Automotive Engineering - March 2024 - 17

ROAD READY
Ford refines interior, exterior of 2025 Explorer
wrap-and-stitch soft-touch surfaces on
the center console, door panels and
new dashboard. Also included are silver
mesh accents and optional ActiveX synthetic
seating material.
Designers pushed the dashboard forward,
creating more room for the driver
and front-seat passenger. A tray below
the 13.2-inch (392-mm) touchscreen has
an available wireless charging pad plus
USB-C ports.
Kelley Clark, chief engineer on the
The silver accents on the gloss black grille mark the Platinum 2025 Ford Explorer.
The Ford Explorer will celebrate its 35th
anniversary for the 2026 model year,
and it is highly likely that America's
best-selling SUV will meet the occasion
with a complete redesign. Ford introduced
the current generation in 2020,
making it ripe for a major update.
The company revealed the refreshed
2025 Ford Explorer today, with bolder
exterior features and a redesigned interior
that offers more tech to the driver and
passengers. It also continues Ford's effort
to simplify trim-level lineups to make
manufacturing and purchasing easier.
" We have refined almost every part of
the new Explorer - focusing on a redesigned
interior, additional technology
like BlueCruise and special editions like
the 400-horsepower Explorer ST, " said
Andrew Frick, president of Ford Blue.
On the outside, the entire 2025
Explorer lineup has larger grilles, sleeker
all-LED headlights, front skid plate
and lower, wider air curtains that, Ford
says, lower the vehicle's visual center of
gravity. For Platinum, ST and ST-Line
models, a black roof is optional. Out
back, the liftgate has LED taillights that
extend from the corners to a stretched
horizontal nameplate.
The grilles are unique to each trim level.
Platinum models have an ebony grille
in a wing design with satin chrome. ST
and ST-Line have honeycomb gloss black
grilles with a black mesh insert. The
Active has a sawtooth design with a black
mesh insert with chrome bars.
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
Consolidated powertrain lineup
Ford's continuing effort to simplify its
trim-level offerings results in just two
distinct engine options for the 2025
Explorer. Both come with rear-wheel
drive standard and available 4WD.
Powertrain choices by trim level:
* Platinum: 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-4
turbo generating 300 hp and 310
lb-ft (420 Nm) as standard. Optional
is the 400-hp, 415-lb-ft (563 Nm),
turbocharged 3.0-L EcoBoost V-6.
* ST: 3.0-L EcoBoost.
* ST-Line: 2.3-L EcoBoost.
* Active: 2.3-L EcoBoost.
Inside: detail focused
The redesigned interior includes added
details, surfaces and colors, including
Explorer, said customers were satisfied
with the driving dynamics (Ford did
recalibrate the 10-speed automatic
transmission for the 2025 models). " So,
we focused on improving other areas,
including redesigning the interior with
new materials, textures and colors. "
In addition to standard Apple CarPlay
and Android Auto, the company's new
Ford Digital Experience infotainment system
allows drivers access to apps and services
from Google and Amazon, controlled
by Google Assistant voice commands
or Amazon's Alexa. While parked,
Explorer passengers can watch YouTube,
Amazon Prime Video and surf the Web
using the Vivaldi browser; 5G wireless tech
supports up to 10 devices at a time.
Upper trims are equipped with Ford
BlueCruise hardware for hands-free
highway driving if bought as part of a
subscription after a 90-day free trial.
Chris Clonts
Platinum (shown), ST and ST-Line Explorers receive an ambient lighting system with seven
selectable colors.
March 2024 17
BOTH IMAGES: FORD
Automotive Engineering - March 2024

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