Ford freshens Explorer with higher trim package for '16

LOS ANGELES -- Aiming to lure more upscale customers to its Explorer crossover, Ford today at the Los Angeles Auto Show unveiled a freshened 2016 Explorer with more available content.The 2016 Explorer, which is a midcycle freshening, will come with a new version of Ford’s 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine and a new, loaded Platinum trim level that will be priced above the current top-of-the-line Explorer Sport.The 2016 Explorer should arrive in dealerships next summer, Ford officials said.The current-generation Explorer was introduced in late 2010 as a 2011 model and is built on a modified version of Ford’s D4 platform, which originated with Volvo.Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president of global marketing, sales and service, said high demand for the Explorer Sport showed Ford there was enough demand to support a model with even more content.“One thing we learned is we didn’t have enough upscale products,” he said.Despite the financial crisis, SUV sales have increased 90 percent since 2008, and growth has been particularly strong at the upper end of the market. “You can see an explosion of sport versions,” Farley said.Ford hasn’t issued Explorer pricing. But a Ford spokesman said the base price should remain the same, at about $31,495, including shipping. But the new Platinum trim model is likely to go higher than the current top-of-the-line Explorer Sport, priced at $43,565, including shipping. Ford expects the Explorer to compete with the likes of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and GMC Acadia, which have top prices of more than $50,000. Upgrading the EcoBoost lineup

Ford freshens Explorer with higher trim package for '16

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