Big news from Detroit: Ford has just revealed the all-new, sixth-generation Explorer, and it promises that the SUV has been“redesigned from the ground up.”
“Explorer drivers told us what they want—more capability, more power, more space,” says Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s head of product development and purchasing. “They want more technology, not just for the driver, but for the whole family. And they want all of it with a beautifully sporty exterior. This new Explorer gives them all of that, and more, helping make every journey more enjoyable.”
Design-wise, the Explorer maintains its quintissential qualities like the retracted A- and D-pillars, plus the body-color C-pillars. New are the sloping roofline, shorter front overhang, and redesigned modern front fascia with swept-back headlamps. The result is a sleeker and more athletic appearance from before.
The latest systems packed by the new model includes the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of technologies, which has goodies like auto headlamps, a rear-view camera, and pre-collision assist with emergency braking. Infotainment is provided via a 10.1-inch display with SYNC 3. There’s also FordPass Connect, which delivers 4G LTE Wi-Fi for up to 10 devices with a compatible service. Audio comes courtesy of a Bang & Olufsen sound system. The Explorer also gets Ford’s Terrain Management System to help it tackle different kinds of turf.
Engine options for the US include a 2.3-liter EcoBoost in-line-four, a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with a projected 365hp and 515Nm, and a redesigned 2.3-liter mill that’s estimated to put out 300hp and 420Nm.
No word yet about a Philippine debut (US dealerships will get the new model during the summer), but if we had to guess, we’d estimate that the all-new Explorer will hit local streets sometime in the next 12-18 months.
