The latest sighting of the China-spec Explorer went especially well, because it was not even disguised in any way.
Compared to its predecessor from three years ago, the 2023MY Explorer sports a different front and a new rear. The front bumper has been restyled along with the grille, and the anti-fog lights moved from their standalone positions into the main headlight units. A thin LED stripe appeared between the taillights in the back, with the word ‘Explorer’ seen above it.
The interior is now dominated by a giant infotainment screen taking up around two thirds of the front panel. Hardware buttons are scarce, and the dashboard is likewise digital, protected from glare with the help of a visor. Like before, a rotary knob is used for drive mode selection.
It remains to be seen whether the U.S. spec (see video) gets the same range of updates or not. Chinese variants of popular mass-market cars often exhibit major design and technical differences from their foreign counterparts.
It is assumed that the Ford Explorer for China will keep its usual engine selection. This means a choice between a 2.3-liter turbo rated at 276 PS (272 hp / 203 kW) and a 2.0-liter turbo good for 200 PS (197 hp / 147 kW).