It is regarded by the Blue Oval as the most refined Explorer.

Ford’s King Ranch has been on the F-150 Super Crew for over 20 years. Five generations of F-150s have been upgraded to Texas-approved status since 2001. This includes four generations of Super Duty and three Expedition versions. The Explorer’s first cowboy-themed trim level has been added today.

The unique stone gray mesh grille insert on the exterior can be seen identifying it as King Ranch. The Explorer’s new flavor also features 20-inch wheels with W branded center caps and a liftgate scratch plate. The quad exhaust tips and King Ranch badge round out the exterior upgrades.

The most important changes to the King Ranch model are inside, as with all Ford models. The seats are covered with mahogany leather, and more leather can be found on doors and the central armrest. To complement the wood insert on leather-wrapped steering wheels, the Explorer’s fancy new variant features real wood appliques on its instrument panel.

The Premium Technology Package is available and adds a touch of class to the interior with multi-contour seating with a massage function. Additional goodies include a large touchscreen at 10.1 inches and a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system Ford claims was designed for the SUV’s interior.

The 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 EcoBoost engine produces 365 horsepower and 380 lb-ft (or 515 Nm) of power, or the same as the Platinum trim. The Explorer King Ranch is available in both AWD and RWD configurations, while the Platinum and more powerful ST models come only with an all-paw layout.

This spring, the 2021 Ford Explorer King Ranch will go on sale starting at $52,350 (with RWD) and $54,350 (with AWD). This is more costly than the ST’s 400-horsepower ST ($52 605), but it costs about the same as the Platinum ($54,480).

Spy shots revealed that Ford will expand the Explorer range beyond the King Ranch with the addition of the rugged Timberline trim.