The Blue Oval is eager to show its new SUV to us a week before Detroit Auto Show.
We have been sending you spy photos of the next-generation Explorer, and we are happy to announce that the wait is almost over. Ford announced that it will unveil the all-new SUV at NAIAS in January. However, we won’t see it at NAIAS. Instead, we’ll be able to view it at a separate event at Ford Field in Detroit.
Although it is not clear which sixth-gen Explorer versions will be revealed, spy photos of production-ready prototypes have shown us multiple variants. This includes the more sporty ST trim (see left) as well as the luxurious Platinum variant (center), with a formidable quad exhaust arrangement. We also spotted the lesser XLT , which gives us a good idea of the exterior design of the new SUV in various specifications.
Ford already showed off the 2020 Explorer’s styling by sharing shadowy images of the new Police Interceptor Utility, a.k.a. The “fastest police car in America.” The Michigan State Police has tested the hybrid model and found a top speed of 150 mph (241 kph), while the regular version is able to go up to 137 mph (220 kph). This hybrid model boasts an EPA-estimated combined fuel efficiency of at least 24 MPG.
Rumours suggest that the new Explorer will switch to Ford’s modular CD6 platform to return to rear-wheel drive. Higher-end versions will have all-wheel drive, and an additional 400 horsepower for the ST. This is thanks to the twin-turbo 3.0-liter engine inherited from the Lincoln Continental. The 2020 Explorer will be unveiled at Ford Field on January 9th. It will then travel to the North American International Auto Show, where it will go on display for the first half year.