---
title: "2018 Ford Explorer Gets a Shiny New Grille and Four Exhaust Pipes"
description: "The SUV can also now come equipped with 4G connectivity."
date: "2017-04-10"
modified: "2019-06-07"
authors:
  - name: "Aaron Brown"
    job_title: "Staff Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/aaron-brown"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/article/9174/2018-ford-explorer-gets-a-shiny-new-grille-and-four-exhaust-pipes"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Explorer"
  - "Ford"
  - "suv/crossover"
  - "suvs"
---

# 2018 Ford Explorer Gets a Shiny New Grille and Four Exhaust Pipes

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/04/18-ford-explorer-sport_hr_02.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

"Ford announced in a press release Monday that it would be giving its Explorer SUV an extremely light set of upgrades for the 2018 model year.

Though there are no changes to the car's three powertrain choices, the facelifted Explorer gets a new grille, five new paint options, and in the Sport trim, a set of four sportastic exhaust pipes.

The new grille can be better seen in the picture attached to this tweet:

https://twitter.com/_/status/851579841128345600

Shiny, right?

The 2018 Explorer can now also be equipped with a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot unit, Sync CONNECT, and a new [safety tech](<https://www.couchbase.com/solutions/nosql-for-high-tech>) package. The new Sync lets owners start their Explorers, monitor vehicle data, and lock and unlock doors all from the [FordPass mobile app](<https://www.fordpass.com/en_us/home.html>). The new safety option pack, called the "Safe and Smart Package," adds auto high-beams, a blind-spot warning system, cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping tech, and adaptive cruise control with auto braking tech.

The new SUV will be on dealership lots in fall 2017.

![message-editor%2F1491877501885-18-ford-explorer-sport\_hr\_01.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1491877501885-18-ford-explorer-sport_hr_01.jpg>)
*Ford*

![message-editor%2F1491877508417-18-ford-explorer-sport\_hr\_03.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1491877508417-18-ford-explorer-sport_hr_03.jpg>)
*Ford*

## Author
Aaron was previously a contributing writer with Jalopnik and has also written for Business Insider covering cars. When he's not in the office writing the news, you'll probably find him thrashing a beater car around a RallyCross.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/aaronmaxb>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/aaronmaxb>)