Los Angeles 2014: Ford Freestyle Ecoboost Debuts

by Derek Kreindler

Published: November 19th, 2014

los angeles 2014 ford freestyle ecoboost debuts

Oh wait, we mean Taurus X. Oh wait…nevermind.

The big news for 2016 is the addition of an Explorer Platinum trim, which gets the 3.5L Ecoboost V6 as standard. Think of it as an Explorer Sport for those who don’t want an Explorer Sport. There’s also a 2.3L Ecoboost replacing the old 2.0L unit.

#EcoBoost #Ford #FordExplorer #LosAngeles2014

Derek Kreindler

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17 of 77 comments

Mjz on Nov 19, 2014

Yeesh, that is one damn busy looking front end. Any styling cliches they managed to miss? It looks like they had several design mock ups, couldn't decide which one looked best and just said f*ck it, and combined ALL of them into this monstrosity.

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Kosmo on Nov 20, 2014

I think the Explorer is built on the Volvo XC90 chassis? If so, I'd rather see the 10+ year old styling of the XC90 than this. And they do seem overpriced, and not discounted/rebated that much, but hey, wait until December 1, when the year end sales wars start! But really, when it comes to the family utility vehicle, I'll drive our AWD Sienna into the ground, though I wish DEARLY that it came with a Ford 3.5L Ecoboost engine!

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- Bball40dtw on Nov 20, 2014
  
  Ford makes a product with less unecessary styling, more utility, AWD, and also has the 3.5L Ecoboost. This thing outsells it almost 10 to 1.
  
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- Lie2me on Nov 20, 2014
  
  @bball40dtw What's that you say?
  
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- Bball40dtw on Nov 20, 2014
  
  @Lie2me Despite the Flex being more reliable, better looking, more comfortable, and more practical than the Explorer, buyers rarely choose it over the Explorer. Until 2013, the Flex also had the advantage of having the 3.5EB while the Explorer only had the 3.5L Duratec. Didn't matter.
  
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- 86er on Nov 20, 2014
  
  @bball40dtw Buyers want something that looks like an Abrams tank. The ones in gunmetal gray seem to sell well, too.
  
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- Bball40dtw on Nov 20, 2014
  
  @bball40dtw If the Explorer came with the Rheinmetall 120MM smoothbore gun as an option, I would check that box.
  
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- Lie2me on Nov 20, 2014
  
  @bball40dtw They just haven't seen the Woody Flex. If Ford pushed it, they'd sell more http://www.ptwoody.com/graphics/ford_flex_03.jpg
  
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- Bball40dtw on Nov 20, 2014
  
  @bball40dtw Flex Country Squire
  
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- Corey Lewis on Nov 20, 2014
  
  @bball40dtw I have seen a better version of the Country Squire thing in photos, can't recall where. That fake plood looks pretty haphazard and sloppy on there. The other thing is - now that the new version is out the old one looks really dated, and I wouldn't have it. Must have F L E X across hood. Must have Limited with dark bits at the top!
  
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- Bball40dtw on Nov 20, 2014
  
  @bball40dtw Corey- You are 100% correct about the refresh. It is a refresh done right that also made the old version look OLD. My in-laws have a 2014 Flex Limited. 3.5EB, AWD, dark red, black roof, black wheels, almost every option (including the fake wood delete).
  
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- Corey Lewis on Nov 20, 2014
  
  @bball40dtw That sounds like it would look very nice. I might've left the wood in though. What's there instead?
  
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- Bball40dtw on Nov 20, 2014
  
  @bball40dtw The black roof and wheels are part of an appearance package that adds unique trim to the dash (among other things). It's black and aluminiumish. I don't hate it, and it matches the seats.
  
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- Corey Lewis on Nov 20, 2014
  
  @bball40dtw I will have to check that out next I'm looking for a car in several years. Lol.
  
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- Lie2me on Nov 20, 2014
  
  @bball40dtw Refresh? It's still a shoebox, not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's a shoebox none the less
  
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Mervich on Nov 20, 2014

I've owned four Explorers…none of the current incarnation with the bloated Edge front treatment, though. The 2016 model front-end treatment looks more like a proper Explorer. This is what the 2011 Explorer SHOULD HAVE looked like!

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NoGoYo on Nov 21, 2014

I'm gonna go against the grain and say I like this grille better than the "cut down F150" grille the Explorer has now. It's still a ghastly vehicle, though. F***ing ponderous.

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