CD6 is the name of a Ford Motor scalable vehicle architecture designed to underpin midsize and full-size vehicles of all types. It succeeds the Ford CD3, CD4, D3, D4 platforms and is currently used for SUVs.
One of the primary purposes of the Ford CD6 platform is to drive scale economies even further by sharing parts with other vehicles. In that regard, CD6 is not so much a platform as it is a flexible vehicle set – a characteristic that allows it to share many parts in what would traditionally be disparate vehicles and platforms.
One of its key features is its ability to support both transverse, front-wheel-drive, or longitudinal rear-wheel-drive powerplants, allowing it to adapt to all types of applications.
This platform is currently in production for vehicles sold under the Ford nameplate worldwide. Here are the Ford vehicles currently sold in the U.S. and Canada that ride on the Ford CD6 platform:
The first vehicle to have been launched on this architecture was the sixth-generation Ford Explorer.
Platform Vitals
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Unibody welded steel |
| Size | Mid-size, full-size |
| Supported Vehicle Type | Car, crossover (SUV) |
| Suspension Type (front) | MacPherson strut |
| Suspension Type (rear) | Multi-link independent |
| Layout | Front-engine FWD/RWD/AWD |
| Powerplant Layout | Transverse / Longitudinal |
| Predecessor | Ford CD3, CD4, D3, D4 |
| Successor | Currently none |
Supported Engines
| Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Transmission | Vehicle Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L EcoBoost I4 | 300 | 310 | Ten-speed automatic | 2020 Ford Explorer |
| 3.3L hybrid V6 | 318 | 322 | Ten-speed automatic | 2020 Ford Explorer |
| 3.0L EcoBoost V6 | 365 | 380 | Ten-speed automatic | 2020 Ford Explorer |
| 3.0 EcoBoost V6 | 400 | 415 | Ten-speed automatic | 2020 Ford Explorer |
| 3.0L EcoBoost V6 | 400 | 400 | Ten-speed automatic | 2020 Lincoln Aviator |
| 3.0L EcoBoost V6 with plug-in hybrid | 450 | 600 | Ten-speed automatic | 2020 Lincoln Aviator |
Future Models
Although nothing has yet been confirmed by Ford, rumor has it that the next-generation Ford Mustang will also ride on the CD6 platform. There were also talks of using it for the next-generation Lincoln Continental, but as we write this, it’s not certain the car will carry on after its current generation.
Availability
The 2020 Ford Explorer is currently on sale, while the 2020 Lincoln Aviator will enter the U.S. and Canadian markets by the fourth quarter of the 2019 model-year.
Discussion
Discuss the Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator in our Ford forum.
News
Follow our coverage of Ford Explorer news and Lincoln Aviator news.
