Gone is the Explorer Sport as the new ST trim takes over as top dog in the performance category for the mid-size SUV. Check out all of the info, rumors, and forecasts for the vehicle right here.
The people's pick
The Explorer was the 15th best selling vehicle last year with over 238,000 units sold with the small updates the model received. The Explorer is going all in on a sport variant that will see the SUV on a new platform and go back to an RWD setup. The platform will allegedly be the basis for a Lincoln-branded counterpart as well. The mid-size SUV could gain the badge of ST which stands for "sport technologies" and was unveiled in January for Ford's all-new go-fast SUV the Edge ST. Previously, the only vehicles that you could get an ST variant before in the U.S. have been the Focus and Fiesta hatchbacks.
>>Join the conversation about the new Explorer ST right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Explorers of various flavors
The Explorer is rumored to be coming with a choice of four powertrain options on the CD6 platform. First off is the current 2.3-liter I4, a 3.3-liter V6 from the F-150, a hybrid from the law enforcement spec Explorer, and a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that will be the ST trim. The new ST Explorer is said to be capable of producing 400 horsepower and 400 pounds of torque as well as being hooked up to a 10-speed transmission. Ford, naturally, has declined to comment on any specifics which is fine since they will unveil the vehicle when they are good and ready. But Ford did say that an Explorer ST "will soon follow" the Edge ST with an availability date by year 2020.
>>Join the conversation about the new Explorer ST right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Changes will be seen inside as well
Regardless of which trim you pick, we are more than sure that the new Explorer will make improved use of its interior space. The current Explorer is saddled with thick sills that push in on the cabin and the push the crossover's three rows of seats toward the middle of the interior. To lighten the SUV's weight, expect Ford to use a larger portion of mixed materials with more aluminum throughout the chassis. However, the body will still be most likely largely made of steel.
>>Join the conversation about the new Explorer ST right here in Ford-trucks.com.
Making the most of their investment
The new CD6 platform was a huge portion of Ford's $5 billion investment in Lincoln and it paid off with the platform being able to adapt to front, rear, and all-wheel-drive vehicles. The Explorer going back to its roots of being a rear-drive hauler is nice but we wonder how that decision came down the pipeline. We don't know if there is a direct correlation but Ford did lose a big chunk of the police market when the company decided to swap the police Explorer and Taurus from RWD to AWD. That switch is why you see so many officers across the country behind the wheels of Dodge Chargers now.
>>Join the conversation about the new Explorer ST right here in Ford-trucks.com.
How aggressive will it look?
Look for the new Explorer to debut in early 2019 as Ford is pushing forward with performance SUVs and crossovers for the foreseeable future. Sales for the new model should start shortly thereafter with pricing beginning in the low $30,000 range and the ST coming in around $50,000 before options.
>>Join the conversation about the new Explorer ST right here in Ford-trucks.com.
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