Adds a 2.3-liter ‘EcoBoost’ engine to Explorer line-up.
The refreshed 2016 Ford Explorer SUV saw its Chinese debut at the 2015 Auto Shanghai that opened its doors this week. The new car features revised exteriors and interiors, new engine options, and safety features.
The fifth-generation Ford Explorer sports a unibody structure and floating roof design (with blacked-out A, B, and D-pillars). It measures 5,010 mm long, 2,000 mm wide, and 1,790 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,860 mm. The latest exterior revision includes a new front fascia, hood and lower bumper, and new LED headlamps that is reminiscent of the new Ford F-150. New stepped style taillamps and dual exhausts are the changes in the rear.
On the inside, the SUV comes with a dual-panel moon roof with a power sunscreen, a 50-50 split electric-folding third row, and a 60-40 split reclining second row. Ford’s latest hands-free in-car connectivity system ‘SYNC 2’ is now made available in the Explorer range.
The mid-size SUV is now available a new 2.3-liter 4-cylinder ‘EcoBoost’ engine – making 270 bhp and 407 Nm of torque - lifted from the new Mustang, with first ever use of a twin-scroll turbocharger for improved efficiency and low turbo lag. A beefier 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine with 365 bhp and 475 Nm of peak output is offered on Sports and Titanium trims. The two engines are paired to a same 6-speed Automatic transmission that comes with manual mode and paddle-shifters.
The new Explorer comes loaded with features such as active Park Assist, electric power-assisted steering, wide-angle front and rear cameras with 180-degree views, adaptive cruise control, collision warning, lane assist, FWD with Terrain Management System (TMS) including 4 modes - normal, snow, sand or mud, roll stability control and 7 airbags.
From this year, the Explorer for the domestic market will be manufactured at the Nanchang plant in China, run by the Jiangling-Ford joint venture. Until now, Ford has been importing the car from USA.
