Completing Ford’s 2020 Explorer range is the Hybrid version, joining the recently-unveiled ST in Detroit, alongside the regular model.

Powered by a 3.3-liter hybrid unit, the 2020 Explorer Hybrid is said to produced a combined system output of 318 HP. Meanwhile, it also has an EPA-estimated range of more than 500 miles (804 km), although that highly impressive number is strictly for the rear-wheel drive model, as actual range will vary.

“This new generation of Explorer recognizes that every family – and every driver – is unique,” stated Ford exec, Hau Thai-Tang. “With an all-new ST and all-new Hybrid, there truly is an Explorer for every adventure.”

Aside from its all-new 10-speed modular hybrid transmission, the 2020 Explorer Hybrid boasts a specially designed liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery, built directly into its chassis below the second-row seats, unlike with previous hybrid models. In turn, this helps preserve cargo and passenger space.

“Reduced cargo space in hybrids is a thing of the past for Ford costumers,” added Bill Gubing, Explorer chief engineer.

Future buyers will be able to purchase the Explorer Hybrid this summer, in Limited Edition trim only. Still, you get Active Noise Cancellation, Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+, leather seats with micro-perforation and accent stitching, second-row heated seats, a 14-speaker B&O premium sound system, a wireless phone charging pad and 10-way power adjustable driver and front passenger seats.

We’ve all been there, on the side of the road with the jack in our hands getting ready to replace a deflated tire. All that’s about to become history in the 2020 Ford Explorerfor the most part, which is equipped with a very special tire made by Michelin.

Called the Selfseal, it’s lined with a sealant that has been designed to fill some of the most common punctures such as nails and screws, up to a quarter-inch (6.35 cm) in diameter.

This slows down the loss of air pressure to less than 15 pounds per square inch every week, according to Michelin’s internal testing, and will help users continue their journey without leaving the site with gravel on their knees.

“Nothing derails a family vacation like a flat tire”, said Ford’s Wheel and Tire engineer, Joseph Billman. “Explorer is the ultimate road trip family hauler – and it’s the perfect fit for these new Michelin Selfseal tires.”

Explorer Marketing Manager, Craig Patterson, added: “The all-new Explorer is designed to help our customers feel unstoppable and worry-free. The availability of these new Michelin Selfseal tires is another great example of that.”

Ford says the Explorer is the first-ever SUV to use Michelin’s Selfseal tires. Measuring 255/55 R20 in size, they are standard on the Platinum and Limited Hybrid four-wheel drive models, and optional on the two- and four-wheel drive versions of the Limited. Still, despite this new tech, all Explorers come with a regular spare wheel.

Migraine headaches, fatigue and dizziness were sidelining Bert Henriksen several times a week. Evenings were the worst, after his 30-mile commute home in his 2017 Ford Explorer.

His behavior grew erratic. He’d get angry over minor things. “We were getting scared that he had some kind of a brain problem,” said his wife, Megan.

An answer came last March in a phone call from his doctor: A blood test revealed that Henriksen had been exposed to toxic levels of carbon monoxide gas. But how? The result was consistent with someone who’d been in a house fire, his doctor said, but Henriksen hadn’t been through anything like that.

He says his prime suspect was parked in his driveway.

Henriksen is among more than 3,000 Ford Explorer owners who’ve complained to Ford or federal regulators that they suspect exhaust fumes have seeped into their sport-utility vehicles’ cabins. Many fear carbon monoxide gas may have made them ill, and dozens of drivers have complained to regulators that the company’s recommended fix wasn’t effective. Explorer owners have filed more than 50 legal claims nationwide against Ford. And some police departments in the U.S. said in 2017 that Explorers used as cruisers were exposing officers to carbon monoxide.

The complaints, which cover vehicles built between 2010 and 2018, carry high stakes for the second-largest U.S. automaker. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating drivers’ claims in 2016, then expanded the probe a year later after saying it had “preliminary evidence” of elevated carbon monoxide levels in some driving scenarios. If NHTSA finds a safety defect, Ford would face the prospect of recalling more than 1 million vehicles, costing perhaps hundreds of millions of dollars.

Ford, which in January debuted a redesigned Explorer for the 2020 model year, says there’s nothing wrong with the previous version. “All of our testing to date has shown these vehicles are safe,” company spokesman Mike Levine said in a statement. “Ford’s investigation has not found carbon monoxide levels that exceed what people are exposed to every day.”

The claims aren’t easy to investigate. For one thing, hospitals and doctors seldom test patients for exposure to carbon monoxide—Henriksen’s test was rare. Also, the U.S. has no regulatory standard for how much of the odorless, colorless, toxic gas would create a health risk for drivers, and scientists say the answer varies depending on individuals’ health and age. And drivers say the seepage problem comes and goes, complicating attempts to verify their allegations.

NHTSA’s task includes evaluating both what might be causing the alleged defect and what sort of health risk is posed to occupants by any pollutants in the cabin, a subject that global experts have just begun to study in recent years.

The fact that the agency’s investigation is well into its third year is “extraordinary,” said Allan Kam, an independent auto-safety consultant who retired as a senior enforcement attorney at the agency in 2000. It may signal that the probe isn’t a high priority—or it may reflect resource constraints at NHTSA’s Office of Defect Investigations, Kam said.

“It could be a serious problem,” he said, “and because it’s not like a crash where there’s an obvious impact or moment of danger, this is something that builds up over minutes but potentially could be very serious or deadly.”

Ford’s response to the claims has served to deepen some drivers’ mistrust. The company’s first attempt to quell the concerns—through repair instructions the company provided to dealerships in 2012 to respond to customers’ complaints—was followed by repeated updates and several additional instructions. Ford said it’s confident in its most recent repair campaign, which was offered in 2017 and is still in effect. Complaints have dropped dramatically since this latest effort, the company said, and the fix “effectively resolves the matter.”

And yet, for drivers like Bert Henriksen, it hasn’t. He now drives with a portable carbon monoxide detector in his Explorer, and he said it occasionally shows elevated levels of the gas. He invited Bloomberg News along for a ride.

There was very little sign of carbon monoxide during a 76-mile test drive near Henriksen’s home in South Lyon, Michigan, in January. One of two detectors in his vehicle registered only tiny amounts of the gas. The other showed zero.

“That’s the problem—it’s so sporadic,” he said. Ford twice sent engineers to examine his Explorer, Henriksen said, and they found no problem.

Explorer owner Dallas Haselhorst of Hays, Kansas, had a similar experience. Ford’s engineers twice found no issue with his vehicle, he said, even though his own carbon monoxide detector—which he attached to a third-row headrest after his wife said she smelled exhaust fumes—detected elevated levels every few weeks.

“It was a very frustrating experience,” Haselhorst said. “We knew what we were smelling.” Weeks would go by without any exhaust fumes or carbon monoxide readings and then both would appear, seemingly at random, he said. Haselhorst pressed his case nonetheless, and the company bought back his Explorer in December 2017.

In Henriksen’s case, Ford offered to buy his Explorer back after he sued the company under Michigan’s lemon law. He’s in the process of closing that deal now.

As of mid-2016, Ford had bought back roughly 100 Explorers from complaining drivers, according to federal records. “We have made buyback offers to certain customers as goodwill gestures,” Ford’s Levine said.

When it was introduced in 1990, the Explorer helped usher in an American obsession with SUVs, and Ford has sold more than 7 million of them. The fifth-generation Explorer arrived in the 2011 model year. The first complaints about exhaust fumes seeping into its cabin followed soon after.

One came from a Ford manager who was leasing an Explorer. Company engineers tested his vehicle and confirmed what they described as a slight exhaust odor under specific driving conditions: full-throttle acceleration while the climate-control system was in “recirculation” mode. Ford described those circumstances as outside “typical customer usage,” according to a letter the company sent NHTSA in August 2016.

Using recirculation mode created negative air pressure inside the cabin, which could draw in outside gases through gaps in the rear of the Explorer’s body, Ford’s letter said.

That letter didn’t address any potential flaws in the Explorer’s exhaust system itself, but records the company turned over to NHTSA indicate that Ford dealers found exhaust system leaks in roughly 50 Explorers between December 2011 and April 2016—all on vehicles with fewer than 100,000 miles.

That’s a “fairly high failure rate,” said Ed Kim, a senior analyst with industry consulting firm AutoPacific Inc. “These components should not be failing at such a high rate prior to reaching 100,000 miles.”

The records summarize about 2,300 warranty claims, and a Ford spokeswoman said the list of claims doesn’t represent an acknowledgement by the company that any of the vehicles had a safety issue.

The leaks were mostly found in the exhaust manifold and the catalytic converter, which in the Explorer are welded together to form a single part. Problems identified in the records included porous welds, cracks and poor fits with other components that allowed exhaust to escape before exiting the tailpipe. The reports indicate that installing new parts resolved owners’ complaints.

In a statement, Ford said its testing hasn’t found exhaust leaks “to be a contributor to the concern.”

Regardless of the cause, Explorers’ exhaust issues made national headlines in 2017: Police officers who used Explorers in California and Massachusetts tested positive for exposure to carbon monoxide. And police in Austin, Texas, pulled almost 400 so-called Explorer Police Interceptors from their fleet over carbon monoxide concerns. Austin police had Ford repair the vehicles and began returning them to service in late 2017. But as recently as last September, an officer from the Fall River Police Department in Massachusetts was diagnosed with carbon monoxide poisoning after driving his police-issue Explorer, a department spokesman said. The department hadn’t sought repairs for that vehicle under Ford’s recommended service for police cruisers to address the carbon monoxide risk, he said.

Ford says the police problems differ from civilian complaints and stem from after-market modifications to the vehicles—like holes drilled in their bodies to allow for special wiring.

Plaintiffs’ lawyers argue otherwise. “It is an Explorer defect issue, period,” said Brian Chase, whose client, Brian McDowell, a former police officer, is suing Ford. McDowell passed out behind the wheel of an Explorer Police Interceptor at almost 50 miles per hour in 2015. He veered across several lanes of traffic before crashing into a tree. Ford has denied responsibility for McDowell’s accident or his injuries, according to court papers filed in the suit.

Spurred in part by media reports, some Explorer drivers around the country, like Henriksen, have used portable carbon-monoxide detectors to measure air quality in their vehicles. Some have reported alarming results.

An Eastlake, Ohio, driver found a concentration of 141 parts per million, according to an Oct. 19 complaint to NHTSA. Another in Kane, Pennsylvania, in 2014 reported a range of 75 to 100 ppm. One in Las Cruces, New Mexico, cited levels as high as 43 ppm in a 2013 Explorer, and one in Hughes Springs, Texas, reported 38 ppm. Carbon monoxide concentrations in the air typically register less than 2 ppm, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Levine, the Ford spokesman, said carbon monoxide should only be measured with scientifically calibrated detectors—which can cost several hundred dollars—and added that chemicals inside vehicles, such as vapors from cleaners, solvents and air fresheners, could cause false readings.

The deadly effects of exposure to high carbon monoxide levels are well known, but experts say chronic exposure to lower levels can also be unhealthy. While there’s no U.S. standard for interior air quality in motor vehicles, various agencies have set workplace limits, ranging from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s 50 ppm to California state regulators’ 25 ppm. Both limits are average exposures over an eight-hour shift.

Even lower levels can still cause harm, especially to vulnerable people, such as the elderly, babies and people with heart disease, said Dr. Lindell Weaver, a physician and carbon monoxide expert in Salt Lake City. Workplace standards were written to protect otherwise healthy adults, not those vulnerable groups, he said, and they presume workers are at sea level, not higher elevations where carbon monoxide’s effects can be magnified.

“The situation and the individual factor into much of this, and that’s why having a hard and fast rule is difficult if not impossible,” he said.

In its August 2016 letter to NHTSA, Ford said the carbon monoxide it had found was well below established limits, but it cited an air-quality standard that experts say they can’t verify. Ford’s letter said the “Global Vehicle Interior Air Quality Standard” allows for continuous exposure to 25 ppm for an hour. But Google searches for that phrase showed no official use of it anywhere—except by Ford in its letter to NHTSA. A spokesman for Underwriters Laboratories, a U.S.-based product-safety certification company, said its subject experts were also unaware of any standard by that name.

Asked for more information about the standard, Ford didn’t provide any. Instead, its spokesman, Levine, said: “There is no single government standard specifically for vehicle interiors. Like all other automakers, Ford references a variety of government standards, guidelines and sources to ensure the safety of our vehicles.”

That’s not the only potential misstep the company has encountered. In a Louisiana case, a Ford representative attributed a couple’s problems with exhaust fumes in their Explorer to “a design issue”—just the sort of question NHTSA investigators are examining.

James and Faith Cassidy filed a lemon-law complaint against Ford, alleging that a defect in their 2013 Explorer allowed fumes and carbon monoxide to seep into the cabin, making Faith Cassidy ill. In non-binding arbitration, Ford representative Bob Gray testified in January 2015 that the Cassidys couldn’t pursue warranty claims because the company had tried but couldn’t solve the problem.

“It’s a design issue, not a defect,” Gray told the arbitrator, according to a transcript of the proceeding. “The fact that it’s being reported across the large number of vehicles would show that it’s not a defect in this particular vehicle.”

The arbitrator rejected the Cassidys’ claim, but Gray’s words will no doubt be used as evidence against Ford, said Chase, the lawyer for McDowell and several other police officers who say they were injured in Explorer crashes. “It’s a good admission, on the record,” he said.

Ford now says Gray was a contractor who misspoke, and that there is no design problem with the Explorer. Even so, when the Cassidys filed a lawsuit in 2015, the company sought a dismissal, arguing in part that the vehicle’s warranty didn’t cover alleged flaws in design. A federal judge denied Ford’s motion to dismiss, saying the warranty “does not actually exclude defects in design.”

The Cassidys’ case was settled as part of a 2016 deal to resolve a national class-action lawsuit alleging carbon monoxide problems in 2011-2015 Explorers. That nationwide settlement, which was finalized last September, provided $175 to $500 to customers who paid for repairs that didn’t work; extended warranties for the exhaust issue; and required Ford to issue a new bulletin to dealerships recommending repairs, which it did. In the settlement agreement, Ford didn’t admit to any liability.

Drivers of 2016 and 2017 Explorers not covered by that settlement filed a separate case seeking class-action status in federal court in Detroit in October 2017. That case is ongoing. Meanwhile, proposed class-action suits have been filed in federal courts in New York State and New Jersey, both on behalf of law enforcement personnel who used Police Interceptor models.

A handful of personal-injury suits are also pending, mostly brought by police officers. McDowell’s suit is scheduled for trial in November. And several individuals have filed lemon-law complaints in state courts, seeking reimbursement for Explorers that they claim are too defective to repair.

Ford declined to comment on pending litigation.

In 2017, a year after NHTSA began investigating the Explorer, the agency started a more in-depth review for a potential safety defect, known as an “engineering analysis.” At that point, the agency said, it had found 2,719 Explorer drivers who’d complained about exhaust seepage to Ford or to the agency.

Those complaints included claims of three crashes and 41 “injuries,” including headaches, nausea and “unspecified loss of consciousness.” Since July 2017, those numbers have increased, Bloomberg News found: Now the complaints allege more than 80 injuries; at least 11 of them claim drivers crashed after losing consciousness. Dozens of complaints since Ford’s last repair announcement in 2017 claim that drivers continued to feel ill, smell exhaust or register carbon monoxide on portable detectors even after getting the repairs.

While NHTSA’s probe and Ford’s repairs have focused on model years up to 2017, more than a dozen drivers of 2018 Explorers have complained to NHTSA about exhaust fumes in their cabins, records show. Ford says it continues to monitor customer complaints, including those lodged with NHTSA, and that customers with concerns should contact their dealer for inspections.

The agency said in 2017 it had no proof that carbon monoxide caused any of the crashes or injuries described in the complaints. NHTSA declined to comment on the progress of its probe, but said it’s testing and inspecting several Explorers driven by consumers and police officers and reviewing crashes involving police Explorers. It’s also monitoring the effectiveness of Ford’s campaign to repair the SUVs, according to a NHTSA statement.

The agency has completed about 90 such engineering analyses on various vehicle models since 2008; more than two-thirds of them resulted in manufacturers issuing recalls, according to the agency’s records.

Recalling the 1.3 million fifth-generation Explorers would be costly, but precise estimates are hard to come by—chiefly because it’s unclear what any fix might entail if NHTSA requires a new one. For context: Ford said in September that it would take a $140 million charge to recall around 2 million F-150s for faulty seatbelt components that could cause fires. In 2017, the company took a $267 million charge to recall 1.3 million F-Series pickup trucks in the U.S., Canada and Mexico to correct faulty door latches.

In Michigan, Bert Henriksen is still waiting to complete his buyback. Meanwhile, he’s driving his Explorer to and from work each day and keeping an eye on the carbon monoxide detector that sits on his dashboard. When it registers, he says, he rolls down the windows.

The automotive industry's constant babbling about vehicle platforms and architectures can sometimes sound like a whole lot of hair splitting and baloney. The sixth-gen Ford Explorer arriving for 2020 is neither. It may look like a modest step forward from its predecessor, but there's a lot going on underneath that makes this transformation more significant than it appears. Its new unibody platform with a longitudinally-mounted engine and standard rear-wheel drive mimics the layout found in many luxury SUVs, marking the third major change to the Explorer's construction after it went from being a body-on-frame, truck-based SUV for its first four generations to being a transverse-engined crossover for its fifth.

It was about time. The previous-gen Explorer aged less than gracefully over a life span stretching from 2011 to 2019, and its ancient Volvo-derived architecture—with origins dating to before the turn of the century—was largely to blame. Those bones, which are fossils by automotive standards, have finally given way to this new sixth-generation model's rear-wheel-drive-based (all-wheel drive is optional) layout, which brings a wide range of improvements.

Chief among them is the way that the new Explorer drives. Ford engineers say that the rear-drive chassis brings a newfound sense of balance thanks to its improved weight distribution, and they're right. Where the old model was ponderous and unwieldly, the new one is composed and collected over a variety of terrain. Over-boosted steering prevents it from feeling particularly agile, but proper damping keeps body motions minimal and the ride fluid and stable. While it is far from playful, the Explorer inspires confidence on a twisty road and has gone from being one of the worst-driving three-row family SUVs to being one of the best.

The Explorer ST made headlines with its 400-hp V-6 (we will review that model separately), but engine choices for the rest of the lineup include a 300-hp turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four, a detuned 365-hp version of the ST's twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6, and a hybrid drivetrain that uses a 3.3-liter V-6 with a single 44-hp electric motor. The Ford/GM co-developed 10-speed automatic is the sole transmission choice for every engine, and all Explorers can tow between 5000 and 5600 pounds when equipped with an optional towing package.

Thanks to a claimed curb weight that's about 200 pounds lighter than the old Explorer, the 2.3-liter engine is perfectly adequate, with smart transmission mapping making the most of the available mid-range torque. The hybrid offers a bit more output, at 318 horsepower combined, but its added weight offsets that so its acceleration feels about equal to the turbo-four's from our seat-of-the-pants perspective. But the hybrid's lack of refinement is a letdown; perhaps the rough transition between electric and gas power and the spongy brake pedal can be solved with better tuning. And they should be, given its $4150 premium over the four-cylinder.

The Explorer hybrid introduces a new type of gas-electric drivetrain setup to the Ford lineup that the company refers to as a "Modular Hybrid Transmission." Rather than the power-split setups seen on many smaller, more economical hybrids, the Explorer hybrid doesn't use a planetary gearset or dual electric motor-generators. Instead it places a single 44-hp electric motor between the V-6 gas engine and the 10-speed automatic transmission. Intended for larger vehicles that are meant to tow and haul, this hybrid system relies less on the electric motor and focuses more on power and capability than fuel sipping. We suspect that similar gas-electric powertrains will make their way into the promised hybrid versions of the next-generation F-150 pickup and upcoming Bronco SUV.

The twin-turbo 3.0-liter engine available in the Platinum, meanwhile, packs a real punch. Despite being detuned slightly from the ST's 400-hp version, the 365-hp tune in the Platinum moves the Explorer around with authority and sounds good to boot

Some of the Explorer's static improvements are due less to its layout change than to its new platform, which isn't a hack job like its predecessor's. Because the old model's platform had been dramatically stretched to create such a large SUV, its interior was oddly proportioned. Wide side sills and a high cowl created a bathtub-like feeling in the front seats, and there wasn't as much useable cargo space inside as its large footprint suggested. The new car's seating position is far more natural, and outward vision is improved. Cargo space is effectively a wash compared with the old Explorer, as the new car has more cargo volume with all seats folded but fewer cubic feet behind the second and third rows when they're in use.

Still, many of the Explorer's front-wheel-drive-based competitors are packaged better, and the Ford's third-row seat is especially disappointing. Although getting back there is easier than before thanks to a button that easily tumbles the second-row seats (offered either as a three-place bench or individual captain's chairs), the back row's bottom cushion is low and unsupportive. This problem, in which passengers' knees are forced into their chests, plagues many third-row seats, but rivals from Subaru, Volkswagen, and Chevrolet give occupants more space to uncurl from the fetal-tuck position.

We found the first two rows to be more pleasant than before. Even in lower trim levels, the door panels and dashboard use mostly soft-touch materials and everything fits together well enough. The dashboard lacks design flair, but we're willing to give it a pass because it's so functional and easy to use. The climate-control buttons are logically laid out, the radio can be controlled by real tuning and volume knobs, and the central touchscreen display looks crisp and has well-organized menus. A cool but slightly gimmicky vertically oriented 10.1-inch touchscreen also is an option.

The few driver-assist systems that don't come standard are offered as reasonably priced options, and desirable features such as a power liftgate and three-zone automatic climate control are included across the board. Mainstream four-cylinder XLT and Limited models are priced competitively in the high-$30,000 to high-$40,000 range, and for that kind of money the Explorer is a compelling contender in the nonluxury three-row SUV throng. (A less expensive base model that starts in the low $30,000s is forthcoming.)

Paying nearly $55,000 for the hybrid or even beyond $60K for a fully loaded Platinum model is a tougher sell. You can get the closely related and more nicely appointed Lincoln Aviator with the same twin-turbocharged V-6 for similar money, not to mention some seriously posh European SUVs for just a few thousand more. But the fact that we can even discuss the Explorer in this sort of company with a straight face means that this domestic SUV has entered a new milieu, not least of all because of what's going on underneath it.

The Ford Explorer is an excellent vehicle that has plenty of positive attributes to offer buyers. However, one thing aspiring customers don’t have the option of buying, at least right now, is an off-road Explorer variant. This seems like a big miss, given the incredible popularity of off-road focused vehicles and trim levels these days. But if these spy photos are any indication of what’s to come, Ford might just be working on an off-road Explorer after all, perhaps even an FX4 trim level for the SUV.

The prototype is sporting camouflaged front and rear fascias, but there are several characteristics here that are very much visible. That includes a set of aggressive Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 3 tires, which appear to be wrapped around a set of 18 inch wheels. As serious off-roaders already know, the marriage of smaller wheels and chunkier tires is an ideal combination.

Though it’s hard to tell definitively, it appears that the front fascia has received some updated and more aggressive styling. Out back, the rear bumper appears to present a better departure angle, while the overall ride height of this off-road Explorer prototype looks be increased over the regular model. Topping it off is a set of black plastic fender flares and lower bodyside molding to offer up some protection for the bodywork on the trails.

It makes perfect sense for Ford to offer, at the very least, its FX4 package for the Explorer. After all, it already sells the Ford Expedition, Ford Ranger, Ford F-150, and Ford Super Duty with that option. With the continued explosion in the off-road vehicle market and the incredible amount of excitement surrounding the new Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport, it would seem silly if the automaker didn’t start cooking up similar packages and/or trim levels for more of its existing products.

Ford Explorer, America's all-time best-selling SUV, adds the first-ever King Ranch edition to its stable, giving midsize SUV customers an all-new rugged, premium appearance with the uncompromising quality, craftsmanship and authenticity of the iconic Texas ranch.

"In 1853, Captain Richard King bootstrapped the King Ranch in the harsh landscape of southern Texas until it became a shining example of agricultural and livestock innovation and success," said Lee Newcombe, Ford Explorer marketing manager. "Ford Explorer families can now enjoy a piece of the King Ranch's renowned craftsmanship and the multigeneration legacy that still thrives 168 years after its founding."

Customer feedback and market insights have demanded a more refined interior for Explorer. Explorer King Ranch will now deliver with premium touches and mahogany-colored Mesa Del Rio leather seats with perforated front and second rows with the legendary King Ranch Running W logo. The center console is crafted with a Mesa Del Rio leather armrest and King Ranch logo insert.

The refinement continues in the cockpit with leather door trim rollovers, a leather-wrapped and stitched instrument panel combined with Sapele wood appliqués as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel with Norias stitching and a Sapele wood insert.

"Introducing King Ranch's specialty leather, genuine wood, crafted details and signature colors to Ford Explorer elevates the SUV's brand," said Janet Seymour, Ford color and materials manager. "The warm, earthy Norias colorway, natural open pore wood appliqués and rope perforation design on the seats are just a couple ways we were able to bring the King Ranch lifestyle to a whole new group of customers."

Complementing the refined interior is an available Premium Technology Package featuring multi-contour seats with active motion massaging functionality, a 10.1-inch center stack portrait touch screen with swipe and pinch-to-zoom capability as well as a 14-speaker B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen specially tuned to Explorer's interior.

Outside, Explorer King Ranch comes decked out with a unique Stone Gray-painted mesh grille insert, 20-inch aluminum wheels with Running W center cap, liftgate scuff plate and quad chrome exhaust tips. Capping it all off is signature King Ranch badging.

The standard 3.0-liter EcoBoost® under the hood produces 365 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque with four-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive configurations offered, combined with a 10-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift® capability. A standard Class III Trailer Tow Package enables towing capability of up to 5,600 pounds.

In addition to Ford Co-Pilot360™ technology standard on all Explorer models, Explorer King Ranch comes standard with Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+, featuring Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane Centering, Evasive Steering Assist, a voice-activated touch screen navigation system with pinch-to-zoom capability, SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link® and Speed Sign Recognition.

Improving America's all-time best-selling SUV

Ford has engaged with owners to constantly innovate Explorer and move America's all-time best-selling SUV forward. For 2021, the company is responding to customer demands with not only the King Ranch edition but the introduction of the available XLT Sport Appearance Package, new interior trim finishes and new exterior colors, with numerous enhancements to the interior including brighter paints, elevated finishes and higher-quality materials for a brightened, more premium ambience.

Two decades of rugged luxury

The introduction of Explorer King Ranch marks 20 years of Ford's relationship with the iconic Texas cattle ranch, beginning with the 2001 F-150 King Ranch, when Ford and King Ranch teamed up to build a more upscale western-themed truck.

The 2001 F-150 King Ranch was based on the newly introduced F-150 SuperCrew. It featured a leather-covered front console with the King Ranch brand, and front and rear King Ranch leather captain's chairs, as well as F-150 King Ranch branding throughout the interior and exterior.

Since then, five generations of Ford F-150, four generations of Ford F-Series Super Duty and three generations of Ford Expedition have worn the King Ranch badge. Today, workers at the Texas ranch use a fleet of more than 300 Ford trucks to get the job done every day.

The Explorer King Ranch edition will start at $52,350 MSRP for rear-wheel-drive configuration and $54,350 MSRP for four-wheel drive. It will be available in dealerships in spring 2021.

Ford delivers on its promise to offer more rugged SUVs and trucks with the new Explorer Timberline - the most off-road-capable Explorer ever. The first Timberline series Ford SUV is designed to give customers more capable off-road features to enjoy weekend adventures with family and friends.

Ford Explorer Timberline is the latest addition to America's all-time best-selling SUV lineup. The seventh new rugged SUV or truck Ford has introduced since 2019, Explorer Timberline joins the all-new Bronco brand two- and four-door Bronco and Bronco Sport, all-new F-150 Raptor, and the Tremor lineup of Ford trucks - Ranger Tremor, F-150 Tremor and F-Series Super Duty Tremor.

"Ford is delivering on more capable SUVs with Timberline. Consumer data has shown us that now more than ever, customers want to get outside and explore nature with friends and family," said Kumar Galhotra, president, Americas & International Markets Group, Ford Motor Company. "Timberline hits a new sweet spot with these customers who want an ideal combination of passenger space, moderate off-road capability and great manners around town."

Two consumer trends have come together to support the launch of the Timberline series. The first is the popularity of SUVs and the growing number of buyers who go off-roading. Over the last 10 years, SUVs have jumped from 36 percent to 55 percent of the U.S. market, with actual sales up from about 4.6 million units in 2011 to nearly 7.8 million in 2020. Ford Explorer owners report a 56 percent increase in off-road use over the last three years. Timberline will give customers more confidence and capability to get to their next adventure, whether it's driving to their favorite fishing site or taking a detour off the beaten path.

The second key trend is data showing that people now participate in more outdoor activities and adventures than before the pandemic. Forty percent of all Americans surveyed say they have spent more time outdoors since the pandemic began.

Off-road credibility

For Ford Explorer Timberline, its ability to handle off-road terrain starts with Ford's standard intelligent four-wheel drive. This system automatically adjusts torque between the wheels based on conditions and driver inputs to deliver the best traction - providing pre-emptive torque before wheel slip occurs.

A new addition for Explorer Timberline is a Torsen® limited-slip rear differential, which automatically sends torque to the wheel with the best traction and prevents the other wheel from spinning to help keep the vehicle moving.

A standard Terrain Management System features seven drive modes - including Trail and Deep Snow/Sand - that drivers can opt for based on road or trail conditions. Standard Hill Descent Control allows the Ford Explorer Timberline to maintain a constant speed between 2 and 12 mph, enabling drivers to focus on steering down uneven descents.

Ford Explorer Timberline delivers on capability in the form of its standard steel skid plates. The underbody protection starts underneath the front, continues under the engine and transmission and through the rear - all to help protect key components and give customers more confidence while off-roading. Steering calibration, stabilizer bars and springs are specially tuned for Timberline - including an exclusive front rebound spring that helps prevent sudden jarring off-road.

Ford Explorer Timberline raises the ride height 0.8 inch, thanks to a combination of more robust, off-road-capable heavy-duty shocks - originally developed for Explorer Police Interceptor - and high-sidewall Bridgestone Dueler P265/65R-18 all-terrain tires with a tread pattern that balances off-road traction and on-road quietness. This, along with unique front and rear fascias, results in an approach angle of 23.5 degrees and maximum departure angle of 23.7 degrees, plus minimum ground clearance of 8.7 inches for navigating unpaved roads and uneven trails.

Ford Explorer Timberline features a 2.3-liter EcoBoost® engine producing 300 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. For customers who need to tow RVs, ATVs and boats to their adventures, the standard Class III Trailer Tow Package brings 5,300 pounds of towing capability.

Bolder, more capable appearance

Ford Explorer Timberline launches in a new Forged Green Metallic exterior color. All models feature blackout treatment around the headlamps and taillamps and a black Ford oval, along with Timberline badges on the C-pillars and liftgate. A set of Red Ember tow hooks at the front are rated at 150 percent gross vehicle weight. Bridgestone Dueler P265/65R-18 all-terrain tires surround high-gloss painted aluminum wheels that feature a laser-etched Timberline logo.

Timberline includes LED fog lamps for illuminating on- and off-road trail edges at night. The dark Carbonized Gray grille has provisions already incorporated along with a wiring harness for dealer-installed Ford Performance auxiliary lights with an output of 160,000 candelas to illuminate nighttime trails, which equates to 2.5 times the brightness of the Explorer Timberline high-beam headlamps.

A Deep Cypress interior trim color complements Ford Explorer Timberline's exterior, with an Ebony headliner, overhead console, A, B and C-pillar trim, grab handles, visors and moonroof shade. The cabin features a Stone Mesh instrument panel appliqué, distinctive Satin Silver Twilight on the center stack, steering wheel bezel and door armrest trim, Deep Cypress door trim panel inserts, Deep Tangerine stitching on the seats, steering wheel and door trim, plus Timberline logos on the front seats.

Timberline includes features that help protect the cabin and enhance the ownership experience. Standard rubber floor liners help keep carpet clean during off-road adventures, while ActiveX seat trim with cloth inserts is easy to wipe clean and helps prevent occupants from sliding in the seat over rough terrain. Heated front seats, plus a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel bring added cold-weather comfort.

Timberline boasts standard Co-Pilot360™ and Co-Pilot360 Assist+ technology features that include Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Speed Sign Recognition, Lane Centering, Evasive Steering Assist and voice-activated touch screen navigation. A standard 360-degree camera provides a view of obstacles around the vehicle, while a front camera offers a view that's useful when cresting a hill off-road.

Customize for your adventure

No matter what the adventure, Ford offers three Outfitters packages - Outfitters SkyBox, Outfitters MegaWarrior and Outfitters FrontLoader. All three packages combine all-weather floor mats, crossbars and the selected Yakima rooftop accessories for customers to take even more equipment with them on their next adventure.

The 2021 Ford Explorer Timberline is available to order and arrives at Ford dealers in summer 2021.

Right off the heels of recent news about a one-off tuned Ford Explorer ST coming to the Woodward Dream Cruise, a rumor involving the midsize crossover is circling around. According to insider sources cited by Ford Authority, the Explorer ST will be arriving for the 2022 model year with rear-wheel drive as standard.

Of note, the Explorer ST and the cheaper Enthusiast ST model both come with the Intelligent 4WD system as a standard feature. If we'll take this rumor as fact, that won't be the case when the 2022 Explorer arrives at showrooms this fall.

The four-wheel-drive system will likely be offered as an option. In the Explorer Platinum trim, which is another trim level that lost the AWD as a standard feature for the 2021 model year, the Intelligent 4WD option costs an additional $750.

That said, we can expect Ford to trim down the pricing of the Explorer ST. For reference, the Explorer Enthusiast ST currently starts at $49,000 even after a price hike last June that followed a massive price decrease for the 2021 model year. If you're looking for a performance family hauler for cemented roads, a price decrease should be a welcome thought, especially if you live in areas where AWD isn't a must.

Then again, we'd be amiss not to mention that the Ford Explorer ST's move to standard RWD is still a rumor at this point – at least until we get an official word from the Blue Oval.

We expect to hear more about the Explorer in the weeks or months to come, given that Ford has been constantly updating its lineup every now and then. We'll keep an ear to the ground for the latest developments, so keep us in your tabs.

Ford has been offering an all-show-without-the-extra-go ST-Line trim level in Europe for a number of years, but it wasn't until last year when the Edge received this version as the first US-bound ST-Line. For the 2022 model year, the larger Explorer is getting an assortment of ST-like visual upgrades without the added oomph of the full-fat ST.

The Explorer ST-Line is powered by the standard 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine with 300 horsepower (223 kilowatts) delivered to the road through a familiar 10-speed automatic transmission. Ford says the Explorer ST-Line's exterior "mirrors a fully equipped Explorer ST," complete with a blacked-out front grille, dual exhaust tips, 20-inch machined alloy wheels, and dark-tinted headlights and taillights. Rounding off the changes on the outside is the glossy black model name's lettering on the hood.


Stepping inside the cabin, the new Explorer ST-Line gets a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and a heated steering wheel, while on the tech side there's a 360-degree camera and a wireless charging pad. To sweeten the deal, the Blue Oval throws in an auto-dimming rearview mirror and heated front seats, along with red accents, scuff plates with ST-Line badging, and fancy floor mats.

The newcomer also bundles the Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ suite of driver and safety systems, which includes adaptive cruise control (with stop & go) and evasive steer assist, among others. Positioned between the XLT and Limited, the ST-Line it undercuts the fully fledged Explorer ST by $7,570. At the same time, it's also $2,575 cheaper than the Explorer Enthusiast ST introduced earlier this year as a more attainable version that takes out some of the features to lower the starting price.

Confirming a rumor from earlier this week, Ford will be offering the Explorer ST with a standard rear-wheel-drive layout, with optional AWD available. You get the same 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine rated at 400 hp and 415 lb-ft (563 Nm), sent to the rear axle via a 10-speed auto. Pricing details have not been disclosed, but it goes without saying the tail-happy SUV will be cheaper than its all-paw equivalent.

Beyond the ST-Line and ST models, the 2022 Explorer gets a 400-hp engine as standard for the King Ranch and Platinum flavors. These two high-end trim levels now include the Technology Package as standard, which features a 10.1-inch touchscreen, a 14-speaker B&O sound system, and multi-contour seats.

The 2022 Explorer gets a no-cost choice between a second-row bench seat or captain's chairs, along with fresh Burgundy Velvet and Stone Blue body colors. XLT Sport Appearance Package now has new seat trim and the Timberline boasts a second-row bench seat option.

Ford will have the updated midsize SUV at dealers later in 2021.

Ford revealed the new all-electric Explorer - a bold new electric vehicle that combines German engineering with striking American style.

Explorer is the first in a wave of innovative new electric vehicles from Ford and forges the way for a complete reinvention of the Ford brand in Europe. The mid-size crossover has seats for five across two rows and is fully equipped to set families on the road to adventure.

Engineered and built in Germany, the all-electric Ford Explorer offers an outstanding digital experience, helping drivers and passengers stay connected and comfortable on the move. Features include a SYNC Move supersized movable touchscreen and fully connected infotainment system with audio tailored to the interior, wireless app integration and advanced driver assistance technology.

Adventure-ready design and storage of about 470 litres in five-seat mode make Ford's newest electric vehicle ideal for exploring the city and beyond. The 17-litre console between driver and front-seat passenger can hold a 15-inch laptop, combined with a private locker and available hands-free accessible boot space, Ford's all-electric Explorer sets a new standard.

Futuristic exterior styling is matched by an ultra-modern interior with premium materials and features such as sculpted sporty seats and a sophisticated soundbar more typical of revolutionary concept cars than family vehicles. All this comes together with the ability to fast charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 25 minutes and access, by 2024, to 500,000 charging points across Europe.

"Explorer is a trailblazer for a new breed of exciting Ford electric vehicles. Steeped in our American roots but built in Cologne for our customers in Europe, it is road trip-ready for the big adventures and fully loaded with everything our customers will need for their daily drives," said Martin Sander, general manager, Ford Model e, Europe.

Stylish, smart and road-trip ready

At the forefront of Ford's electric vehicle charge, the new all-electric Ford Explorer is the company's first electric vehicle to be built at scale in the new Ford Cologne EV Centre in Germany. Ford in Europe is committed to offering an all-electric portfolio of passenger vehicles by 2030.

An aerodynamic exterior captures the spirit and assertive style of Ford's iconic American SUV for a new electric era, also defined by a bold "shield" design in lieu of a traditional grille.

Ford Explorer's SYNC Move infotainment system not only keeps occupants connected but also features a movable 15-inch touchscreen that can smoothly slide up and down to suit the driver and conceals a private locker storage space for valuables. A compartment for two large smartphones comes with a wireless device charger as standard, and SYNC Move provides wireless compatibility with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Charging can be quick and easy, whether en route or at home. Ford Explorer can help find the most convenient pit stops on the road. Charging at home can be scheduled to use cheaper electricity where available, and to deliver a full battery and pre-warmed cabin for early starts.

Available as rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive variants, Ford Explorer offers a raft of features to ensure drivers and passengers are as refreshed and ready to go when they have reached their destination as when they set outComfort-boosting standard specification includes heated front seats and steering wheel, a massaging driver's seat and climate control that allows driver and front passenger to choose their own temperature. Even returning to the crossover is made simple with standard keyless entry and an available hands-free tailgate that means owners can access the boot when their arms are filled with sports kit using a simple kicking motion beneath the rear bumper.

Advanced driver assistance systems include, for the first time on a Ford in Europe, Assisted Lane Change for smoothly and safely changing lanes at the push of an indicator stalk, and Clear Exit Assist that provides warnings of approaching cyclists before opening doors in busy city centres.

Real-life adventure

To help demonstrate the Explorer's capabilities, Ford has teamed up with travel adventure influencer Lexie Alford - known to millions as Lexie Limitless and the youngest person to visit every country in the world - for a global expedition in the new all-electric Explorer. Inspired by original female explorer, Aloha Wanderwell, who set a record 100 years ago with a Ford-sponsored round-the-world trip in a Model T, Lexie will lead a new round-the-world expedition beginning in 2023.

Customers can also experience virtual electric Ford Explorer test drives through a range of intrepid driving environments from their desktop or mobile device.

Available in two highly specified versions - Explorer and Explorer Premium - the new all-electric Ford Explorer can be ordered from late 2023, with pricing anticipated from less than €45,000.

The adventure continues. Ford Explorer® - America's alltime best-selling SUV - sets a new standard again with an updated lineup of models, all featuring a redesigned interior, advanced new technology and bolder exterior styling to create Ford's best Explorer yet.

For more than three decades, Explorer has helped define SUV comfort, performance and functionality. The new 2025 Explorer lineup - from well-equipped Active to stylish ST-Line to high-performance ST and top-of-the-line Platinum - continues that legacy with a more refined cabin that features sophisticated new color, texture and material choices, and introduces the new Ford Digital Experience infotainment system.

And for the first time, Explorer drivers who opt for ST-Line, ST and Platinum models can enjoy the convenience of Ford BlueCruise hands-free highway driving.

"For nearly 35 years, families have chosen the Ford Explorer, making it America's all-time bestselling SUV. We have refined almost every part of the new Explorer - focusing on a redesigned interior, additional technology like BlueCruise hands-free highway driving and special editions like the 400 horsepower Explorer ST. It's the right combination of delivering what the next generation of customers want and love in a large SUV," said Andrew Frick, president, Ford Blue.

Explore with More

• Travel in comfort - Redesigned interior with softer touchpoints and premium materials makes for more comfortable journeys.
• Hands-free exploring - Available Ford BlueCruise makes hands-free highway driving a reality for Explorer owners.
• Extend your digital life - The Ford Digital Experience infotainment system enables drivers to access their favorite apps and services from Google and Amazon3, through the new integrated native experience, as well as with Apple CarPlay® powered by iPhone and Android Auto™ through other compatible devices.

A New Level of Explorer Comfort

The redesigned interior catches the eye with fine details, surfaces and colors, including new wrap-and-stitch soft-touch surfaces on the center console, door panels and redesigned dashboard, and available ActiveX® durable and premium synthetic seating material. Silver mesh accents further the premium feel of the updated interior.

The dashboard has been pushed forward to give front-row passengers a more open and spacious cabin. An integrated tray below the touchscreen houses an available wireless phone charging pad and there are USB connections to charge mobile devices in all three rows.

"The new Explorer starts with a great foundation. Customers told us they love the way it drives and the choice of rear-wheel and all-wheel drive. So, we focused on improving other areas including redesigning the interior with new materials, textures and colors to make sitting inside Explorer as enjoyable as driving one," said Kelley Clark, Explorer chief engineer.

Explorer brings new standard interior color schemes across the lineup:

• Platinum
  • Mojave Dusk leather instrument panel, door panels and console with matched accent stitching
  • Mojave Dusk leather seats with matched accent stitching
• ST
  • Black Onyx instrument panel, door panels and console with red accent stitching
  • Black Onyx ActiveX® seats with Miko suede inserts and red accent stitching
• ST-Line
  • Black Onyx instrument panel, door panels and console with red accent stitching
  • Black Onyx ActiveX® seats with cloth inserts and red accent stitching
• Active
  • Ultra Dark Space Gray instrument panel, door panels and console with Harvest Bronze accent stitching
  • Dark Gray soft-touch seats with Black Onyx inserts and Harvest Bronze accent stitching

Color Your Adventures

Standard on Platinum and ST, and available on ST-Line, Explorer customers can choose from seven ambient lighting options: Ice Blue, Orange, Soft Blue, Red, Green, Blue and Purple.

Elevate Your Driving Experience

Explorer is the first Ford vehicle to include the new Ford Digital Experience, which allows customers to access their digital life inside the car. It is designed to allow greater connection and personalization for our customers through profiles, content and apps, helping make time behind the wheel more enjoyable, even when parked.

The displays on the 13.2-inch touchscreen allow for easy control, and integration with Google Maps allows navigation screens to be displayed on both the touchscreen and the 12.3-inch digital cluster.

Designed to prioritize the use of voice, Google Assistant serves as the default voice assistant and Alexa Built-In is also available as an alternative for in-vehicle controls including to set invehicle temperature, search information, find and set a destination and request a specific broadcast or satellite radio station. It can also help with making calls, sending texts, setting a meeting, and controlling connected home devices.

Customers can enjoy streaming music, audiobooks and podcasts using entertainment apps downloaded on Google Play, including Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, and iHeartRadio, as well as embedded SiriusXM with 360L for a personalized listening experience so they are always available in the vehicle, regardless of whether a smartphone is connected in the vehicle.

While parked, Explorer customers can:

• Watch videos and stream their favorite movies and TV shows with apps such as YouTube, Prime Video and more to stay entertained while out and about on daily journeys.
• Surf the web using the available Vivaldi Browser app - as well as Google Chrome coming soon - including with a Bluetooth-connected keyboard to make typing easier.
• Play games on the touchscreen by selecting from a growing list of games available on Google Play, including a Ford-exclusive version of racing game Asphalt Nitro 2; users can connect a Bluetooth-enabled gaming controller for a more immersive experience.

The Ford Digital Experience platform is designed to enable more apps and services in the future and help make the vehicle better over time thanks to over-the-air software update capability, available for the first time to Explorer owners.

Plus, 5G wireless technology brings incredibly fast connectivity and, with a Ford Premium Connectivity plan, it will provide the best possible in-vehicle experience. Customers also have the option to activate a Wi-Fi hot spot that gives Internet access to up to 10 mobile devices.

Hands-Free Highway Driving

Select trims of the new Explorer are equipped with Ford BlueCruise hardware, enabling handsfree highway driving that helps make long road trips or navigating stop-and-go traffic easier and more enjoyable. The system includes features such as Lane Change Assist, allowing a driver to switch lanes hands-free with a tap of the turn signal when the path is clear, and In-Lane Repositioning, which helps provide more space by subtly shifting away from vehicles in adjacent lanes. With BlueCruise assisting with the braking, accelerating and steering, it helps reduce some of the stress of driving, allowing you to arrive more energized and refreshed at your destination.

New Explorer customers with BlueCruise-equipped vehicles can choose to activate a Connected Services plan at the time of vehicle purchase for one year or experience hands-free highway driving with a complimentary 90-day trial. At the end of the trial, customers have the flexibility to activate annually or monthly, based on their needs.

Loaded with Standard Equipment

• 10-way power, heated driver's seat
• 4-way power, heated front passenger seat
• Ford Digital Experience infotainment system
• 13.2-inch LCD touchscreen
• 12.3-inch color LCD digital cluster
• Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ wireless compatibility
• Alexa Built-in
• 8 USB ports - including two for third-row passengers
• Three 12-volt powerpoints
• Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+
• FordPass Connect™ embedded modem
• Class III Trailer Tow Package

Plus:

• Rear-wheel drive (4WD available)
• Recalibrated 10-speed automatic transmission
• Power liftgate
• LED headlamps

New Face of Exploration

For 2025, the new Explorer boasts a bolder appearance and stance, with options that allow Explorer owners to further personalize their ride. Uniquely styled front ends include a larger grille, sleeker all-LED headlamps, front skid plate and lower, wider air curtains that help lower the vehicle's visual center of gravity.

Further enhancing the look, there's a new black-painted roof option for Platinum, ST and ST-Line.

The updated liftgate maintains the premium appearance, with LED taillamps extending from the vehicle's corners onto a horizontal nameplate appliqué that stretches across the liftgate.

Explore in Style

Explorer customers can tailor the SUV that's right for them with a handful of available custom packages:

• Platinum Lux Leather Package
  • Adds Platinum badging on front-row seats, Premium Sanctuary Leather seating surfaces with Tri-Diamond Micro-Perforated inserts and accent stitching, piping and quilting on seats and quilting and accent stitching on door panels
  • Available in Mojave Dusk or Salt Crystal Gray interior environments
• Platinum Ultimate Package
  • Includes all Platinum Lux Leather Package content, plus a 400-horsepower 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 engine and 21-inch Dark Alloy polished aluminum wheels
• ST-Line Premium Package
  • Adds features such as power-folding side mirrors, heated second-row seats, PowerFold® third-row seats, ambient lighting, rain-sensing wipers and wireless charging pad
• ST-Line Street Pack
  • Adds 21-inch Magnetite-painted aluminum wheels, performance brakes and redpainted performance front and rear brake calipers
• Active Comfort Package
  • Adds features such as heated steering wheel, LED fog lamps and signature lightning and ActiveX® seating material
  • Light Space Gray vinyl instrument panel, door panels and console with Harvest Bronze accent stitching available

Each model in the 2025 Explorer lineup features a unique grille:

• Platinum: Unique wing design, satin chrome and Ebony grille
• ST: Honeycomb gloss black grille with black mesh insert and ST badging
• ST-Line: Honeycomb gloss black grille with black mesh insert
• Active: Saw-tooth design, black mesh grille with chrome bars

The new Explorer features seven wheel options, including:

• 18-inch Sparkle Silver-painted aluminum - standard on Active
• 20-inch Carbonized Gray-painted aluminum - available on Active
• 20-inch Ebony machined, painted aluminum - standard on ST-Line
• 21-inch Magnetite-painted aluminum - standard on ST, available on ST-Line
• 20-inch Luster Nickel-painted aluminum - standard on Platinum, available on Active
• 20-inch polished aluminum - available on Platinum
• 21-inch dark alloy polished aluminum - available on Platinum

ST Back for More Thrills

Engineered by Ford Performance, the special edition Explorer ST continues as the most powerful and fun-to-drive Explorer ever with new options. Powered by a specially tuned 3.0-liter EcoBoost® engine that produces 400 horsepower and 415 lb.-ft. of torque, Explorer ST comes standard as a rear-wheel-drive performance SUV. Four-wheel drive is available.

Every Explorer ST and ST-Line customer is eligible to attend the complimentary Ford Performance Racing School's ST Driving Experience, where they will learn how to get the most out of their Explorer ST. Customers can select the location of their choice - Park City, Utah or Asheville, North Carolina.

There's also an available Explorer ST-Line special edition for customers who prefer standout ST styling without the need for Ford Performance driving dynamics.

New for this year is Vapor Blue Metallic paint, available on ST, as well as ST-Line and Active models. Other new options for Explorer ST customers include a black-painted roof and new 21- inch Magnetite-painted aluminum wheels.

Your Explorer - Streamlined

The 2025 Explorer series lineup is simplified to include:

• Platinum
  • 2.3-liter EcoBoost® standard
  • 400 horsepower 3.0-liter EcoBoost available
  • Rear-wheel drive standard; four-wheel drive available
  • 20-inch luster nickel-painted aluminum wheels standard
• ST
  • 400 hp 3.0-liter EcoBoost®
  • Rear-wheel drive standard; four-wheel drive available
  • 21-inch Magnetite-painted aluminum wheels standard
• ST-Line
  • 2.3-liter EcoBoost®
  • Rear-wheel drive standard; four-wheel drive available
  • 20-inch Ebony machine-painted aluminum wheels standard
• Active
  • 2.3-liter EcoBoost®
  • Rear-wheel drive standard; four-wheel drive available
  • 18-inch Sparkle Silver-painted aluminum wheels standard

The new Ford Explorer starts at MSRP of $41,220, including destination and delivery charges. Vehicles are expected to start arriving in dealerships in the second quarter of 2024.