Autoblog

2013 Ford Explorer Sport

Seyth Miersma — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, SUV, Crossover, Ford, Quick Spins

Ford has had nothing but great success with its latest, three-row iteration of the Explorer SUV, with buyers finding it a suitably good driving tool for the jobs demanded by family living. And while I've never found the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 that inhabits the engine bay to be anything less than well-suited to this large SUV/CUV class - it wasn't so very long ago that a 290-horsepower, 24-mile-per-gallon-highway six-cylinder would have seemed like a real tough guy - it has never been a particularly exciting powerplant, either.

Enter the 2013 Explorer Sport, with an EcoBoost twin-turbocharged version of that 3.5-liter six, and 365 horsepower with 350 pound-feet of torque to show for it. I should add that the extra shove only comes at the expense of one highway mpg and one city mpg, relative to the four-wheel-drive iteration of the non-turbo Explorer, which is nice, too. Ford was kind enough to invite me to take a taste of this hotted-up Explorer recently; an experience that I found generally pleasant, if not entirely satisfying.

Driving Notes

We eat with the eyes first. If your particular set of peepers isn't enamored by piano black accents, then you may not get close enough to even test drive the new Sport, as this model is slathered with shiny black highlights. The big black grille dominates the Explorer, and I think does a good job of making the large vehicle look a bit more compact - lower and meaner. The matching black on the 21-inch wheels, body cladding, roof rails and mirror caps, along with smoked covers for the front and rear lighting, seems like overkill to me. To many it'll just make the Explorer look cooler than ever. Some of us like Original Recipe, some like Extra Crispy.
There's no question in my mind that the Sport version of the Explorer feels fleet-of-foot for a vehicle of this size and weight. Ford was coy about official 0-60 times for the model, saying only that it had found it to be "two seconds faster" than the 3.5-liter non-turbo model.
Floored from a standstill, the EcoBoost six will hesitate to deliver full thrust for a heartbeat or two, then offer a fairly strong torque pop once the engine is spinning at about 2000 rpm. Middle revs are where this engine eats, however, and I found passing maneuvers on the highway to be easy to execute briskly in the 70-90 mph zone. A decent little exhaust growl is in evidence at high rpm, too.
So the Explorer Sport is fairly quick on its feet and looks mean (at least to some), but it doesn't actually go so far as to acquit itself as a full-on performance model, à la a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, or BMW X5 M, for instance. That's not just because the Ford isn't as quick, but also because the chassis and suspension tuning is still balanced more toward highway comfort than aimed at outright handling performance. The Sport is stiffer laterally than the standard SUV, where an added tower brace makes itself felt, but there is still a fairly high amount of vertical movement through the suspension when the Gs pile on.
The retuned electric power steering is quicker to turn in (again, that stiffer front section helps here), and accurate when holding a fast line, but it's absolutely lifeless in terms of feel and feedback from the road.
The Sport is equipped with paddle shifters to modulate the six-speed automatic, but response time is slow and the physical feel of the paddles is pretty unsatisfying.
All-in, the Explorer Sport is kind of a performance middle child; more like a motored-up version of the original than a full sporting variant.
I have mixed feelings about that last bullet, in terms of my own conclusion about the Sport. On one hand, starting at $40,720 (including destination and delivery), the Sport is only about $2,600 more than the high-content Limited trim, with a much more powerful engine, similar EPA fuel economy and many of the same standard options. (The Sport comes standard with 4WD, leather, MyFord Touch, SYNC, etc.) On the other hand, the Sport doesn't use its extra go-juice to push many of my "enthusiast driver" buttons, I get no extra towing capacity from the increased power and torque (5,000-pound max), and once the options sheet starts coming into play, a $50,000-Explorer can be a reality. The MSRP for our tester was a heady $48,385.
I think Ford is counting on just enough incremental sales from the Sport to make the variant worthwhile in a model that is just killing the rest of its segment. Plenty of former Mustang-owning Dads should be willing to pony up a slightly bigger lease payment for the payoff of winning a stoplight grand prixs here and there. Plus, you know, cool wheels.

2013 Ford Explorer Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford Explorer Sport officially rated at 365 HP, 16/22 MPG

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Ford

The 2013 Ford Explorer Sport goes on sale this fall, packing a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, premium interior features and sporty (sort of) exterior design elements. And while Ford originally told us that the Sport would produce "at least 350 horsepower," we've now learned that the top-trim Explorer will churn out 365 hp and 360 pound-feet of torque. If that sounds familiar, it's because those are the same totals found in the Taurus SHO sedan, which shares its engine.

365 hp and 350 lb-ft are a welcome improvement over the 290 hp and 255 lb-ft present in the naturally aspirated V6 model. Fuel economy doesn't suffer horribly, either. The Sport is officially rated at 16/22 miles per gallon (city/highway), compared to 17/23 in the regular, all-wheel-drive model. For reference, Ford points out that the Explorer Sport is more efficient than both the V8-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango.

When it hits dealerships, the 2013 Explorer Sport will be priced from $40,720, not including $825 for destination. Scroll down for the official press blast.

Continue reading 2013 Ford Explorer Sport officially rated at 365 HP, 16/22 MPG

2013 Ford Explorer Sport officially rated at 365 HP, 16/22 MPG originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford configurator prices new 2013 Explorer Sport from $40,720*

Chris Shunk — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Ford, Earnings/Financials

With at least 350 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport is no ho-hum grocery getter. Now that we know how much the most powerful Explorer costs, we may have to start cutting coupons. Ford has priced the new Explorer Sport at $40,720 plus another $825 for destination charges. That price tag comes in at nearly $1,000 more than the similarly equipped Explorer Limited with all-wheel drive, yet it adds the EcoBoost V6 and sport-tuned suspension.

The standard Explorer Sport comes nicely equipped, but far from loaded. The Blue Oval offers a 402A package with voice-activated navigation and Travel Link, pushbutton start and remote start for $4,130. Add adaptive cruise control ($1,150), dual-panel moonroof ($1,595) and dual-DVD for the second row and you're looking at $50,415.

That's a good bit of coin for a crossover with a Ford badge, but if you've always dreamed of an Explorer with a boosted sledgehammer of a powertrain, this Sport may be your best bet.

Ford configurator prices new 2013 Explorer Sport from $40,720* originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford Explorer Sport mugs for the camera in NYC

Zach Bowman — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:05:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Performance, Crossover, Ford

No one may have asked Ford to drop the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 found in the Taurus SHO behind the headlights of the Explorer, but that doesn't mean we're complaining. Ford has just debuted the higher-performance crossover at the 2012 New York Auto Show, complete with its full 350 horsepower. Ford says the newly menacing softroader will be good for around 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway, and the nudge in power shouldn't do anything but help the vehicle's ability to tow up to 5,000 pounds. Engineers have also thrown in bigger brakes and a little extra bracing to help the chassis cope with the additional muscle, not to mention a quicker ratio steering rack for a slightly more responsive cornering.

The available horsepower drops to the pavement via a paddle-shifted six-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive system. The Sport features a unique version of the Terrain Management System found on lesser Explorers, though the software has been uniquely calibrated to handle the additional power on hand.

A handful of aesthetic tweaks are also part of the package, including blacked-out bodywork on the mesh grille, side-view mirrors and lower fascia. Unique wheel choices are also part of the package. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

Continue reading 2013 Ford Explorer Sport mugs for the camera in NYC

2013 Ford Explorer Sport mugs for the camera in NYC originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford Explorer Sport presages running changes for entire range

Chris Paukert — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Crossover, Ford

Ford has just revealed its Explorer Sport to the assembled media in Dearborn ahead of its New York Auto Show debut. And while the 350-horsepower, 350-pound-foot-of-torque crossover will be the performance capstone for the nameplate, Autoblog has learned that the Sport also previews a number of subtle performance updates that will roll out throughout the entire Explorer range for the new model year.

The Sport isn't just an engine upgrade and appearance modifications - there are meaningful tweaks across the entire vehicle.

Among those changes is a new solid mount for its electric power steering rack, a move designed to take some of the slop out of the system and deliver more accurate direction changes (the Sport also receives its own unique boost tuning to add both quickness and heft). In addition, engineers have gone over the Explorer's suspension and steering, fitting new ball- and steering joints, with the goal of increased stiffness so that shock and bushing tuning can be more finely adjusted. The result, say Ford officials, is a better controlled vehicle - one that allows for greater performance differentiation model to model (Sport versus XLT, say) through simple tuning of the vehicle's compliant bits.

To be clear, the Explorer Sport stops well short of a full-on performance model like the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 - Ford itself suggests likely competitors include the 5.7-liter Grand Cherokee and its Dodge Durango R/T. Even so, the Sport isn't just an engine upgrade and appearance modifications - there are meaningful tweaks across the entire vehicle, including everything from a 3.16:1 final drive ratio to a water-cooled Power Take Off faceplate cooler that keeps the standard all-wheel-drive system at proper operating temps when it's being worked harder by those 350 pound-feet.

Ford says the Sport knocks a full two seconds off the 0-60 time of other models.

Apparently Ford has learned its lesson based on feedback it received from the launch of the 2010 Taurus SHO (a vehicle that shares much of this CUV's architecture and drivetrain). Like the updated-for-2013 SHO, the Explorer Sport has received a brake upgrade, moving from 13.1-inch rotors to 13.8 inches. In addition, the discs themselves are thicker, leading to a 22-percent increase in stopping power. That's good news, because Ford says the Sport knocks a full two seconds off the 0-60 time of other models, but it declined to cite a hard number.

Other Sport-specific hardware changes include a throatier dual exhaust with large polished tips, a reworked Terrain Management System to take advantage of the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine's extra torque in all conditions, as well as larger shock tower braces and a new cross tunnel brace for added rigidity.

Ford says it sold 135,000 Explorers last year, and fully 50 percent of those were conquest buyers. Of that percentage, 12 percent were luxury brand converts, so Ford is clearly betting that the 2013 Sport's augmented performance and style can yield even more higher-end transaction prices.

2013 Ford Explorer Sport presages running changes for entire range originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford Explorer Sport brings SHO-like performance to big CUV [UPDATE w/video]

John Neff — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Performance, SUV, Crossover, Ford

The last time we remember talking about a high-performance Ford Explorer was 2007 when a rare Saleen Explorer XP8 popped up on eBay Motors. For the 2013 model year, however, Ford will start producing high performance Explorers right at the factory. Dubbed the Explorer Sport, this new addition to the Explorer lineup sports the same twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 found in the Taurus SHO, Flex, F-150 and Lincoln MKS and MKT. It produces the least amount of power in this application - 350 horsepower - and while Ford doesn't mention torque figures in the press release below, we can assume somewhere around 350 lb-ft.

Ford is projecting fuel economy numbers in the neighborhood of 16 miles per gallon in the city and 22 mpg highway, and says the Explorer Sport can also tow up to 5,000 pounds. Other tweaks to get this three-row crossover dancing include reinforcements to the chassis, a faster ratio for its electric steering system, a unique 3.16:1 final drive ratio and larger brakes. There are also paddles to shift the six-speed automatic transmission and special settings for the Explorer's Terrain Management System.

When treating the Explorer Sport to a few exterior changes, Ford designers went with a dark theme, blacking out the lighting elements, roof rails and sideview mirrors, as well as the grille, lower front fascia and wheel faces. Inside the Explorer Sport gets Charcoal Black leather seating, with or without contrasting inserts, and special stitching on the seats and steering wheel.

No pricing was given, but the new Sport model will sit atop the Explorer line, which means a base price north of the Explorer Limited's at $38,180. Ford is showing the Explorer Sport at a media event near its headquarters in Dearborn as we speak, so stay tuned for the first live images of the Explorer Sport as we get them.

*UPDATE: Video added after the break.

Continue reading 2013 Ford Explorer Sport brings SHO-like performance to big CUV [UPDATE w/video]

2013 Ford Explorer Sport brings SHO-like performance to big CUV [UPDATE w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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