drolds1 Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 A 2020 Explorer Police Interceptor Utility beat all other tested cop cars in Michigan State Police testing, including the V8 Dodge Charger. This all-new platform was powered by a 3.0EB engine. I'm guessing this is the same, or a version of, the 3.0T used in the MKZ. No specs have been released yet. I wonder if the civilian Explorer Sport will get this engine as well. So much for Lincoln exclusivity. https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2018/10/04/michigan-state-police-ford-police-interceptor-utility-quickest.html R2D2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R2D2 Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 (edited) Very nice.... I have been looking for a hybrid SUV to help support my charity bike repair work (my MKZ is really not the right car for this). I would love to get some pricing on this I had an explorer years ago and loved it, one of the best SUVs around Edited October 5, 2018 by R2D2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airflow Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 The exclusivity was nice and it is unfortunate Ford does not want to invest in truly elevating Lincoln above all Ford products. However, the use of the 3.0 in other places brings down costs which helps keep Lincoln profitability up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokestone10 Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 It's still exclusive, just not exclusive only to Lincoln. If it will only be used in the Interceptor it's no big deal... you can't just go in as a civilian and buy a police-spec Explorer. On the upswing it'll mean cheap junkyard replacement parts when the Interceptors start getting cracked up. Or, maybe it'll mean they'll bump the power for the Lincoln-spec 3.0 at some point. I'm still worried about the future of Lincoln passenger cars, even though Lincoln's management has said they're "committed to sedans" despite Ford's choice to largely abandon the market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drolds1 Posted October 6, 2018 Author Share Posted October 6, 2018 1 hour ago, Smokestone10 said: It's still exclusive, just not exclusive only to Lincoln. If it will only be used in the Interceptor it's no big deal... you can't just go in as a civilian and buy a police-spec Explorer. On the upswing it'll mean cheap junkyard replacement parts when the Interceptors start getting cracked up. Or, maybe it'll mean they'll bump the power for the Lincoln-spec 3.0 at some point. I'm still worried about the future of Lincoln passenger cars, even though Lincoln's management has said they're "committed to sedans" despite Ford's choice to largely abandon the market. No, you can't buy a PI but I have a feeling that the 3.0 will become the engine for the 2020 Explorer ST/Sport. They don't have a history of making engines exclusively for police use. Even when I was a kid, you could order a civilian Ford Fairlane with the "Interceptor" engine. I agree that there may not even be an MKZ or Continental to put the 3.0T engine in after the Fusion is gone in 2020 unless they plan to produce a sedan on the new Explorer RWD platform. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokestone10 Posted October 6, 2018 Share Posted October 6, 2018 (edited) You may be right, but I'm also thinking you might be onto something in saying that the Interceptor engine is based on the MKZ design. And you're definitely right about police engines being offered as options. Maybe it's Ford trying to squeeze a bit more out of the engine seeing as how there may be no MKZ in a few years. "Why go to the trouble of pumping up a 3.0 especially for the Interceptor when we can use the one we did for the MKZ with a few tweaks?" I also like the idea of a sedan based on the RWD Explorer platform, but I honestly think Lincoln is crazy for not using the Mustang platform for at least one model. They could have a convertible in the lineup again, as well as a coupe, and what the hell... do a four-door variant too if you want. That would probably be the volume leader anyway and it would give them something to go up against the RWD Cadillacs and the entry level German luxury sport sedans. But the Explorer platform might work just as well, and offer the availability of AWD as an option, to boot. All we know for sure is that the Connie will get back it's signature suicide rear doors sometime early in the next decade... unless plans change again. For a marque that claims to be "committed to sedans"in the future, if you look at the current lopsided lineup, I can't really buy it when they don't seem committed to sedans at the present time. Edited October 6, 2018 by Smokestone10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zalvern Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 (edited) I expect the 3.0 to make its way into some Ford vehicles, and it'll be more like Lincoln just gets to debut the 3.0 at first. The rumor mill believes with the Ford Edge ST, there will be an RS version down the road that will take on the 3.0 Engine for it along with the dynamic torque vectoring, limited slip front diff, and launch control. Once it gets an dual injection update, it would be a promising contender to a variety of performance based vehicles. I'll admit, that is partly what I am waiting on now for my next vehicle purchase. If a Ford Edge RS happens with a dual injection 3.0 Engine (can see something like 450 HP and TQ being its baseline, as they pushed the Focus RS), and that will win me over to consider a CUV as my fun daily driver. I loved my MKZ but being a single childless man who will always love performance aspects with vehicles, even for a practical designed vehicle, I want that performance support advantages to enjoy a aftermarket. Its still good to have a vehicle you can drive your parents or grandparents around casually, but then go daring on a drag strip or race track too. I hope to see the 3.0 again someday and want it to go beyond just Lincoln vehicles, unless Lincoln somehow makes a step towards real performance aspects. Edited October 10, 2018 by Zalvern Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokestone10 Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 Wouldn't be the first time that happened. The 460 cubic inch version of the 385 Lima big block was Lincoln-only in the beginning. Within a few years, you could get it in pretty much anything. And by the end it was a light-truck-only engine. I'm guessing there are other examples but that's the one I can think of off the top of my head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zalvern Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 (edited) 3.0 on Ford Explorer ST confirmed, so there it is with Ford taking the Lincoln exclusive. Knew it was coming. Mated with the 10-speed transmission, boosted torque up to 415 and its RWD based. So jealous, and tempts me to the SUV side...though may not have dynamic torque vectoring (yet)? https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a25861043/2020-ford-explorer-st-400-horsepower-photos-info/ Edited January 16, 2019 by Zalvern Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dismonkey1 Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 Performance SUVs are the new hot thing. It was only a matter of time before Ford used the 3.0 on something more profitable (and since they have basically no cars left in the U.S., it would need to be an SUV or truck). Doesn't really bother me because it should lead to enhanced versions of the engine. The Explorer ST already gets a plus 15 in torque. But it isn't like it is really competing in the driving arena with a sedan; that Explorer will be a beast to drive compared to the much smaller/lower profile SUV. Regardless of the suspension and trans, it will be ungainly in comparison. However, the 10 speed will be interesting to see and hopefully they can mate a similar version to the Lincolns in the near future. Ford can produce some great engines when they want. They can also take a really nice engine (see: Ford Taurus SHO) and just let it wither and die... Hopefully, this will not be the case with future Lincoln sedans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted June 20, 2019 Share Posted June 20, 2019 Another article in MT: https://www.motortrend.com/cars/ford/explorer/2020/2020-ford-explorer-st-review/?wc_mid=4035:16934&wc_rid=4035:33679316&_wcsid=04C5391F077AB88F44A2F56AAF61793949839C82A15D0FCC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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