Ford’s Explorer is America’s best-selling SUV of all time and an increasingly popular vehicle in the Ford lineup. The brand is always expanding the choice of Explorers available in the range, including adding the Explorer King Ranch earlier in 2021. Now, the company has unveiled three new variants of the Explorer. These came in the form of the Explorer Enthusiast ST, a rear-wheel-drive Platinum option plus the new Platinum Hybrid option which brings a hybrid choice to the Explorer Platinum for the first time.
Platinum Hybrid Brings Electric Power To The Explorer Range
The Platinum Hybrid aims to bring better fuel efficiency and more choice to the brand's customers. It has a starting price of around $53,085 and features a 3.3-liter V6 engine that is then boosted with an electric motor to provide an overall power output of 318 hp. While not perhaps as headline-grabbing as the Explorer ST, the addition of a hybrid option in the Explorer range means there is now a choice for those who are leaning more towards both hybrid and electric power for their next vehicle.
The second of the new additions is the rear-wheel-drive Platinum Explorer. This is the middle-ground priced version of the three, starting at $52,480. This is in addition to the Explorer Platinum all-wheel-drive model, offering the equipment and luxury of that variant while also providing a more affordable powertrain, for those who do not need all-wheel-drive. There are plenty of Platinum differentiators including the door handles with satin aluminum insert, lower bodyside cladding insert, and roof-rack slide rails plus a unique grille.
Enthusiast ST Will Grab The Headlines
The final new option in the 2021 Explorer range is the Enthusiast ST Explorer. This is perhaps the car in the range that is going to garner the most attention. It comes in at a lower price than the Explorer ST version, at $48,750. It is powered by the same 3.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine and produces around 400 hp with a 10-speed automatic transmission that features SelectShift. The Enthusiast ST also has a sport-tuned suspension and a top speed of 143 mph and features all-wheel drive. The towing capacity is an impressive 5,600 pounds. Ford says that these three options are available to order today and should be delivered to Ford dealers this summer.
Source: Ford