Photo: Instagram | Kelsonik
Believe it or not, it's been over four years since Ford launched the sixth-gen Explorer. It's the same car beneath the skin as the Lincoln Aviator, and to keep the costs in check, the Blue Oval assembles both of them at the same factory in Chicago.
To keep it appealing for a few more years, Ford gave the Explorer a facelift in 2021. Tweaked looks, a Platinum variant of the hybrid, and a rear-wheel drive ST were part of the novelties, alongside the Appearance Package on the XLT and a few other bits and bobs.
Truth be told, the styling is good all around, though for some reason, we don't think the face does justice to the SUV. If anything, kelsonik, a rendering artist on social media, feels the same, hence the several unofficial digital illustrations of this model. In previous cases, they chose the latest-gen Mustang's front fascia, readapting it to fit the design of the Explorer. And this recipe transforms it into a very pretty high-riding machine.
It is also the approach of choice when it comes to the latest digital illustration shared online a few days ago, hence the slimmer headlamps and different bumper. The new grille sports the Ford lettering in the middle instead of the corporate logo, and it hides larger brakes behind the bigger wheels. It sits a bit closer to the asphalt, has a black roof, and the plastic cladding around the wheel arches was painted the same color as the rest of the body. And it's impossible to hate it in this hypothetical configuration, isn't it?
Speaking of that, we will remind you that we're still in daydreaming mode, so we'd give it the Raptor R suffix. You know what this means, right? An ultra-punchy engine under the hood. The F-150 Raptor R uses the same lump as the Mustang Shelby GT500. It is a supercharged 5.2-liter V8, pumping out 700 hp and 640 pound-feet (868 Nm) of torque. This makes it 60 hp less powerful than the muscle car and 15 lb-ft (20 Nm) torquier. A new transmission would be necessary to handle all that thrust and deliver it to the four-wheel drive system, and instead of a track-like approach, it would be better with a higher ground clearance and fat tires wrapped around the smaller wheels.
We'd certainly consider buying an Explorer Raptor R if they gave it a shot, though there's no indication that they will. For now, the 2023 family starts at $36,760 in the entry-level variant and also comprises the XLT, ST-Line, Timberline, Limited, ST, King Ranch, and Platinum. The latter two sit at the top of the range with MSRPs of $54,075 and $53,820, respectively, the brand's US official website reveals.
Truth be told, the styling is good all around, though for some reason, we don't think the face does justice to the SUV. If anything, kelsonik, a rendering artist on social media, feels the same, hence the several unofficial digital illustrations of this model. In previous cases, they chose the latest-gen Mustang's front fascia, readapting it to fit the design of the Explorer. And this recipe transforms it into a very pretty high-riding machine.
It is also the approach of choice when it comes to the latest digital illustration shared online a few days ago, hence the slimmer headlamps and different bumper. The new grille sports the Ford lettering in the middle instead of the corporate logo, and it hides larger brakes behind the bigger wheels. It sits a bit closer to the asphalt, has a black roof, and the plastic cladding around the wheel arches was painted the same color as the rest of the body. And it's impossible to hate it in this hypothetical configuration, isn't it?
Speaking of that, we will remind you that we're still in daydreaming mode, so we'd give it the Raptor R suffix. You know what this means, right? An ultra-punchy engine under the hood. The F-150 Raptor R uses the same lump as the Mustang Shelby GT500. It is a supercharged 5.2-liter V8, pumping out 700 hp and 640 pound-feet (868 Nm) of torque. This makes it 60 hp less powerful than the muscle car and 15 lb-ft (20 Nm) torquier. A new transmission would be necessary to handle all that thrust and deliver it to the four-wheel drive system, and instead of a track-like approach, it would be better with a higher ground clearance and fat tires wrapped around the smaller wheels.
We'd certainly consider buying an Explorer Raptor R if they gave it a shot, though there's no indication that they will. For now, the 2023 family starts at $36,760 in the entry-level variant and also comprises the XLT, ST-Line, Timberline, Limited, ST, King Ranch, and Platinum. The latter two sit at the top of the range with MSRPs of $54,075 and $53,820, respectively, the brand's US official website reveals.
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