tourneo Custom as a starting point. The design kind of mirrors the slopped nose of the Aerostar, but other than that, and the sportier stance of the vehicle aided by the beefed-up styling at the front, sides, and rear, complete with the new wheels and uprated brakes, it's still a Tourneo Custom.
We think a modern-day Aerostar would sell, but probably not in great numbers to justify the millions of dollars invested in its research and development. So, if the Blue Oval decided to resurrect the moniker, would you kick that crossover out of bed for it? Speak your mind in the comments section below and let us know if it would be a good idea or not.
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