Ford unveils 2016 Explorer Sport

MANILA, Philippines – Just when I was telling people that the all-new Thailand-made Ford Everest midsize SUV would give its bigger and more expensive sibling, the US-made Explorer, a run for its money, Ford moves the goalposts again and rolls out a snazzier and more upscale Explorer Sport bristling with more smart technologies and powered by Ford’s innovative EcoBoost turbo engine technology.

The new Explorer Sport delivers an ideal combination of form and function that has redefined yet again how the industry will think about the sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment. Looking a bit reminiscent of the recently launched Land Rover Discovery Sport shouldn’t hurt its upscale aspirations, too.

Innovative, high-performance and fun-to-drive, the new Explorer Sport is the latest member to join Ford Philippines’ vast SUV lineup—currently the largest offering in the market today.

“The new Explorer Sport continues to lead the way in innovation, power and performance in a smart vehicle that you would want in an SUV,” said Kay Hart, managing director, Ford Philippines.

The new Explorer Sport has been updated inside and out to offer a more comfortable driving experience that complements its ruggedly stylish new look.

Driver and passengers alike can enjoy the retuned suspension and will benefit from its unique steering gear, front and rear springs, struts and rear dampers for a more dynamic driving experience, all while riding high on sleek 20-inch machined aluminum wheels with painted pockets.

Interior changes include new door seals, an enhanced sound package with engine subframe mount—all specially designed to reduce noise and vibration.

Outside, the new Explorer Sport exudes ruggedness with its robust design. The heightened grille and LED headlamps paired with a new closed-off lower roof rack and a new rear spoiler help to improve aerodynamics.

The new Explorer Sport’s aggressive yet sophisticated hood badge grabs attention. The design of the high gloss black grille speaks of confidence.

The new Explorer Sport is equipped with even more smart technologies designed to further enhance both the driver and passengers’ ride experience, such as Front 180-degree Camera with Washer (a first in its segment and exclusive to its class, the new Explorer Sport has wide-angled front camera lenses now with a built-in washer, eliminating the hassles of blurry screens when parking); Front Park Assist technology (helps drivers during stressful parking situations; with this, drivers can easily park the new Explorer Sport with more ease and confidence with sensors to warn the driver of oncoming vehicles); Smart-charging USB ports (located at the front and rear sides of the vehicle, the new Explorer Sport offers two USB ports designed to charge smart devices up to two times faster than conventional ports); and Hands-Free Liftgate (a convenient tool that allows customers with pre-occupied hands to easily open or close the new Explorer Sport’s liftgate with a kicking motion below the center of the rear bumper).

The new Explorer Sport is powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 delivering 370ps at 5,500 rpm and 475 Nm of torque at 3,500 rpm. The new Explorer Sport is also mated with 6-Speed SelectShift Automatic for a smoother driving experience.

“Our EcoBoost engine is the perfect example of technology that optimizes performance.  We’ve also made sure to keep the new Explorer Sport’s adventurous personality while continuing to offer fuel efficiency without sacrificing power. We’re confident that the new Explorer Sport will exceed the expectations of our customers yet again,” said Hart.

The new 3.5L Explorer Sport will be available in all Ford dealerships nationwide this month, at a price of P2,819,000. It comes in three elegant colors: Tuxedo Black, White Platinum and Magnetic Metallic.