2020 Ford Explorer ST Spied! 400 Horsepower (Or More) Under the Hood [Spy Shots]

Another look at Ford's upcoming hot Explorer

Ford’s latest high-performance crossover should push out 400 horsepower or more.

A TFLcar reader Adam sent us some new spy photos of the upcoming 2020 Ford Explorer. It’s not just any Ford Explorer, however: this is the high-performance Explorer ST.

“Explorer ST, you say?” Yes, Ford plans to launch a hot Explorer sometime in the near future as a follow-up to the Edge ST. While the Ford Edge ST manages 335 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque from its 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, we expect the Explorer ST to pack substantially more. We don’t have much official information yet, but it would make sense for Ford to use one of its existing engines. Say, the 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 currently in the Lincoln MKX and tapped for the new Lincoln Aviator. The Aviator and Explorer will be on the same rear-wheel drive platform, so sharing powertrains wouldn’t be a stretch either.

 

Ford’s camouflage hides most of the details. However, there are a few dead giveaways that this is an Explorer ST. Take the exhaust, for instance. It looks beefier than what would come in the standard Explorer. What’s more, Adam noted this car sounded more aggressive than you’d expect from the typical Explorer. That’s good news.

Then there’s the wheels. Much like the Ford Edge ST, this car is rolling on matte black wheels, a surefire sign of ST-ness. Naturally, the 2020 Ford Explorer ST should get tuned suspension and a performance brake option, like its little brother. Further details remain to be seen.

The current top-spec Explorer is the Platinum, which starts at $54,165. The 2019 Ford Edge ST tops out around $50,000, so it would make sense for a 2020 Explorer ST to be somewhere in the mid-$50,000 range to start. Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for more updates!

Ford Uncovered - Overview
An Explorer ST is coming…[Photo: Ford]