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The Ford EcoBoost engine is the Blue Oval’s solution to a car market increasingly concerned with fuel economy. Of course the addition of turbochargers to any engine also increases performance and power, and the 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 has proven especially adept at turning ordinary cars into badass drag machines.
This time slip says it all.
The Ford Explorer Sport was released this year with the 365 horsepower 3.5 liter EcoBoost engine under hood, and it was already a car to be reckoned with. But Livernois Motorsports has tweaked and tuned the Explorer Sport, becoming the first shop to send this 5,000 pound family hauler down the quarter-mile in 12 seconds at Milan Dragway.
The modifications required to get the Explorer Sport to run a 12.81 at 107 mph were surprisingly minor. A 93 octane Livernois tune, combined with a 170-degree thermostat, prototype catted downpipes, an Airaid cold-air intake, and a Livernois/Corsa cat-back exhaust system. All that translates into an all-wheel drive SUV that absolutely hauls ass down the track, and can fit your whole family as well. Livernois had previously dynoed their modified Explorer Sport at 330 rear-wheel horsepower, though it couldn’t quite break out of the 13s.
The Livernois Explorer Sport was able to cut a 1.85 60-foot time, and crossed the eighth-mile mark in just 8.22 seconds. By the quarter mile clock, the Explorer had achieved 107.35 mph in 12.81 seconds. This is nearly identical times to a stock 5.0 Mustang through a full weight SUV!
Pricing for this package hasn’t been announced, though if you’re serious about turning your Explorer Sport into a 12-second grocery getter, we’re sure Livernois would love to hear from you.
