2016 Explorer

New 2016 Ford Explorer brings more smart technology, an available 2.3-liter EcoBoostfour-cylinder engine and a high-end Platinum series

New 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine delivers more horsepower and torque than the four-cylinderit replaces; for the first time on Explorer, four-cylinder EcoBoost engine can be paired withavailable tow package and intelligent four-wheel drive with Terrain Management System

More than 7 million Explorers have been sold in the United States, making it Americasbest-selling SUV for 25 straight years

Building on 25 years of innovation and sales leadership, a new Ford Explorer arrives with evenmore smart technology, a new 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine and a new Platinum series. The 2016Ford Explorer is now on dealer lots.

Explorer helped define how the world thinks about SUVs, said Raj Nair, Ford group vice presidentand chief technical officer, Global Product Development. Explorer is the centerpiece of Fordsglobal utility vehicle lineup because it delivers an ideal combination of form and function. Andwith well over 7 million already sold, nearly everyone has an Explorer story.

Introduced in 1990 as a 1991 model, Explorer featured generous interior space customers werelooking for, and was engineered specifically for people seeking adventure for their families and a

way to express their individuality. For a quarter century, Explorer has reigned as Americas best-selling SUV.

Ford Explorer is built in North America at Chicago Assembly Plant, as well as in Venezuela andRussia. It is sold in markets across the globe. Ford exported more than 56,000 Explorers from theUnited States last year and plans to export even more in 2015.

Customers love Explorer, and they expect it to continue to lead the way in innovation,performance and fun, said Arie Groeneveld, chief engineer for the new Explorer. Thats thechallenge we embraced when we set out to build the best SUV in the world.

More innovation equals greater performance, more funEven more smart technology thats what customers will get with the new Ford Explorer. It offersmore technologies than previous models, features that enhance the driving experience. Newtechnologies available for 2016 include:

Front and rear cameras with washers: Both have wide-angle lenses and come equippedwith a washer a class-exclusive, segment-first feature

Enhanced active park assist with perpendicular park assist, park-out assist and semi-automatic parallel parking: The system uses ultrasonic sensors and electric power-assistedsteering to help drivers with parallel parking and perpendicular parking maneuvers.Enhanced active park assist includes park-out assist to help a driver pull out of parallelparking spots. The system controls the steering wheel, while the driver operates theaccelerator and brake pedals, and shifts the vehicle into gear

Smart-charging USB ports: Located in the front and rear of the vehicle are USB ports ableto charge smart devices up to two times faster than conventional ports

Hands-free liftgate: A customer need only kick his or her leg below the center of the rearbumper to open or close the liftgate

Industry-exclusive Sony Audio System: Explorer Platinum will be the first Ford vehicle toget an all-new 500-watt Sony Audio System with Live Acoustics and Clear Phase

Active Grille Shutters: Upper and lower fascia openings close at highway speeds to reducedrag. At low speeds, the shutters open to deliver airflow to cool the powertrain

Air curtains: Standard air curtains create a high-pressure region of air that impacts theouter surface of the wheels and tires. The result is airflow held close to the vehicle body,minimizing drag

The following features, while not new for Explorer, are also available on the 2016 model:

Adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support: Uses radar to detectmoving vehicles directly ahead and changes the cruising speed if necessary

Lane-keeping system: Automatically detects left- and right-hand road lane markings usingthe front camera system. A vibration in the steering wheel alerts the driver if the vehiclebegins to drift out of the intended lane. The system can also provide steering torque to helpguide the vehicle back into the lane if needed

Blind Spot Information System: BLIS uses radar to trigger a warning when anothermotorist is in the drivers blind spot

Cross-traffic alert: Uses radar to help alert drivers to oncoming traffic when backing out ofa parking space

Auto high-beams: Using windshield-mounted cameras, the feature automatically switchesbetween high-beam and low-beam settings when oncoming traffic is detected

Inflatable rear safety belts: Introduced on 2011 Explorer as an industry-first feature, thebelts deploy an airbag over the torso and shoulder of an outboard passenger to helpdistribute crash forces over up to five times more area than a traditional safety belt.

Spreading forces over a larger area helps reduce pressure on a passengers chest, and helpscontrol head and neck motion

New EcoBoost engineCapability thats what customers will get even more of with the new Explorer, thanks to anavailable 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine rated at 280 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 310lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm on premium fuel. Compared to the 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder itreplaces, the new 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine delivers an additional 40 horsepower and 40 lb.-ft. oftorque an increase of 17 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

The 2.3-liter EcoBoost is available on the base, XLT and Limited series. With the new powerplant,highway passing time from 55 mph to 75 mph improves by 10 percent.

The 2.3-liter EcoBoost benefits from technology that optimizes performance. It employs an activeoil control system to optimize pressure when less fluid is needed. An active wastegate controlsboost more precisely during light load operation to help save fuel. A higher compression ratioresults in more efficient fuel combustion.

The 2.3-liter EcoBoosts notable improvement in horsepower and torque comes with nosignificant reduction in fuel economy. The front-wheel-drive Explorer retains its EPA-estimatedfuel economy rating of 28 mpg highway, which is best-in-class. For the first time, customerschoosing a four-cylinder Explorer can opt for four-wheel drive and trailer towing capability.

The new Explorer isnt giving up its reputation as a leader in highway fuel efficiency whichis especially key for customers who want a vehicle that is also a capable trail warrior, saidGroeneveld.

The standard 3.5-liter V6 engine for base, XLT and Limited models with 290 horsepowerat 6,500 rpm and 255 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm is paired with a six-speed SelectShiftAutomatic transmission. Explorer Sport and the Platinum edition get a standard 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 making 365 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 350 lb.-ft. of torque at3,500 rpm also mated with the six-speed SelectShift.

New Platinum seriesStyle the new Platinum series further elevates the full-size SUV in look and feel, with changes toboth the Explorer exterior and interior.

Bringing Explorer Platinum to market is a natural extension of the Explorer lineup giving ourcustomers even more of what they want, said Matt Zuehlk, Ford Explorer brand manager. Theresa market for more upscale SUVs, as 90 percent of Explorer Sport buyers purchase the mostexpensive package available. Thats a strong signal customers are ready for Platinum.

From new multicontour front seats wrapped in Nirvana leather with micro-perforation, to specialquilted stitching used throughout, advanced standard technologies and the powerful 3.5-literEcoBoost V6 engine, Platinum elevates Explorer in ways customers can see and feel.

Platinum is the ultimate expression of refinement, said Christopher Svensson, Ford designdirector, The Americas. This is the most premium, high-quality interior weve ever offered on aFord vehicle.

The interior incorporates brushed-aluminum and satin-finished ash wood in multi-piece appliquson door panels and the instrument panel. The wood-trimmed, leather-wrapped and heatedsteering wheel includes unique stitching that matches the stitching used throughout the interior.

For the first time in a production Ford vehicle, a brushed-aluminum Ford oval is centered on thesteering wheel.

Nirvana leather also wraps the instrument panel, console armrests, quilted door bolsters andupper door trim. The instrument cluster features a large 10-inch digital display supported withanalog displays a first for a Ford-brand vehicle.

The all-new 500-watt Sony Audio System for Explorer Platinum features Live Acousticstechnology that re-creates the sound dynamics of some of the worlds greatest concert halls formore enveloping, more realistic sound. Clear Phase eliminates sound dispersion throughout thevehicle, so the music occupants hear is precisely pinpointed just as the artist intended.

Explorer Platinum also gets standard advanced technology features including enhanced activepark assist, lane-keeping system and rain-sensing wipers.

For the exterior, signature lighting surrounds the LED headlamps giving the vehicle a continuousglow. Other features include a standard dual-panel moonroof, premium silver-painted front andrear skid plate elements, and 20-inch wheels with bright machined face and tarnished dark-painted pockets.

The integrated exhaust is designed to reduce the appearance of soot collecting at the rear of thevehicle. Inside the chrome bezel of the exhaust, engineers designed a shield that catches the sootso it doesnt collect around the outlets.

Intelligent four-wheel drive: Ready for any adventureExplorers intelligent four-wheel drive with Terrain Management System reassesses conditionsabout 20 times faster than the blink of an eye providing precise handling and traction.

Intelligent four-wheel drive continuously monitors wheel speed, throttle position and steeringwheel angle to determine vehicle conditions and driver intent. The system then determinesthe optimal amount of front and rear torque for the given conditions to prevent slip from evenoccurring, which helps keep the vehicle sure-footed on virtually any terrain. In sand, grass or gravelmode, the antilock braking system changes its pulse rate, which allows material to build up infront of the wheels, acting as a doorstop of sorts to help slow momentum.

To help maintain efficiency, in most steady-state cruising conditions the new Explorer equippedwith intelligent four-wheel drive seamlessly and quickly transfers torque between the front andrear wheels.

A newly refined, intelligent four-wheel-drive gauge display shows power being distributed to frontand rear wheels under all conditions from heavy four-wheel-drive system usage to when thesystem is not transmitting power at all.

For added convenience, the Terrain Management System automatically defaults to normal modewhenever the vehicle is started to ensure its ready for normal driving conditions.

Using a dial located on the center console, the customer can shift on the fly, selecting from fourterrain management modes normal, snow, sand or mud to set how the engine, transmission,brakes and four-wheel-drive system will operate. A fifth setting is for navigating hills.

Comfortable and capable

The new Explorer benefits from an improved suspension for better handling and a quiet cabin,enabling a comfortable ride even when the pavement turns to dirt.

Ford completely retuned the Explorer chassis to clearly differentiate the driving experiencesoffered by the XLT, Sport and Platinum models.

The suspension uses MacPherson construction with an isolated subframe and 32-millimeterstabilizer bar at the front, while an independent multilink rear setup uses a 22-millimeter stabilizerbar.

Explorer Sport customers looking for a more dynamic driving experience will benefit from uniquesteering gear, front and rear springs, struts and rear dampers.

Explorer also features a tower brace that provides additional stiffness between strut towers. Thetower brace for Explorer equipped with four-wheel drive is three millimeters thicker for even morestiffness providing better control and a smoother ride on rugged terrain.

The new Explorer, with standard 18-inch and available 20-inch wheels, offers new tire options forimproved ride and handling while still reducing road noise in the cabin.

Interior changes help enhance quietness in the cabin. There are new door seals, and an enhancedsound package includes engine subframe mounts specially tuned to reduce vibration, as well as aspecially tuned exhaust for the 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine. Acoustic glass is used on the windshieldand front doors on XLT and higher trim levels.

New lookRugged thats the word that inspired the designers creating the look of the new Ford Explorer.

Exterior styling updates such as positioning the grille and LED headlamps even higher, addinga new closed-off lower roof rack with channels that cascade rainwater off the vehicle and a newrear spoiler also improve aerodynamics.

The 2016 Explorer features more robust headlamps, with available LED signature lighting,standard LED low-beams and available LED fog lamps.

Visible heat-sink structures for cooling the LED headlamps are a meaningful detail. Theseradiator-like grilles are typically hidden behind the light cluster, but on Explorer they are part of acomplex headlamp design that puts innovation on display.

Interior design changes reflect desires customers expressed through Ford consumer research,which shows one in five Explorer Sport customers previously owned a luxury vehicle. Changesinclude a higher-mounted, wrapped and stitched door armrest, real buttons to replace touch-sense buttons on the infotainment system and more refined detailing throughout.

On sale nowThe new Explorer is now on sale, with the Platinum edition due to arrive later this summer.

Explorer sales continue to be robust driven by strong demand. Through April 2015, Explorer salesare up more than 17 percent from year-earlier levels.