2012 Explorer with Ecoboost V6

[MrSimon]

It looks like Ford plans to put their twin turbo V6 Ecoboost engine into the Explorer in 2012. Supposedly it will have 365hp and over 400ft-lbs of torque with a towing capacity of 8,500 pounds. It is also rated to get in the mid 20s in mileage and use regular gas, not premium like most turbos.

The towing package would include built in trailer stability and sway control as well as electronically controlled braking.

The F150 currently uses the same engine and is rated for over 11,000 pounds towing on the RWD model.

If they do a good job with this, I would seriously consider a new Explorer for a DD that can handle towing the Jeep two or three times a year.

What do you guys think?

 

[srmitchell]

That sounds great, however there has been a serious hint at a 2013 Grand Cherokee with a Diesel.

"Autoblog just heard it straight from the Italian-Canadian horse's mouth: The hot new Jeep Grand Cherokee in North America will – somewhere between soon and the end of 2013 – be getting the same recently improved 3.0-liter V6 turbo-diesel engine that Europe gets. In the Grand Cherokee, this oil-burning powerplant is good for 237 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, the latter of which is fully delivered between 1,800 and 2,800 rpm. This is music to all Jamboree and Rubicon fanatics everywhere.

It has not been decided whether or not there might be a special six-speed manual shifter offered alongside the W5A580 five-speed overdrive automatic transmission, and an eight-speed automatic is in the works, as well. But the manual with the Quadra-Drive II transfer case on a Trail Rated Grand Cherokee would bring the glee Stateside even moreso."


And-
"Not only does the latest generation of the 3.0-liter CRD engine with Multijet II management – built by VM Motori in Italy based on specifications from Fiat Powertrain Technologies – get 19-percent greater fuel efficiency than the previous mill, it produces 20-percent less CO2 emissions. Towing capacity is quoted at just over 7,700 pounds, the maximum for any current Grand Cherokee trim."

I'd rather do that.

 

[blubullett]

Someone should eco-boost a XJ. That would be sweet.

The new Explorers are really nice. They are bigger then they were a few years ago and I wouldn't hesitate to tow a XJ with one. Also, Fords reliability is great. My partner at work has 200k on his Expedition and he hasn't had to do anything but change fluids since he got it, and none of the 4 Mustangs I have had have had any problems.

 

[FlexdXJ]

It looks like Ford plans to put their twin turbo V6 Ecoboost engine into the Explorer in 2012. Supposedly it will have 365hp and over 400ft-lbs of torque with a towing capacity of 8,500 pounds. It is also rated to get in the mid 20s in mileage and use regular gas, not premium like most turbos.

The towing package would include built in trailer stability and sway control as well as electronically controlled braking.

The F150 currently uses the same engine and is rated for over 11,000 pounds towing on the RWD model.

If they do a good job with this, I would seriously consider a new Explorer for a DD that can handle towing the Jeep two or three times a year.


What do you guys think?

I wouldn't do that... get the truck it gets 22 MPG as well!

That sounds great, however there has been a serious hint at a 2013 Grand Cherokee with a Diesel.

"Autoblog just heard it straight from the Italian-Canadian horse's mouth: The hot new Jeep Grand Cherokee in North America will – somewhere between soon and the end of 2013 – be getting the same recently improved 3.0-liter V6 turbo-diesel engine that Europe gets. In the Grand Cherokee, this oil-burning powerplant is good for 237 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, the latter of which is fully delivered between 1,800 and 2,800 rpm. This is music to all Jamboree and Rubicon fanatics everywhere.

It has not been decided whether or not there might be a special six-speed manual shifter offered alongside the W5A580 five-speed overdrive automatic transmission, and an eight-speed automatic is in the works, as well. But the manual with the Quadra-Drive II transfer case on a Trail Rated Grand Cherokee would bring the glee Stateside even moreso."


And-
"Not only does the latest generation of the 3.0-liter CRD engine with Multijet II management – built by VM Motori in Italy based on specifications from Fiat Powertrain Technologies – get 19-percent greater fuel efficiency than the previous mill, it produces 20-percent less CO2 emissions. Towing capacity is quoted at just over 7,700 pounds, the maximum for any current Grand Cherokee trim."

I'd rather do that.

Yes please!

 

[CherBear]

I was playing around with the idea of a similar engine swap in my head... A low volume v6, with a charger on it. Maybe get some decent gas mileage.

But if you are planning on using an ecoboost, i bet that has so much electronic crap that you would pull your hair out getting it to work.

 

[bails85]

a friend of mine drove one of the new explorers while they were doing the surveying on it. he said it was badass. i would much rather own the explorer over the grand mentioned. 365 hp with 400 ftlbs torque vs 237hp with 406 ftlbs torque. sorry im a ford guy. the only thing i have ever liked from chrysler is the xj. the grand seems like it wouldnt be able to get out of its own way. with 128 more hp it would be stupid to go with the grand over the explorer.

 

[old_man]

Funny about towing with an Explorer. I own a 96 5.0Lwith 250k on it and I tow a ton. Uhaul won't rent to you if you have an Explorer but will if you have a Mercury Mountaineer, a rebadged Explorer.

 

[MrSimon]

I wouldn't do that... get the truck it gets 22 MPG as well!

I thought about that, but I'd be using it primarily as a DD. The Explorer is a bit smaller, cheaper (I think), rides less like a truck, and can carry more people.

The idea of a comfortable DD that can carry seven adults, gets 25mpg, has 350+ hp, and can occasionally tow my Jeep ........ man oh man, I hope its true!!!!

 

[FlexdXJ]

I thought about that, but I'd be using it primarily as a DD. The Explorer is a bit smaller, cheaper (I think), rides less like a truck, and can carry more people.

The idea of a comfortable DD that can carry seven adults, gets 25mpg, has 350+ hp, and can occasionally tow my Jeep ........ man oh man, I hope its true!!!!

I've always hated explorers but they have always been an SUV. Now the thing is basically a taurus wagon and ford edge combined. Its pretty much a crossover. I bet the towing capacity is significantly lower than the truck since the new explorer is now unibody. I've never been much of a ford guy after owning an F-150 but these new trucks i'm starting to like! As much as i'd tow mine the ecoboost truck would be perfect for me.

 

[MrSimon]

I've always hated explorers but they have always been an SUV. Now the thing is basically a taurus wagon and ford edge combined. Its pretty much a crossover. I bet the towing capacity is significantly lower than the truck since the new explorer is now unibody. I've never been much of a ford guy after owning an F-150 but these new trucks i'm starting to like! As much as i'd tow mine the ecoboost truck would be perfect for me.

I was wondering the same thing, so I called a friend of mine who is an engineer on the Expedition/Navigator platform.

He looked into it and said the same V6 in the Explorer will pull about 3-4k lbs less than the F150. That makes sense to me.

I'm really curious to see when they launch this .... and hopefully they won't screw it up somehow.

 

[MrShaft696]

.... and hopefully they won't screw it up somehow.

Its a FORD they always circle the problem....

 

[FlexdXJ]

I was wondering the same thing, so I called a friend of mine who is an engineer on the Expedition/Navigator platform.

He looked into it and said the same V6 in the Explorer will pull about 3-4k lbs less than the F150. That makes sense to me.

I'm really curious to see when they launch this .... and hopefully they won't screw it up somehow.

I priced the trucks a little bit ago. F that, For 37k I could buy a decent duramax or cummins, a trailer and another rig!

 

[MrSimon]

Its a FORD they always circle the problem....

Now now ..... Ford has been doing a really good job lately! Quality, styling, mileage are all up.

Plus, lets not forget, Ford didn't take any government handouts ..... which in my book is enough for me to buy one .... and enough to never buy a GM. But thats a story for another thread.

Ford still hasn't officially announced that the 2012 Explorer will get the Ecoboost V6, but the interwebz seems to think its a slam dunk.

 

[MrShaft696]

Now now ..... Ford has been doing a really good job lately! Quality, styling, mileage are all up.

Plus, lets not forget, Ford didn't take any government handouts ..... which in my book is enough for me to buy one .... and enough to never buy a GM. But thats a story for another thread.

Ford still hasn't officially announced that the 2012 Explorer will get the Ecoboost V6, but the interwebz seems to think its a slam dunk.

In the petersons 4x4 mag this month

http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/ultima...7_ultimate_2011_ford_f150_ecoboost/index.html

 

[streetxj]

a friend of mine drove one of the new explorers while they were doing the surveying on it. he said it was badass. i would much rather own the explorer over the grand mentioned. 365 hp with 400 ftlbs torque vs 237hp with 406 ftlbs torque. sorry im a ford guy. the only thing i have ever liked from chrysler is the xj. the grand seems like it wouldnt be able to get out of its own way. with 128 more hp it would be stupid to go with the grand over the explorer.

Same here. :rof: Chrysler is a government bailed-out car company. Might as well go with Genital Motors... lol

 

[FlexdXJ]

Same here. :rof: Chrysler is a government bailed-out car company. Might as well go with Genital Motors... lol

None of my chrysler vehicles were built after 97 so i'm not worried about that. I agree Ford took a gamble by not doing the bail out and it worked out good for them. Hell, I even kinda like the new mustangs and I hate mustangs.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

Simple solution.. do NOT buy a NEW vehicle.

 

[bails85]

Simple solution.. do NOT buy a NEW vehicle.

no S*&^ buy one thats 1 1/2 years old for half the price. the price of the new explorer seems pretty high but if it turns out to be what its hyped up to be then im all for it. i get tired of driving my f150 long bed everywhere. its too big. being able to dd a smaller vehicle that will have the power you want would really be nice. plus gas mileage would be key. the big truck fad seems to have hit the wall.

 

[twodoorXJ]

I dont know much about the new explorer, but my dad has the lincoln MKT, with the ecoboost, it definately has some balls.

He averages about 17.

He actually works at a lincoln dealership, and at first he thought that the new ecoboost engine, would be garbage, he thought it would be unreliable, and not get the mpg's it supposed to get. (he's had bad experiences with turbocharged cars in the past)

But he was wrong, the ecoboost is actually a very good engine, so far.

 

[blubullett]

I priced the trucks a little bit ago. F that, For 37k I could buy a decent duramax or cummins, a trailer and another rig!

You can't compare new car prices to used. My bosses duramax was 75k after lift, tires, and financing two years ago. Now it is probably worth 30.