The Ford Explorer ST has Arrived, and It's Brought 400 BHP With It

"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke) 01/14/2019 at 14:58 • Filed to: None

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Ford’s attempt to marginalize the ST nameplate continues with the all new Explorer ST, revealed today in lieu of the Detroit Auto Show. The Explorer ST was hinted at months before, and as they actually revealed the 2020 Explorer just a couple of days ago, it was only a matter of time before the ST was revealed as well.

According to Ford, the Explorer ST will utilize a specially tuned version of Ford’s 3-liter Ecoboost V6, pushing 400 bhp to all four wheels and 415 lb ft of torque to boot. Estimated top speeds push 143 mph, delivered through Ford’s flawless 10-speed automatic found in the new Mustang GT.

The ST stands out from the Explorer lineup with the addition of blacked out accents, from the grille to the Explorer badging on the hood, as well as blacked out exclusive wheels and red brake calipers. It will be offered in two packages: ST Street and ST Track. The ST comes standard with Ford’s Class III trailer/towing package as well, for those who want to tow your Mustang to the track.

Ford pulled out all the stops to make the interior as sporty as it is luxurious, with uniquely trimmed leather sport buckets with most base Explorer options as standard. Driving styles are delivered through a small dial in the center console for more feedback when taking tighter corners and achieving higher speeds.

The Explorer ST is undoubtedly an interesting concept in expanding the ST brand, and it’ll be hard to say whether or not it’ll pay off. It definitely seems like a more interesting overall package than the much-maligned Edge ST (which I rather like, mind you), so I hope it finds its market.

WilliamsSW > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 01/14/2019 at 15:01

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Sooooo, is that the base engine in the Aviator? 

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 01/14/2019 at 15:02

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cool. boring, but I guess if you cant have a fun car you should at least have a fast one.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 01/14/2019 at 15:04

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say what you want but i dont remember the focus/fiesta st getting 400hp and awd. explorer ST is the best confirmed

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > WilliamsSW 01/14/2019 at 15:04

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i think its the only engine in the aviator

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 01/14/2019 at 15:05

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It’s basically an ultimate Focus RS

Nothing > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 01/14/2019 at 15:05

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I think it’s a good looking rig. I think the ST option is kinda cool too, as it’s more than just a “Sport” appearance package. There’s s Durango R/T, what’s wrong with an Explorer ST? For Dodge, R/T would have more history to it than Ford’s ST badge.

For those lamenting the lack of “off-roadness” of the Explorer, hopefully the 2020 Bronco fills that void.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 01/14/2019 at 15:06

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“a specially tuned version”

So I can head on over to one of several friendly neighborhood tuners and get the same results for 300-400 bucks. I can probably actually get better results power-wise.

Are there any suspension/brake upgrades to set this apart or is it all cosmetic? From what I read above it seems to be the latter.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > WilliamsSW 01/14/2019 at 15:06

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I do believe so

WilliamsSW > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 01/14/2019 at 15:08

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Almost - the top model (Grand Touring or whatever) offers a hybrid powertrain with “more than 450 HP and more than 600 lb-ft of torque ”, per Lincoln’s website .

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 01/14/2019 at 15:08

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Seriously, a 7 passenger, boat towing, rwd biased focus rs

Tripper > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 01/14/2019 at 15:09

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Waaaaay nicer in the looks department than the current Explorer. I’m not directly interested at the moment, but I’ve owned 3 explorers to date (and two rangers) so I can never truly rule one out. I also have a small child and two large dogs.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > WilliamsSW 01/14/2019 at 15:10

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Well hot diggity

WilliamsSW > Nothing 01/14/2019 at 15:10

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Maybe that’s the angle - the Exploder is the on road, comfy SUV with available performance (because track day bro), while the Bronco gets some off-road chops?  I like that plan, if true.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 01/14/2019 at 15:10

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The thing I still don’ t get is why Ford thinks attaching a random two letter designation to their SUVs will make people understand that they’re “sporty”. Because their other mindset must be that all the 20-somethings who bought STs are all tired of them and want Ford SUVs, but also wants to pay a lot more for them so that they’re not so lame.

An d as I am typing this, a juke nismo just pulled up outside my house and I am suddenly feeling watched...

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 01/14/2019 at 15:11

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The original jalopnik article said it would have his own specific suspension tuning

WilliamsSW > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 01/14/2019 at 15:11

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I’ll be honest - I love the Aviator (at least the vaporware version of it), and it could be high on my shopping list whenever I decide the E550 is too smol.

CB > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 01/14/2019 at 15:12

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The only tragedy is that there’s no Flex ST.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 01/14/2019 at 15:12

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Screw it. You know what Ford needs? 2.3 Ecoboost in an upcoming Escape ST version in 2020. It will basically be a lifted hot hatch

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 01/14/2019 at 15:13

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Ah I see. I imagine it’d still be cheaper to achieve similar results in the aftermarket. The current Sport model is worth buying because it or the Platinum are the only way to get the 3.5EB. But to buy this ST doesn’t make much sense to anyone willing to run a tune.

I’m also speaking with the mindset of someone who exclusively buys cars used.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > WilliamsSW 01/14/2019 at 15:13

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Im happy cause I sold my wife on the 2020 explorer. Which means by 2025 I'll be the proud owner of one!

WilliamsSW > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 01/14/2019 at 15:15

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They both look good - I’ll probably want the Aviator Grand Touring, but will be able to afford the Explorer XLT.

arl > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 01/14/2019 at 15:21

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That'll get mommy to the soccer field in short time. 

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > WilliamsSW 01/14/2019 at 15:25

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Aint that the truth

VW Max > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 01/14/2019 at 15:30

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Now we also need a CR-V Type R and a Tiguan R

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > CB 01/14/2019 at 15:33

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Perhaps they will re-launch a Lincoln MKT-ST Super Hearse with RWD bias 450HP 600 lb-ft hybrid engine from the Av iator.

Svend > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 01/14/2019 at 15:37

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.

wafflesnfalafel > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 01/14/2019 at 15:50

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G ood looking, super quick rig. Love that blue. The wheels might be just a smidge TOO big on the ST. Still wish Ford woulda used the “ SVO” terminology rather than “ ST” - I know it really doesn’t matter, but SVO seems more special...

Still not really sure if stuff like this will sell at any kind of volume - Subie just made the opposite decision nixing their XT Forester - but it’s still a neat rig.

and 100 more > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 01/14/2019 at 15:51

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It’s a Mustang station wagon.

OPPOsaurus WRX > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 01/14/2019 at 15:52

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while 400 is probably more than enough, its not enough to make it exciting.  It should have at least tried to compete with the 475 in the Grand Cherokee SRT

Matt Nichelson > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 01/14/2019 at 15:53

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I know it’s not saying much, but that is the best looking Explorer Ford has ever made.  

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > and 100 more 01/14/2019 at 15:57

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Which is exactly why I love it

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > VW Max 01/14/2019 at 16:14

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CR-V Type R is the new RDX, seems to be really good to drive.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 01/14/2019 at 16:34

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Jeep Trackh awks when they see the Explorer ST getting praised

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 01/14/2019 at 18:42

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So you’re saying if we lower it, it’ll be a Focus ST?

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/14/2019 at 18:49

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YES! If Ford wont do it for you do it yourself. Dont expect a manual tho.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 01/15/2019 at 10:01

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Sad they haven’t gone full SRT with this to compete.  Only 400hp?  Not a distinct exterior styling?  Meh