THE Ford Explorer a reborn with a smaller body, electric-only drivetrains and a distinct European accent.
The new Euro Explorer is the first of two vehicles confirmed in the Blue Oval to be based on the all-electric Volkswagen MEB architecture. The other is a “coupé” version, which is rumored to be known as the Explorer Sport.
Production of the Explorer EV will take place in Cologne, Germany, which was previously home to the Party. It is unclear whether the European Explorer will be sold outside the region.
Measuring 4460mm long, the Explorer EV is shorter than the related Volkswagen ID.4 crossover (4584mm), but longer than the large Volkswagen ID.3 hatchback (4262mm).
Unlike the ID.4, which is dominated by round, organic shapes, the Explorer is a more boxy affair softened with rounded corners and surfaces.
The overall shape is meant to evoke a real off-roader, while design details, such as the shapes of the headlights and taillights, are very similar to those of the gasoline-powered full-size Explorer that will continue in the US. .
The car’s name and styling reflect a deliberate attempt to exploit the company’s American heritage and give the brand a unique position in the European market.
Initially, the Explorer EV will be offered with two single engines Rear-wheel drive options with either 125kW Or 210kW available.
The top-of-the-line model will feature a twin-motor all-wheel drive configuration with a combined output of 250kW And 545Nm. That’s more than in any current production car based on the MEB architecture, and it could be the same system for the Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX mover.
A 0-100 km/h time of less than 6.0 seconds is promised for the most powerful Explorer EV variant.
Battery capacities have yet to be revealed, but it is widely expected that 52kWh and 77kWh units will be used. Ford claims the most efficient variant will have a WLTP range of 509km between charges. DC charging speeds will likely reach 170kW.
Like other MEB-based vehicles, the Explorer EV has no “front trunk” or underhood storage of any type. Even so, Ford says the flat floor and all-electric architecture mean interior space is comparable to larger vehicles with internal combustion engines.
There is said to be 450L of boot space with the rear seats up and 1400L when folded down. The trunk includes a “secret” cargo area under the floor. A 17L “megaconsole” fits between the two front seats, and can comfortably swallow a laptop.
Much like the exterior, the interior has a completely different design to its Volkswagen cousins, although the instrumentation binnacle – with its small, all-digital display – appears to be the same units found on many vehicles. SEM.
There are also capacitive buttons on the steering wheel and capacitive volume controls below the touchscreen.
Ford hopes the large, portrait-oriented 14.7-inch touchscreen, dubbed Sync Move, will entice tech-savvy customers to try the Explorer. It can be electrically upright or tilted at 30 degrees for easier use when the arm is on the armrest.
The screen also features a permanent strip of climate controls at the bottom of the screen, fixing one of the major bugs in recent Volkswagen Group EV products.
Other available features include massaging front seats, lane change assist, keyless entry, a hands-free tailgate and warning alerts to prevent doors from opening in the way of cyclists.
Euro Explorer price will start from less than €45,000 ($72,800) in select markets, though initial production will focus on more expensive variants, and pricing for those models has yet to be revealed.
When the base model becomes available, the new Explorer will be significantly lower than the starting price of €62,900 ($102,000) for the Mustang Mach-E in Germany, and almost half the price of the current Explorer Plug-in Hybrid of €86,490 ($140,000).
For more perspective, the larger, but likely less roomy 100mm Ford Kuga known as the Escape in Australia – starts at €36,250 ($58,700) in Germany.
As for its platform companion, the ID.4, German pricing starts at €46,335 ($75,000).
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Although it bears the famous Explorer badge, the new Volkswagen-based model bears no relation to the US-focused model.
The American Explorer is 5.05 meters long and is available with V6 and turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines. With medium and large crossovers dominating the US market, its future seems assured.
A plug-in hybrid version of the US Explorer is currently being sold in Europe, but hasn’t been a huge commercial success, and it will be pulled from the market before Explorer EV deliveries begin in early 2024.
