2016 Ford Explorer Platinum Edition

If you are currently shopping for a luxury SUV and haven’t found one yet that really stands out to you, the 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum will easily have what you’re looking for.  Ready to be out to dealers by September this year, Ford dealers in NH are excited to start showing off all the goodies that come equipped in the Platinum Edition.

Platinum Edition - Aimed at attracting more affluent buyers, Ford is making everything more high end for the 2016 Platinum Edition, making it a first.  This explains why the slight rise in price. “We’ve never had this list of premium materials in a Ford before” confesses Michael Arbaugh, Explorer’s Chief Interior Designer.  As “the most upscale, high-quality interior we’ve ever offered in a Ford vehicle in North America”, yet it isn’t the first Explorer to don the Platinum nameplate.  It is, however, the first that’s been able to contend with brands like Mercedes and Land Rover in luxury quality and accessories. The Platinum Edition is the best appointed CUV Ford has ever offered a buyer, to date, and it’s just in time for its 25th birthday.

Ford Explorer Turns 25And we’re the ones who get to celebrate!  Presentation is everything and the Platinum Edition is luxury abound. Draped in high end materials like quilted Nirvana leather and sparkles in LED lighting.

This Explorer offers supreme craftsmanship with gifts to make us feel spoiled everyday.  Powered by highly sought after EcoBoost engine, Ford didn’t stop there.  Receiving updates to the powertrain, technology, safety features as well as luxurious upgrades to interior and exterior.  The Explorer Platinum is ready to celebrate its 25th year in the most lavish way!

Powered By EcoBoost Engine A brand new Explorer gets a brand new engine.  As a crossover this now smaller Explorer gets started with a very powerful 3.5L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6.  At 5,500 rpms, it delivers 365 horsepower and 350 lb/ft of torque at 3500 rpms.  This engine is powerful enough that it can easily tow 5,000 lbs.  It is also mated to a six-speed SelectShift Automatic Transmission.

Terrain Management System Coming standard on the Platinum Edition is an intelligent four-wheel-drive with Terrain Management System, which responds to conditions instantaneously.

“Intelligent” because it’s continuously monitoring wheel speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle to determine vehicle conditions and driver intention.  The result is a system that decides the optimum amount of front and rear torque for existing conditions to prevent slip from occurring, ensuring stability regardless of terrain.

Offering four Terrain Management modes; normal, snow, sand or mud, the driver can shift quickly by using the dial located on the center console.  This sets how the engine, transmission, brakes and four-wheel-drive system will operate.

A fifth setting for hill descent control is also available.   In sand, grass, or gravel mode, the anti locking brake changes its pulse rate which allows material to build up in front of the wheels slowing momentum. A new drive mode gauge in the display shows when power is being distributed to front and rear wheels under any circumstances from all-wheel-drive to none at all.

Platinum Styling Standing out from the rest of the Explorers, the Platinum Edition has an immediately noticeable style.  Adding extra sparkle are headlights with LED signature lighting, dual-panel moon roof, silver-painted front and rear skid plate elements and 20” wheels with bright machined face and tarnished dark painted pockets.   Inside the cabin is where the Platinum really shows up.  

Pristine craftsmanship abound. The use of real aluminum and real ash wood multi-piece accents on door and instrument panels, along with a wood and leather wrapped heated steering wheel accented with unique stitching show off the attention paid to detail. All seats are upholstered in Nirvana leather with micro perforations for cooling and comfort.  Also draped in this fine hide are the instrument panel and console armrests.  The leather wrapped door bolsters and upper door trim have a quilted pattern for more upscale refinement.  

Offering interior color choices which enhance a natural organic ambiance are Soft Ceramic or new for the Platinum Edition, Ebony with Anthracite headliner.  A 10-inch digital display in the instrument cluster has analog gauges and smart charging USB ports.  Proudly displaying the Ford nameplate is a brushed aluminum Ford oval on the steering wheel.  Standard safety features include smart driver assist technology, enhanced active park assist, lane-keeping system and rain sensing wipers.  Also standard not the Platinum Edition are front and rear 180 degree cameras with washers.

Third Row Cargo While third row seating is of huge interest in this SUV/CUV market, the Explorer has always provided their buyers with ample passenger seating and the Platinum Edition is no exception.   Even though the thought of seating 8 children or adults, even comfortably in your vehicle is somewhat overwhelming to consider, the fact that it exists is a huge accommodation for most Explorer drivers.  When the third row seats become empty, they fold down to reveal 21.3 cubic feet, 43.9 cu ft behind the second and 81.7 cu ft when all three are down.

Sony & Ford First Sony is proud to announce that the 2016 Explorer Platinum is the first Ford vehicle to get the all-new 500-watt Sony Audio with Live Acoustics and Clear Phase technology.  This excitingly new audio system recreates the sound dynamics of famous concert halls.  The Clear Phase technology makes it so passengers hear the audio the way it was intended to be heard.   This means that the next time you want to submerge your children, or embarrass them, in the world of amazingly live concert music, you need to look no further than your Platinum Edition Explorer’s Sony Audio system and go for a good drive.  But, before you download more Live at Budokan or MTV Unplugged albums, you may want to consider letting someone else drive.  Some of albums those require full commitment of both hands while air drumming.

From SUV to CUV You may have noticed that the Explorer is now being called a crossover. As I always remembered, Explorers were large and boxy. The boxy still stands as part of their rugged MO, but now it’s not quite as large. So, what happened for the Explorer SUV to be moved into the crossover category?   After the economy debacle of the early 2000’s, buyers were now mainly concerned about fuel economy than ever before. Before the crash, the Explorer was king of SUVs. Now, Ford had to come up with a new way to put the Explorer on top again.

In 2011, the Explorer dispensed its traditional body-on-frame SUV for a unibody construction.  Making it more car like, this new construction also offered better fuel economy.  It’s lighter frame and smaller height brought it into the world of crossovers.  The reviews were overwhelmingly positive! Customers loved the redesign so much that they rated it the top reason for purchasing the Explorer.  As a crossover, Ford is seeing sales for the Explorer rise again.

As a Platinum Edition, they’re hoping they see sales take off.  And they have no reason to expect that they won’t.  After 25 years, the Explorer has found where it belongs in the Platinum Edition.

Starting at $52,600 the Ford Explorer has well earned its spot as best-selling midsize CUV and the Platinum Edition further solidifies its position.  Head down to your local NH Ford dealer to step inside Platinum and drive away in solid craftsmanship and supreme luxury.