This!  

FTC warns auto dealerships about deceptive pricing | Bankers Online    

This is what customer-focused looks like.  

Some valid points, and it is worth discussing that enthusiasts are varied, it's not a monolith. Some want turbocharged 4 and 6 cyls, some want v8s, others want performance hybrids and EVs. So it really depends on what kind of enthusiast Ford is trying to appeal to. Is it edge buyers? Trying to win mustang buyers over to a four door? Mach-e owners?    On the topic of cd6 from a cost efficiency standpoint, I'd personally like to see cd6 2.0, an evolved and improved, more flexible version of the platform, that could become the base for all of Ford's unibody RWD products. 

People said the same thing about the 2.3L replacing the v6.  But like I said they can do it for nostalgia.

I don't see the crossover buyer being the same as the coupe/sedan buyer.  Edge ST and Nautilus owners loved the 2.7L ecoboost.   Not saying they shouldn't do it but I think it would be more difficult to fit in a smaller than explorer crossover and more expensive than using the already existing 3.0 from the Explorer ST.  Assuming it ends up as cd6.

If you're doing an ICE product that leans heavily into Mustang branding, why would you not use perhaps the best Mustang-associated feature (the V8)?   Otherwise, you're just rebodying an Explorer.

Which is why I personally believe a 2.3 or 2.7 base engine to appeal to more casual buyers, and offering a 5.0 to cater to more hardcore enthusiasts is the way to go. The best of both worlds. The more affordable, sensible engine options, and the crazy one. 

Better sound, more appealing to enthusiasts who a performance vehicle is catering towards, and adds even higher volume to shared mustang components like the 5.0, further improving economies of scale which will bring costs even lower.   That's not to say the 3.0 Ecoboost is bad, it's not. It's just when you're making a performance aspirational product, it's about performance and power numbers, which is where the 3.0 is decent, but it's also about drama, about having that almost element of exotic flair. That's where a 5.0 would vastly surpass the 3.0. On a normal product, I'd say it doesn't matter. But enthusiasts pay attention to these sorts of things. 

It is hard plastic but it doesn't feel cheap.  That's the limited model so is probably better than cheaper models.