SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds.com found significant consumer interest building for the new version of the Ford Explorer, which is expected to arrive in franchise showrooms this fall.

During the past six months, site analysts indicated consideration for this model has nearly doubled. In December of last year, they found a record low 8.5 percent of SUV shoppers reviewed Edmunds.com coverage of the Explorer. But now in recent weeks, consideration of Explorer by these same shoppers climbed as high as 16.1 percent.

Edmunds.com emphasized that consideration is a good metric for gauging consumer interest.

"With a great deal of goodwill from the Explorer's glory years, together with a substantially evolved 2011 model, it's possible that Ford will turn many of these browsers into buyers," Edmunds.com analyst Ivan Drury speculated.

The site calculated the SUV segment accounts for nearly a quarter of all vehicles sold in the United States. That figure remains despite a dramatic shift in SUV preferences in recent years

From 2002 to 2010, analysts said the sales of compact and midsize crossovers have doubled their representation in the SUV segment. At the same time, they found sales of traditional large and midsize SUVs — like the Ford Explorer — are down by two-thirds.

Crossovers have outsold traditional SUVs since 2006, according to Edmunds.com.

The site thinks Ford engineers designed the new Explorer to be more like a crossover. The vehicle is projected to have unibody construction to reduce weight, boost mileage and deliver a more car-like ride and handling characteristics.

Edmunds.com delved deeper into Ford sales data to determine how consumer sentiment for its lineup has shifted.

Back in 2005, the site found the Explorer accounted for 9 percent of Ford's total vehicle sales, while the compact crossover Escape captured 7 percent. So far in 2010, analysts contend the Escape represents 12 percent of all Ford sales, while the Explorer brings in just 4 percent.

Edmunds.com went on to note that 10.4 percent of its site visitors who research the Explorer also research the Escape. Only two vehicles — the Chevrolet Traverse and the Ford Edge — are cross-shopped against the Explorer at a higher rate.

Furthermore, officials indicated only 4 percent of Edmunds.com's visitors who researched the Escape also researched the Explorer.

"After a 20-year run using the same basic formula that shot it to the top of the sales charts, the Ford Explorer is going in a completely new direction for the 2011 model year," asserted Edmunds.com senior analyst Karl Brauer.

"Even if the new one is wildly successful, it likely will never achieve the sales levels its predecessor delivered," Brauer added.

More of Brauer's analysis of the new Ford Explorer is available here.