The 2020 Explorer is upon us.
We’ve been seeing much more of the 2020 Explorer lately, and we felt that meant Ford was getting ready to unveil it to the world. Turns out we were correct – Ford will debut the all-new SUV on January 9, just before the Detroit Auto Show.
So what do we know so far? We’ve known for awhile that the sixth-generation Explorer will take the SUV back to a rear-wheel drive platform. Back in 2011, when the current Explorer debuted, it moved away from its ancestors by moving to a unibody, front-wheel drive platform. Prior to that, Ford built the Explorer as a truck-like body-on-frame construction. The 2020 Explorer shares its platform with the new Lincoln Aviator, so we’ll soon see both return to a rear-wheel drive platform. Ford, however, won’t return the Explorer to a body-on-frame design. They will reserve that slot for the new Bronco, when it arrives.
New powertrains?
The Explorer is still a successful model for Ford, selling well in excess of 200,000 units each year. While the 2020 Explorer is a major redesign, it doesn’t appear to be a radical departure from the previous generation’s design language. Powertrains are still a bit of a question mark as well. It would make sense for the 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine to carry over. The old 3.5-liter Duratec V6 engine may well disappear, while signs from the upcoming Police Interceptor Utility and Lincoln Aviator indicate that the 3.0-liter EcoBoost with 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque may well make its way into the high-performance Explorer ST.
Ford will reveal the 2020 Explorer at Ford Field on January 9. Included with that date was a statement: “Almost 8 million [Explorers] have made their way into driveways and trails across the U.S. This sixth-generation of the Ford Explorer is our most advanced and adventure-ready version ever.”
Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for more updates on the 2020 Explorer and other reveals from the 2019 Detroit Auto Show!
