Ford has unveiled a new all-electric Explorer SUV for the European market!
Let’s talk about size
The Explorer EV is a compact SUV that measures 4.46 meters (14.6 feet) long and 1.87 meters (6.1 feet) wide. It has a wheelbase of 2.77 meters (9 feet) and a ground clearance of 18 centimeters (7 inches).
The trunk space of the Explorer EV is 450 liters (15.9 cubic feet), which can be expanded to 1,400 liters (49.4 cubic feet) by folding down the rear seats.
The Explorer EV weighs 1,850 kilograms (4,079 pounds) and has a towing capacity of 750 kilograms (1,653 pounds).
Exterior
The Explorer EV has a modern-looking exterior with a large grille that features an illuminated Ford logo and active air shutters for improved aerodynamics. It also has LED headlights and taillights with dynamic indicators, roof rails and aero-optimized alloy wheels that range from 18 to 20 inches in size.
The rear bumper has an integrated diffuser and dual exhaust tips.
6 colors
The Explorer EV will be available in six colors: Frozen White, Agate Black, Lucid Red, Infinite Blue, Carbonized Gray and Star White. The roof can be painted in either black or body color depending on the trim level.
What about the interior?
The interior of the Explorer EV features a spacious cabin with five seats that offer ample headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers. The seats are upholstered in either cloth or leather depending on the trim level, and have heating and ventilation functions for added comfort.
The dashboard is dominated by a large 14.6-inch vertical touchscreen with Ford’s SYNC 4A system that supports wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and over-the-air updates. It also has a digital gauge cluster that displays various information such as speed, battery level, range and navigation directions.
Other features include wireless charging, smartphone connectivity via Bluetooth or USB-C ports, a spacious center console with cup holders and storage spaces, a lockable compartment behind the screen for storing valuables, a panoramic sunroof, a Bang & Olufsen sound system with 10 speakers, and ambient lighting with seven colors to choose from.
Charging and batteries
Ford has customized its engines for the new Explorer EV based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform. Unlike other VAG models, it offers different power options ranging from 170 hp to 340 hp. The base and mid-range models have rear-wheel drive with synchronous motors on the back axle. The top model has all-wheel drive with an asynchronous motor on the front axle that activates when needed. Ford has not disclosed the battery size yet, but it claims that the Explorer EV can travel more than 500 km on a single charge. It also supports up to 11 kW AC charging as standard via Type 2 connector.
The Explorer will support fast charging up to 125 kW via CCS connectors that can replenish up to 80% of the battery in around half an hour at public charging stations.
Ford promises that its Explorer EV customers will be able to use a network of 400,000 charging stations throughout Europe, which will expand to 500,000 by 2024. They will also get special discounts on the Ionity fast-charging network.
Safety
The crossover has 12 ultrasonic sensors, five cameras and three radars that can scan the entire surroundings of the vehicle to support various safety features.
Some of these features include Lane Centering with Assisted Lane Change that can automatically switch lanes, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control that can adjust speed and stop when needed, Pre-Collision Assist that can prevent accidents, Cross Traffic Alert with Active Braking that can detect and avoid obstacles, Active Park Assist 2.0 that can park the car by itself, and more. The Explorer EV will be the first Ford in Europe to have these features.
Pricing
The Explorer EV will have a starting price of less than €45,000, which is competitive with other electric SUVs in its segment such as the Hyundai Kona Electric, the Kia e-Niro, the Volkswagen ID.4 and the Skoda Enyaq iV. It will also benefit from lower maintenance costs and tax incentives for electric vehicles in many European countries. The Explorer EV will offer two trim levels: Explorer and Explorer Premium, with different equipment levels and options packages available for each one. The exact pricing details for each trim level and market will be announced closer to launch.
The Explorer EV is expected to go on sale in Europe in early 2024. It is part of Ford’s plan to sell 600,000 EVs a yearin Europe by 2026. It is also expected to be sold in other regions such as China and North America at a later date .
