Old calls to ‘Hellcat all the things’ might have gone unanswered at Stellantis but Ford is listening to off-roaders who’d like a Tremor package on vehicles without a 5.5-foot open cargo bed.
Showing up this morning on social media, this image was posted by Ford CEO Jim Farley and promising a new addition to the Tremor family. Anyone blessed with the gift of sight would have been able to determine this is an Explorer thanks to the taillamp shape, but Ford marketers left the billboard model name badging in there for good measure.
Typically, the Tremor trim brings unique shock tuning and a bunch of metal skid plates at minimum, though we wouldn’t rule out different software fettling for the Explorer’s all-wheel drive system. An F-150 with this treatment is given a steel modular front bumper, which would be neat to see on an Explorer but we’re not holding our breath. Such a feature would help it stand apart from other entrants in this butch crossover trim craze.
Who are those entrants? Honda is re-upping with the Passport TrailSport, while Subaru continues to Outback its Outback with the Wilderness line. Each of those feature more ground clearance and knobbier tires plus a dose of extra electronic wizardry in the drive systems. With the quick proliferation of Tremor trims across the line, it seems Ford has learned from GMC which was quick to mine the scrap of cred earned by the AT4 badge stick it on everything it makes.
Ford doesn’t make it easy anymore to find official American sales statistics – few automakers do these days, especially the Detroit Three – but we will tell you the brand shifted 194,094 Explorer SUVs in the 2024 calendar year. In comparison, Toyota moved 161,379 vehicles across the Highlander/Grand Highlander family. And while it is a slightly different target market, the combined might of Tahoe/Yukon saw 192,459 takers.
Most of the 2025 Explorer line is powered by a 2.3L turbocharged EcoBoost four-banger making 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of twist but if Ford is smart it will imbue this Tremor with the 3.0L twin-turbo V6 found as standard in the ST. That mill cranks out 400/415, plus one can brag about Raptor-adjacent chops since an equal engine (albeit one making 418/440) pop up in the Bronco Raptor. At present, a base Explorer starts just under 40 grand, rising to the mid-50’s for an ST.
[Image: Ford]
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