Yesterday, as part of Ford’s announcement of the new blacked-out Explorer ST Sinister Package, the ST team did a Facebook ask-me-anything (AMA) on the Ford Explorer ST Facebook group. So the group members proceeded to, indeed, ask them anything. But a whole bunch of them ultimately asked the same thing: Make this six an eight.
An overwhelming number of people were asking when they could get an Explorer with Ford’s 5.0-liter Coyote V8. What did Ford have to say about that?
Explorer Fans Are Practically Begging For A V8
2027 Ford Explorer ST Sinister PackageFord
The question came up over and over, in loads of different forms. One member asked: “Why hasn’t there been an ST-R option like the [F-150] Raptor with a Coyote engine?” Another was a bit broader in scope: “Will there be a V8 option in the future?” And yes, there was the requisite person that knows without a doubt their idea is what absolutely everyone wants: “Please put a 5.0 in the Explorer, you can bet that it would sell like hotcakes.”
Base Trim Engine
EcoBoost 2.3L ICE
Base Trim Transmission
10-speed automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
Other
Base Trim Horsepower
300 HP @5500 RPM
Base Trim Torque
310 lb.-ft. @ 3500 RPM
Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
20/29/24 MPG
Base Trim Battery Type
Lead acid battery
Infotainment & Features
9 /10
Scroll through the thread, and you’ll see a variation on that theme over and over again. That’s before you get to the more extreme requests, like “[a] new V8 built specifically for the ST. Maybe bring back a better built 4.6 with a supercharger like the 03-04 Cobras.” Cool as the Terminator Cobra’s engine was, somehow we think Ford probably has something better than 23-year-old tech in its inventory.
Ford’s Response To V8 Explorer Questions
While it was an AMA, Ford’s team doesn’t always answer every question and when they do, oftentimes the answer is fairly generic. However, perhaps the most thorough answer was in response to the myriad questions about a V8-powered Explorer, coming from Daniel Peake with Ford communications.
“While we agree something like [a] Coyote engine would be a compelling addition to the Explorer, there are a number of factors that go into what content we place into a vehicle. Costs, market demand, production capacity, etc. We’re always looking to listen to customer feedback and find unique ways to make the Explorer as competitive as possible.”
Is that still a pretty generic answer? Yes, but at least we get some context that explains how such powertrain decisions are made. One commenter, though, really hammers home why there’s a desire for a V8 Explorer. “Why wouldn’t Ford put the Coyote in the Explorer to compete with the Dodge V8?”
Durango Is The Last Of The V8s. Should Ford Join In?
2006 – 2010 Ford Explorer – rear 3/4 angleFord
The Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer are two of the last of a kind. If you want a rear-drive-based midsize SUV without a luxury badge, those two or a Jeep Grand Cherokee are your choices. And only Dodge offers its SUV with a V8 engine.
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There Are Only Two Ford Model Lines Left With A V8 Engine
Hybridization and electrification may be dominating the headlines, but Ford is still hard at work on the classic V8 across its model lineup.
A Ford Explorer ST comes with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6. The engine now makes 385 horsepower, down from the 400 it made in 2025. On paper, that’s still a competitive figure against the 360 hp from the Durango’s 5.7-liter Hemi V8.
But Dodge offers two other V8 engines in its muscle SUV. If you want a bit more power, you can get the 475 hp R/T 392 with a 6.4-liter engine, and if you want a lot more power, you can get the 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 that makes 710 hp.
For buyers who want performance, which Ford’s Explorer ST is targeting, the appeal of the V8 is undeniable. For much of its life, Ford offered the Explorer with one. A 5.0-liter V8 first appeared in 1996 to match the Jeep Cherokee’s V8, then a 4.6 showed up for the SUV’s third and fourth generations. It went away in 2011 when Ford made the Explorer a front-drive-based SUV, a mistake it fixed for 2020.
Cramming a 5.0-liter V8 into the Explorer would not be an easy task. The SUV doesn’t share its bones with a model that already offers one, and the engine bay isn’t exactly spacious. ST buyers who want one might have more luck asking for the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 instead. It’s slightly physically larger, but not as big as a V8. It also makes up to 450 hp in the F-150, though that’s not exactly a big boost.
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Every Ford ST Model Sold In The Last 30 Years
ST isn’t well-defined, but it sure is sweet.
It doesn’t sound like Ford is interested in the V8 option, but the company did offer an alternative. A 49-state legal Ford Performance engine tune for the ST that bumps power to 445 and torque to 515 while keeping the factory warranty. It’s not yet available for 2026 or 2027, though, but it should show up sooner or later.
CarBuzz reached out to Ford for an official comment on the V8 talk, but has yet to receive a response.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Buyers of big American vehicles have made it clear they want a V8 option, even if they don’t plan to buy it. Over at Stellantis, bringing back the 5.7-liter Hemi for Ram trucks has been huge for sales, even though it’s less powerful and thirstier than both inline-six options.
The Durango SUV is currently V8 only, but sales are up 48% in the first quarter, and it’s had its best first quarter in five years. Does that make it the right call? The Explorer is still outselling it 3 to 1, and posted a 30% gain in the first quarter. So while online enthusiasts might be begging for a bigger engine, the sales charts show that Ford probably knows best when it comes to what the majority of buyers want.
Source: Ford/Facebook
