Most performance vehicles are let down by the factory exhaust, and the Explorer ST comes to mind because the powerplant isn’t sonorous either. The 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 engine can be improved, though, with a cat-back exhaust system from MBRP with 2.5-inch tubing.
Developed specifically for the six-cylinder engine of the Explorer ST as well as the Platinum trim level and Lincoln Aviator, this aftermarket upgrade is available in two flavors: aluminized steel for $1,111.75 or stainless steel for $1,605.87 including shipping but excluding installation.
Both variants promise a 25-percent flow increase, and both are complemented by 4.0-inch tips in either stainless steel or carbon fiber. The costlier option is showcased in the following clip by MBRP founder Martin Barkey, and the differences over the stock exhaust are obvious to anyone. Down from the factory cats, we’re presented with a stamped X-pipe instead of an unwieldy resonator, the OE hanger locations, and high-flow mufflers.
On idle, the aftermarket system helps the EcoBoost produce a deeper note. Take the Explorer ST on the motorway, and the MBRP exhaust is reassuringly quiet at cruising speed as you would expect on the long haul. Give the force-fed V6 the beans, and the higher revs produce a crisper note.
Because this exhaust utilizes the stock catalytic converters, don’t expect any warning lights to pop up on the digital instrument cluster. The cats are key to passing the emissions test in certain areas or states of the U.S., and finally, a mild aftermarket exhaust won’t upset your neighbors either.
If you’re in the market for a performance-oriented Explorer, prepare to pony up $48,750 excluding destination charge and options for the ST variant. Although it definitely isn’t cheap, the Explorer ST needs $1,595 worth of extras to unlock its full potential. These goodies are the high-performance brakes with red-painted calipers and the 21-inch aluminum wheels. The Lincoln Aviator, meanwhile, can be had from $51k at the time of writing.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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