At ongoing 2017 New York Auto Show, Ford unveiled a very lightly updated 2018 Explorer with some mild
styling tweaks, new colors and packages, and improved technology features.
You’ll have to closely compare it to the outgoing
2017MY to notice any exterior differences, but they’re there and include a new
grille and fog lamps, different details on the front and rear bumper, and quad
pipes for the 3.5L EcoBoost models.
Ford also added four new exterior color choices
named Burgundy Velvet Tinted Clearcoat, Cinnamon Glaze, Platinum Dune Tricoat
and Blue Metallic, and five new wheel designs as well.
Inside, the
Detroit carmaker added an available 4G embedded modem with a Wi-Fi hotspot that
supports as many as 10 devices at once, up to 50 feet away from the vehicle.
The same connection allows users to pair with the Explorer remotely using
FordPass to start, lock, unlock and locate their vehicle from almost anywhere.
No changes were made to the Explorer’s powertrain
options. The base model comes with a 2.3-liter turbocharged-four EcoBoost
delivering 280 hp at 5,500 rpm and 310 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm, while the
Sport and Platinum edition models get a 3.5L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 pumping out
365 hp at 5,500 rpm and 350 lb.-ft at 3,500 rpm.
The 2018 Ford Explorer will reach US and Canadian
dealerships in the fall with pricing to be announced. A brand new generation of
the Explorer is currently under development.
