Ford is currently working on a mid-cycle update for its Explorer

Ford is currently working on a mid-cycle update for its Explorer, but the Blue Oval reportedly has something much bigger planned for the next-generation of the popular SUV.

Just one-generation after switching from a rear-wheel drive platform to a front-wheel drive layout, the Explorer could be going back to its roots. According to The Truth About Cars, the next Explorer will ride an a rear-wheel drive architecture.

However, unlike Explorers of yore, the new RWD model will use modern unibody construction, putting it on equal ground with the Dodge Durango. What engines might power the all-new Explorer remain a mystery at this time, but it's possible we could see the return of a V8. EcoBoost engine options are a certainty.

The switch to rear-wheel drive won't likely spur a major uptick in retail sales - especially since a large portion will leave the factory with all-wheel drive - but Ford is optimistic that the switch could boost its fleet sale to law enforcement agencies. Unlike General Motors and Chrysler, Ford's police-spec offerings are based on front-wheel drive vehicles, capping the company's sales potential.

Interestingly, Ford will not be the only brand to market a version of the new rear-wheel drive crossover. Ford's Lincoln luxury division will also receive a version of the new utility vehicle, with sales likely for the United States as well as China. It's not clear just where the new vehicle will fit within the Lincoln lineup, but the Explorer-base CUV could emerge as the replacement for the body-on-frame Navigator.

The updated version of the current Explorer is expected to bow in 2016, so the rear-wheel drive model probably won't land until 2018 at the earliest.