The new generation Ford Explorer, which has been
scooped testing for about a year now, will reportedly receive a range-topping
ST version, just like the Edge. Powering it will be
the same 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 that’s currently used in the Lincoln
Continental and MKZ, where it makes 400 hp and 542 Nm of torque,
though it should get a slight bump in power.
Apart from the engine, looking at the Edge ST gives
us a glimpse of what we should expect. The Explorer ST will get upgrades to the
suspension, brakes, and probably the steering, compared to the regular models.
In all likelihood, it will also get a more aggressive body kit, larger wheels,
and some tweaks made to the cabin.
Underpinned by the versatile CD6 platform, which
supports FWD, RWD, and AWD models, the rear-wheel drive-biased 2020 Ford
Explorer is also said to keep the current 2.3-liter four-cylinder turbocharged
engine, while the 3.3-liter V6 unit found in the F-150 will replace the
3.5-liter V6. A hybrid is also supposed to be on the cards.
The Michigan-based automaker is also working on the
Explorer’s Lincoln sibling, which will allegedly arrive with only two
powertrain options: the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 and the hybrid, and use the
same 10-speed automatic transmission as its Ford counterpart. The new Ford
Explorer will reportedly hit the assembly lines in spring 2019, so we expect it
to debut probably towards the end of this year as a 2020MY.
