At the 2014 LA Auto Show today, Ford unveiled its new 2016 Ford Explorer. The new Explorer, which Ford has sold more than 7 million units of to date, will be offered as a global vehicle in its 25th year in 2016, as it will be built out of North American Chicago Assembly Plant, as well as in Venezuela and now, Russia. Ford says it will be sold in more than 100 markets across the globe.
“Explorer helped define how the world thinks about SUVs,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president and chief technical officer, Global Product Development. “Explorer is the centerpiece of Ford’s global utility vehicle lineup because it delivers an ideal combination of form and function. And with 7 million already sold, nearly everyone has an Explorer story.”
The 2016 Explorer will offer a number of new features, including a new Platinum series, though the most noteworthy is arguably a new 2.3-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine that will deliver 270 horsepower and in excess of 300 lb.-ft. of torque (and feature a Class II towing rating). The 2.3-liter EcoBoost will replace the 2.0-liter engine currently available, and Ford says it doesn’t expect a drop in fuel economy in spite of the new 2.3-liter being larger than the outgoing motor. Ford also says this new motor will be available in four-wheel-drive Explorers.
“The new Explorer isn’t giving up its reputation as a leader in highway fuel efficiency – especially for the customer who wants a vehicle that is also a capable trail warrior,” said Groeneveld. “Customers will not only get the performance of a larger engine, they won’t sacrifice efficiency because of it.”
Ford will still offer its standard 3.5-liter V6 engine for base, XLT and Limited models, producing an estimated 290 hp and 255 lb.-ft. of torque. The V6 will be mated to Ford’s six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission. The Explorer Sport and new Platinum edition will be equipped with a standard 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that produces an estimated 365 hp and 350 lb.-ft. of torque that is also mated to the six-speed SelectShift Automatic.
The new Platinum series Explorer will feature multicontour front seats wrapped in Nirvana leather with micro-perforation and special quilted stitching throughout. The interior features brushed aluminum and satin-finished wood accents on all door panels and instrument panels. The heated steering wheel is wood-trimmed and leather wrapped and features the same unique stitching found throughout the cabin. The Platinum will also be the first Ford vehicle to be equipped with an all-new 500-watt Sony Audio System with Live Acoustics and Clear Phase technology.
The new 2016 Explorer also features adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, a lane-keeping system that senses when the car starts to drift, Ford’s Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) to warn of other vehicles in the driver’s blind spot, cross-traffic alert to aid in reversing, auto high beams to shift between high and low beams depending upon traffic, and inflatable rear safety belts to help distribute crash forces.
Ford says the 2016 Explorer will be in dealerships next summer. For more information, visit Ford.com.