Great Explorations

Ford is sending four hopped-up Explorer Sports to The SEMA Show

By Steve Turner
Photos courtesy of Ford Motor Company

As we learned from the trio of hot-rod Edge Sports headed to Vegas, Ford will support a diverse portfolio of vehicles at the aftermarket’s weeklong celebration known as The SEMA Show. In fact, the Blue Oval will have a hand in over 50 such customized vehicles at this year’s show, and the company is starting to tease us with illustrations and details on these vehicles.

The next group of souped-up Fords are a quartet of EcoBoost-powered Explorers. Like any of the company’s Gas Turbo Direct Injection-powered vehicles, the Explorer Sport is ripe for bolt-on performance. These four modded SUVs “explore” the possibilities of Ford’s original SUV. Get a preview of these rides right here…

All Star Performance Explorer

“The All Star Performance Explorer Sport concept is designed and built to be the ultimate road trip vehicle no matter the destination,” says the company. “Exterior upgrades focused on providing additional “go anywhere” capability through a lift kit, LED lighting, meaty tires and a carrier basket. On the inside, a handful of audio / video components combined with a unique leather and suede seating setup make this Explorer as comfortable as possible for the trip ahead.”

All Star added this gear to its Explorer:

Powertrain

• MagnaFlow performance exhaust
• Vortech front-mount intercooler

Chassis

• Traxda 2.5-inch lift kit

Wheels & Tires

• ADV.1 Wheels ADV10R (20×11-inch)
• Toyo A/T II 305/50R-20 tires
• Baer Brakes 6S caliper and upgraded rotor

Exterior

• Axalta custom paint
• Thule Canyon carrier basket
• Wurton LED light bar (front and rear)

Interior

• Custom suede/leather upholstery
• Sony component speakers
• Sony amplifiers
• Optima battery

Cars by Kris Ford Explorer

“This Ford Explorer Sport from Cars by Kris is designed to embody the spirit of ‘Wanderlust’—the desire to travel; to get out there and see the world,” says the company. “Wherever the open road may take you, this Explorer will be turning heads along the way with its brilliant orange paint scheme and aggressive carbon fiber exterior accents.”

Cars by Kris added these parts to its Explorer:

Powertrain

• Performance enhancements provided by Eco Power Parts
• PPE Engineering downpipes
• SCT tuner
• ECM tuning by Leading Edge Tuning
• CGS exhaust
• Reikken batteries
• Amsoil fluids

Chassis

• Custom lowering springs
• Wilwood 15-inch brakes with Aerolite six-piston calipers

Wheels & Tires

• Triumph Forged (24×11-inch) wheels designed by Cars by Kris
• Toyo Proxes STII 295/30ZR-24 tires

Exterior

• Axalta Refinish Burnt Orange Metallic paint
• Paint by LGE CTS Motorsports, San Dimas, CA
• 56° NORD carbon fiber roof box
• Carbon fiber wide body fender flares by Rideskinz and Cars by Kris
• DinMann carbon fiber body cladding
• RetroShop LLC custom LED headlight build
• Diode Dynamics LED modules

Interior

• Alea Leather Specialist leather interior
• CT Sounds audio system
• Define Concepts stereo enclosure

MAD Industries Explorer

“The MAD Industries Explorer Sport embraces today’s luxury urban lifestyle, featuring a lowered stance with Niche Forged Alpine 24-inch wheels influenced by today’s fashion trends,” says the company. “The plush Roadwire leather interior is perfect for a night on the town hitting your favorite club with your friends or a weekend road trip to your favorite spot.”

MAD bolstered its Explorer with the following parts:

Powertrain

• Gibson stainless cat-back  exhaust, ceramic-coated black
• K&N air intake
• AMSOIL Dominator motor oils
• Odyssey the Extreme battery

Chassis

• Eibach Pro-Plus Performance handling package

Wheel & Tires

• MHT Niche Alpine (24×10-inch) forged wheels
• Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico 285/35ZR-24 tires

Exterior

• BASF Refinish: R-M Onyx Waterborne System; custom Pure White with Jet Black Contrast Graphic finished off with BASF RM System Glamour Clear
• Custom roof rack
• Exterior plastics were smoothed and painted Pure White and Black
• PIAA Tera LED Evolution lighting
• PIAA Forenza wiper blades
• Coverking Stretch Satin custom car cover

Interior

• Roadwire leather custom seat covers in Black Premium Leather with White contrast stitching and Pure White Leather detail
• MAD Industries covered steering wheel in Miko Suede and matching leather
• MAD Industries Custom interior work featuring Roadwire door panel and center console leather inserts
• PIAA Tera LED evolution lighting
• SRP Racing Pedals billet aluminum anodized racing pedals
• Lloyd custom floor mats
• 3M Crystalline window film
• Focal Audio System designed by Source AV Design Group
• Enfotrace GPS tracking system

Goodguys Explorer

“This Explorer Sport demands attention from its screaming paint scheme using PPG paint, custom sound system utilizing Kicker Audio components, and throaty Flowmaster mufflers and tailpipes,” the company says. “This smooth ride was also altered with lowering springs, billet wheels and red line tires giving it a strong, menacing stance.”

The Goodguys Explorer features the following mods:

Powertrain

• Flowmaster exhaust
• Airaid cold air system

Chassis

• Eibach lowering springs
• Baer six-piston yellow calipers

Wheels & Tires

• B-Forged 530 Modular 20-inch wheels
• Nitto Red-Line sidewalls 275/55R-20 tires

Exterior

• Dominator Street Rods custom front air dam and push bar
• PPG Inca Gold with red stripes
• 3M Window tint

Interior

• Katzkin seat covers with custom embroidery headrests
• Kicker speakers and amplifiers

Thus far we have seen seven of the more than 50 Ford vehicles that will be on display at this year’s SEMA Show. So, with the SUVs covered, we can’t wait to see what other project builds the company has up its sleeve. Stay tuned.

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