Just last week, we secured photos of the forthcoming 2021 Ford Explorer King Ranch for the very first time. The prototype that we spied testing was largely uncovered and undisguised, though Ford did conceal the model’s King Ranch badges on the doors and rear liftgate. However, it did not cover up the King Ranch logos on the wheel center caps, which we can clearly see by zooming in on those images.
It’s pretty clear that The Blue Oval isn’t too concerned with disguising the existence of the Ford Explorer King Ranch, nor the other new model in the 2021 Explorer lineup – the more off-road focused Timberline, which we also recently spied largely undisguised. In all fairness, that’s not really a surprise, because most folks are less likely to do a double-take when they see one of these models with no camo versus a more extensive disguise.
Regardless, as we exclusively reported last week, the new Ford Explorer King Ranch will slot just above the Limited and just below the range-topping Platinum trim in the Explorer lineup. As such, it will offer more features and interior amenities and niceties compared to the Limited as well.
The King Ranch will differentiate itself from the rest of the Explorer lineup with features including a tri-bar front grille with mesh backing that looks similar to that of the Limited, the aforementioned King Ranch badges on the doors and liftgate, body-color door handles with a chrome insert, a dual-tip dual exhaust, and a chrome strip along the bottom of the doors. The King Ranch will be powered by Ford’s 3.0L EcoBoost V6.
The King Ranch and Timberline will round out Ford’s Explorer lineup in North America for the 2021 model year, joining the existing Base, XLT, Limited, ST, and Platinum trims.
In addition to these changes, all Explorer trim levels have received a price cut for the 2021 model year. A new XLT Sport Appearance Package has also been added, while the ST is receiving a few interior enhancements for the new model year as well.
We’ll have more on the new Explorer King Ranch soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Explorer news and non-stop Ford news coverage.
Comment
Rather than going through the trouble of putting masking tape over the badges, it think it would have been easier just to pop off the door, and hatch badges, as well as the wheel caps , put them in a envelope in the glove compartment, for later reinstallation, and virtually no one would have noticed the vehicle, since the whole world has seen the 2020 version, and, except for the grille and possibly the wheels, there are no major changes to the body panels, themselves, and very few persons on the street would have the truck a second look.