US automobile major Ford has flagged off its 2016 Ford Explorer SUV with EcoBoost four-cylinder engine and a new Platinum series from its Chicago Assembly unit.
The 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine has specifications of 280 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 310 lbft of torque at 3,000 rpm on premium fuel.
As against the two-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder it has replaced, the engine provides an additional 40 horsepower and 40lbft of torque, reflecting a rise of 17% and 15%, respectively.
Ford global product development - group vice president and chief technical officer Raj Nair said: "Explorer helped define how the world thinks about SUVs. Explorer is the centerpiece of Ford's global utility vehicle lineup because it delivers an ideal combination of form and function. And with well over seven million already sold, nearly everyone has an Explorer story."
Around 54,000 Explorers, billed by the company as one of the top US exports, were exported from the manufacturing unit last year.
Ford Explorer is manufactured in North America at Chicago Assembly unit and in Venezuela and Russia. The vehicle, now available in over 100 markets outside Canada and Mexico, has posted sales of seven million units so far since its launch in 1990.
Ford chief engineer for the new Explorer Arie Groeneveld said: "Customers love Explorer, and they expect it to continue to lead the way in innovation, performance and fun.That's the challenge we embraced when we set out to build the best SUV in the world."
