Photo: kelsonik / Instagram
The Ford Motor Company was quite active during the early days of February 2024, as the namesake Ford brand introduced the refreshed 2025 Explorer mid-size crossover SUV and then, almost immediately, Lincoln joined in with the ritzier 2025 Aviator sibling.
They are both produced on the same FoMoCo CD6 architecture, but the Lincoln Aviator is significantly more expensive as it kicks off at $58,495, more than $5k higher than an equivalent 2024MY. Meanwhile, the 2025 Ford Explorer starts from $39,625 (all prices are without destination and other fees) in Active trim and can only go as high as $55,205 for the performance ST model. As a counterpart, the Aviator Black Label is no less than $87k!
Both the 2025 Ford Explorer ST and 2025 Lincoln Aviator use a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 mill with 400 horsepower, a sizeable setup for the mid-size crossover SUVs. While the elegant Aviator doesn't need too much differentiation between the trims, Ford decided that its Active, STs, and Platinum deserve a bit more recognition, and just like with the refreshed 2024 F-150, they all share a slightly different front fascia treatment.
On the CUVs, though, it's only the grille and subtle apron details that make the difference, so perhaps folks would have liked the mighty Explorer ST to feature a more recognizable appearance. No worries, if that doesn't happen in the real world, the imaginative realm of digital car content creators will gladly fix the situation. For example, Nikita Chuicko, the virtual artist better known as kelsonik on social media, thinks now is the right time to make the new Explorer ST even sportier.
Initially, the pixel master gave it his usual treatment – a new set of larger aftermarket wheels and a two-tone appearance with a black roof since the Explorer ST already features dark details and the CGI expert's signature 'Shadow Line' treatment was superfluous. Now, though, he's back with a more thorough reinterpretation, which bodes well for the sporty version – a Ford Performance treatment with slightly different headlights and the big 'FORD' grille styling.
So, do you think Ford should have asked the Ford Performance specialists for a sporty design reinterpretation, or is the real world's Explorer ST already more than enough? Also, could this Ford Performance Explorer be a subtle way for the author to ask for a little more oomph under the hood of the ST version – maybe a 3.5-liter EcoBoost from F-150 Raptor with 450 horsepower since we don't even dare dream of the 5.2-liter supercharged V8 tucked under the hood of the 720-hp 2024 Raptor R.
Both the 2025 Ford Explorer ST and 2025 Lincoln Aviator use a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 mill with 400 horsepower, a sizeable setup for the mid-size crossover SUVs. While the elegant Aviator doesn't need too much differentiation between the trims, Ford decided that its Active, STs, and Platinum deserve a bit more recognition, and just like with the refreshed 2024 F-150, they all share a slightly different front fascia treatment.
On the CUVs, though, it's only the grille and subtle apron details that make the difference, so perhaps folks would have liked the mighty Explorer ST to feature a more recognizable appearance. No worries, if that doesn't happen in the real world, the imaginative realm of digital car content creators will gladly fix the situation. For example, Nikita Chuicko, the virtual artist better known as kelsonik on social media, thinks now is the right time to make the new Explorer ST even sportier.
Initially, the pixel master gave it his usual treatment – a new set of larger aftermarket wheels and a two-tone appearance with a black roof since the Explorer ST already features dark details and the CGI expert's signature 'Shadow Line' treatment was superfluous. Now, though, he's back with a more thorough reinterpretation, which bodes well for the sporty version – a Ford Performance treatment with slightly different headlights and the big 'FORD' grille styling.
So, do you think Ford should have asked the Ford Performance specialists for a sporty design reinterpretation, or is the real world's Explorer ST already more than enough? Also, could this Ford Performance Explorer be a subtle way for the author to ask for a little more oomph under the hood of the ST version – maybe a 3.5-liter EcoBoost from F-150 Raptor with 450 horsepower since we don't even dare dream of the 5.2-liter supercharged V8 tucked under the hood of the 720-hp 2024 Raptor R.
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