It’s been a little over a year since MotorWeek’s Retro Review series brought us a vintage clip of the then-new second-generation 1995 Ford Explorer, which was an important launch for The Blue Oval, to say the least. However, the Explorer was – and still is – mostly a mainstream product aimed at folks that need a decent-sized three-row SUV, and not what most would consider to be a hot rod – save for the ST. Of course, the Ford Explorer ST didn’t exist back in the ’90s, but that’s where third parties like Saleen and Kenny Brown Performance came in.
In this newly released Retro Review, we’re treated to a look back at the 1996 Kenny Brown Ford Explorer GTS, which was quite the performer back in its heyday. It didn’t quite look like it on the outside, however, as the GTS was mostly stock in terms of appearance, save for 17-inch wheels shod in 55-series Dunlop tires, Kenny Brown badging, and “Supercharged” script in various places.
That wasn’t the case under the hood, however, where Ford’s naturally-aspirated 5.0L V8 was treated to a Powerdyne supercharger and some other tweaks including headers and a Borla exhaust system, which lifted output from 210 horsepower up to 295 ponies. The four-speed automatic transmission behind it was treated to some new valving, and one could even opt for 4.10 gears – good enough for a 0-60 mph sprint of 6.3 seconds, which was a full two seconds quicker than stock.
Thanks to a lowered (by 1.5 inches) and sport-tuned suspension, the Ford Explorer GTS also handled corners quite well, too. That setup consists of heavy-duty Bilstein shocks, but there was a bit of a trade-off in terms of ride quality here – the SUV was a bit harsh on uneven surfaces, but turned in “like a sports car,” according to MotorWeek.
The cost for all these goodies came in at around $14,000 back in that day, which was – and is – quite a lot of money. However, for those that wanted a fun-to-drive family hauler, it was one of very few options available at the time.
Improving year-over-year, along with the entire market.
The Blue Oval wants to ease into the proposed changes.
A pretty clever piece of marketing.
Focus production is set to end this coming November.
It's joined by a few other Blue Oval models.
Adding two more affordable options, and a new mid-grade offering.
