When Ford Philippines first brought the all-new Explorer to the country in early 2021, they only brought several examples for VIP clients and loyal customers. It wasn't until December 2021 did the Blue Oval officially launch the next-generation Explorer to the public.

For reference, the fifth-generation Explorer was first revealed in January 2019. By the time the Philippine market received it, the vehicle was already around 3 years old. This also means that Explorer is due for a facelift or minor refresh very soon.

It seems our hunch was right as images of what appears to be the refreshed Explorer have made their way to the internet. First seen at Chinese social media website Weibo, it looks like Ford is already working on a China-spec model of the updated SUV.

Compared to the current Explorer, the Chinese-spec SUV adopts a more rounded grille, slimmer air intakes, and a more curvaceous front bumper. It also comes with new J-shaped chromes accents, and redesigned LED headlights.

The styling changes continue towards the back as the Explorer gets a new pair of LED taillights that now extend towards the middle of the tailgate. It also comes with a distinct chrome strip that further adds to the SUV’s more stylish looks. Other noticeable details include a new rear bumper, a faux skid plate, and a redesigned exhaust tip.

Perhaps receiving the most drastic change is the Explorer's interior. Sitting front and center is a wide touchscreen media system. We’re not sure of its exact size, but the screen does extend from the center dashboard all the way to the passenger side. The screen is a new display that is currently seeing use in other Ford vehicles in China such as the Mondeo. As such, this type of screen could be exclusive to the Chinese market.

Under the hood, the 2023 Explorer will reportedly continue using a 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-four that’s paired to a ten-speed automatic gearbox. The engine puts out 276 PS with 476 Nm of torque and has a claimed 0 - 100 km/h time of 7.6 seconds.

The 2023 Ford Explorer for China is expected to be launched in June this year. However, there’s no word if the facelifted US-spec Explorer will look like the one in China.

Do you like the more stylish look of the Chinese-spec Explorer, or do you still prefer the design of the current model? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Weibo via Carscoops