Ford Performance Takes a 2021 Explorer ST to Racing School

by Gabrielle DeSantis

While they’re a common sight in places like Baja, SUVs aren’t usually seen tearing around racetracks. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take them racing there. If a diesel Ranger can be a track machine, why can’t something like an Explorer ST be, too? That question, by the way, isn’t hypothetical. Because Ford Performance has done precisely that.

Ford Performance Racing School modified this Explorer ST into a track-ready teaching device

Ford Performance Racing School Explorer ST | Ford

As standard, the 2021 Ford Explorer ST is a fairly sporty SUV. Sporty enough that some new owners might not be able to properly use 100% of its possible performance. That’s why there’s the Ford Performance Racing School, which teaches new Raptor, Shelby, and Mustang Mach 1 owners how to handle their high-performance rides. And it also offers the ST SUV Experience to all Explorer and Edge ST buyers.

Like the Racing School’s other programs, it’s designed to teach owners the ins and outs of SUV handling. In this case, on both public roads and specially-designed autocross courses. However, the Ford Performance Racing School thought that the Explorer ST could be racier still. And it also wanted more people to experience the speed at once.

The result of these desires is this Ford Performance-modified 2021 Explorer ST. Inside it has four Recaro Cross Sportster CS racing seats equipped with Safecraft four-point safety harnesses. And those harnesses are linked to a custom roll cage fully welded into the SUV’s body, Autoblog reports. Plus, all the windows have racing nets for added protection.

As of this writing, Ford Performance hasn’t revealed what suspension mods this 2021 Explorer ST has. It is lower than stock, though, Autoblog notes. However, this SUV does ride on 21” SV503 Track Series wheels from Signature Wheels. And those wheels are shod in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.

Is the Ford Performance Explorer ST faster than the standard SUV?

The side 3/4 view of a blue 2020 Ford Explorer ST in the desert
2020 Ford Explorer ST side 3/4 | Ford

Those Michelin tires undoubtedly give this modified Ford Explorer ST more grip. Combined with the lowered ride height, it should make for an even sharper SUV, especially in the corners. But what about speed in a straight line?

As standard, the Ford Explorer ST makes 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque from its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6. With standard AWD and a 10-speed automatic, that’s good for a 5.2-second 0-60 mph time, Car and Driver says.

Presumably, Ford Performance’s Explorer ST is faster, as HP Tuners tweaked its V6, MotorTrend reports. However, as of this writing, no official output is available. But that’s likely because engineers will be modifying the tune as the SUV gets more track time.

Yet while we don’t know if this modified Explorer ST can accelerate faster than a stock one, it should stop faster. That’s because it has Brembo front calipers paired with the Shelby GT500’s vented brake rotors. And those brakes use Castrol SRF racing-spec brake fluid.

Can you buy it?

Ford Performance will publicly unveil its modified Explorer ST at the Woodward Dream Cruise on August 21st, 2021. You’ll have to go to Ford’s Mustang Alley display to see it.

However, while this SUV will indeed hit the racetrack, it’s a one-off project specifically for the Ford Performance Racing School. So, if you want it, you’ll have to build your own. Luckily for interested parties, the Explorer lineup recently saw some price cuts. As a result, a donor ST now starts at $49,000.

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Is Subaru More Reliable Than Toyota?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Reliability is an important factor for car shopping because every driver wants their vehicle to last for as long as possible. Most people think of Toyota when considering reliability. Models like the Toyota Corolla can reach 300,000 miles with no major repairs.

Subaru is also considered to be one of the most reliable car brands on the market. The Subaru Legacy is a three-time winner of the J.D. Power award. Toyota rivals have won similar awards, but are they more reliable than their Subaru alternatives?

Subaru logo | Getty Images

The case for Toyota’s reliability 

High mileage for a Toyota is 200,000 miles, but some models can last for 300,000 miles. Once a car gets to that point, it’s hard to justify making extensive repairs. This is especially true for foreign brands like Toyota and Subaru.

Both of them have fewer dealerships in the country compared to American automakers like Ford and Chevy. As a result, there are fewer knowledgeable technicians that can fix the specific problems of these vehicles. Importing the parts to repair these vehicles can also be more expensive. Fortunately, a Toyota can last a long time before that point.

The Toyota Camry is considered one of the most reliable, beating out several rival models on Consumer Reports testing. It also topped the Subaru Legacy in terms of speed, fuel economy, and handling. However, the Legacy did get a better overall score because of its comfortable ride and impressive braking performance.

Even Toyota’s pickup trucks are dependable, a class that usually has the worst reliability ratings. The Toyota Tundra reigns supreme in this category, with experts contributing its longevity to its simple powertrain. Fewer complicated parts mean smoother operations that are more affordable to fix.

How does Subaru compare?

Subaru also gets high mileage, with many models lasting around 200,000 miles. Some vehicles might live shorter lives, especially those with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine. Older Subarus are also prone to expensive problems, like engine failure and gasket replacements, much earlier in the ownership period.

Subarus can also be more of a liability because of extra components. As Bob Wade Subaru points out, almost every Subaru has standard AWD and a long list of safety features. Still, these make the Subaru more useful to its owners and increases its value.

Subaru has also beaten its Toyota rivals on several occasions, including the beloved Toyota RAV4. Consumer Reports said the Subaru Forester is more reliable, has a better ride quality, and has the most comfortable interior. The Toyota RAV4 still got high marks in several categories, but the Forester was slightly better.

However, some Subaru models don’t uphold the automaker’s reputation for reliability. The Ascent SUV got a low predicted reliability rating from Consumer Reports, mostly due to its numerous initial recalls. Once owner surveys started pouring in, the Subaru Ascent scored four out of five for overall dependability.

Which do consumers prefer?

A discussion on Quora suggests that Toyotas are more popular amongst most drivers. Toyota models generally get more satisfying performance and a more durable engine. However, a few other comments said that Subarus last longer and are more useful in rain or snow.

The choice between buying a Subaru or a Toyota mostly comes down to personal preference. Both automakers provide cars with satisfying powertrains, plentiful standard features, and great warranties.

However, even a Toyota or Subaru can’t last up to its full potential without proper maintenance. Always service your vehicle regularly and have problems repaired as soon as possible.

Related: Does Toyota Own Subaru?

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These 3 Factors Can Render Your EV Useless

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Electric vehicles may be the future, but they do have their weaknesses. EV technology is still very new to the automotive industry. The technology has come a long way, but there are still factors that can easily make your EV unusable. Here are three different factors that can render your EV completely useless.

Cooling and heating your electric vehicle

Manual air conditioning (AC) switch | Michal Fludra/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Electric vehicle heating and cooling don’t function the same as in a gasoline-powered vehicle. Heating and cooling are reliant on electricity in EVs. Adjusting the temperature in an electric vehicle can take a major toll on its driving range.

Heating requires more power than cooling for electric vehicles. According to CNET Roadshow, 20-degree weather can use over 40% of a vehicle’s driving range when heating is on. Cooling can use close to 17% of an EV’s driving range on a hot 95-degree day.

Using heat while driving during the winter can make driving an EV a tedious experience. Many EVs like the Nissan Leaf have under 230 miles of driving range on a full charge. Imagine a winter road trip in a Nissan Leaf with the heat on. In order for electric vehicles to thrive, automakers must come up with a solution to this major issue.

Cold weather

A boy rides a scooter as a frozen pond is seen in the background.
A boy rides a scooter as a frozen pond is seen in the background | URI KADOBNOV/AFP via Getty Images

Heating an EV in cold weather affects the vehicle’s driving range. The cold weather itself is actually a key contributor to quick EV battery drainage. Electric vehicles can lose 1/4 of their driving range when operating in freezing temperatures. EVs with low battery range do not do well in cold winters.

Luckily, newer EV batteries are able to handle cold weather better than older batteries. Not only are EV batteries less efficient in colder temperatures, but EV battery chargers are also less efficient. Electric vehicle fast-charging stations can be up to 35% less efficient in freezing temperatures, making charging much more of a hassle. Between heating your electric vehicle in cold weather and its less-efficient battery, winter is the worst season for EV owners.

Battery age

A battery from a Nissan Leaf electric vehicle is on show in the foyer of the Envision battery manufacturing plant at Nissan's plant in Sunderland, north east England on July 1, 2021.
Electric car battery | OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

Nothing lasts forever. Even the wondrous technological marvel that is an electric lithium-ion battery cell dies over time. Companies like Tesla are working on electric vehicle battery recycling, but alas, chances are long-term EV owners will experience the death of at least one battery cell during ownership.

Battery capacity and range decrease over extended use. Factor in heavy usage like constant heating and the strain of cold weather, and your battery cell could be pushing up daisies in a few years. Drivers that plan on owning their EV after it has racked up 200,000 miles can count on needing a new battery cell for most electric vehicles.

Battery cells also happen to be…you guessed it, one of the most expensive parts of an EV. Many battery electric vehicles (BEVs) use cobalt, a metal obtained through deep-sea mining. Similar to gasoline-powered vehicles, father time can be very cruel to automobiles.

RELATED: 3 Things You Must Consider Before Buying an EV

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Is the Honda K-Series Engine Reliable?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Honda engines have always been known as being reliable, fuel-efficient, and high-revving. Those three adjectives work very well when describing the K-Series engine, which first appeared in 2001. That engine has shown up in many different Honda and Acura products over the past 20 years, which leads us to believe that it is indeed reliable. But just how reliable is it?

Which cars did the K-Series engine come in?

The Acura RS-X is on display at the North American International Auto Show. | ( (Photo by David Cooper/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

If you’re unfamiliar with the Honda K-Series engine, then you’ll need to know that there are two different engines in the series: the K20 and the K24. Fortunately, Honda makes things easy on everyone by designating the engine size to correspond with the engine code. So “K20” is for the 2.0-liter engines and “K24” refers to the 2.4-liter variety.

The K20 engine

2006 Acura RSX i-VTEC 2.0 Engine at the 2005 New York International Automobile Show.
2006 Acura RSX i-VTEC 2.0 Engine at the 2005 New York International Automobile Show. | (Photo by Ryan Born/WireImage)

The K20 engine originally hit the U.S. market back in 2002 as it was nestled in between the fenders of the Civic Si, RSX, and CR-V during that time. The main engines to pay attention to are the K20A2 and K20A3 engine as every K20 engine is a slight derivative of one of those two, reports Drifted. The K20A2 engine, which can be found in the 02-06 Acura RSX, featured a high 11.0:1 compression ratio and i-VTEC technology, which netted a rating of 200 hp at 7,400 rpm and 142 lb-ft of torque.

The K20A3 engine could be found in the 2002-05 Civic Si and featured a low 9.6:1 compression ratio and an i-VTEC system, but only on the intake side. That led to a lower 160-hp and 141 lb-ft ratings, however, it’s still a good engine in its own right.

The K24 engine

The engine of the new Honda CR-V.
The engine of the new Honda CR-V. | (Photo by Jonathan Wong/South China Morning Post via Getty Images)

The K24 engine, on the other hand, was made for fuel economy and low-end torque. As such, you’ll find derivatives of the K24 engine in various platforms like the 2002-09 Honda CR-V, 2004-08 Acura TSX, 2003-11 Honda Element, and 03-up Honda Accord.

Most K24 engines put out less than 200 hp and have a 9.6:1 compression ratio as they are set up for everyday efficiency. However, many Honda tuners will turn to the K24A2 engine that was found in the Acura TSX. That engine has a higher compression and better flowing components, which net it a horsepower rating of 205 and 164 lb-ft of torque.

There are 3 common issues with the K-Series engine

Now that we have a brief understanding of the different K-Series engines, it’s time to look into any potential issues. If you happen to own of the aforementioned cars with a K20 or K24, or you are planning to swap one of these engines into a different platform, then there are three common issues you should know about, according to Tuning Pro.

  • Front crankshaft seal oil leaks: Also known as the “front main seal,” which is located between the crankshaft and the timing chain cover. Along with the rear main seal, this front seal is known for developing leaks even when the engine has less than 100,000 miles on it. If your car has oil leaks or if you smell burning oil, then it could be time to replace this seal.
  • Exhaust camshaft galling: The exhaust camshaft in some K-series engines can experience “galling due to excessive friction on the cam lobes. This is typically due to a poor oil change history or poor-quality oil. If your car experiences power loss or if you hear a clicking noise from the engine, this could be the issue.
  • Excessive engine vibrations: K-series engines are known to vibrate excessively. However, simple maintenance items like new spark plugs and wires can cut that down. If not, then your car’s engine mounts might need to be replaced.

How reliable is the K-series engine?

Overall, any K-series engine, whether it’s a K20 or K24, should be dead-on reliable for at least 200,000 miles. There are plenty of Acura RSXs and Honda Accord from the early 2000s driving around without much issue nowadays. Of course, routine maintenance is key, just like any other engine, and if you have a high-revving K20A2, then it’s important to keep an eye on the oil level every so often.

Otherwise, whether you currently own a Honda or Acura with a K-series engine or you plan on swapping one into another car, then you can rest assured that it will be powerful, fuel-efficient, and, most importantly, reliable.  

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