Will this new Explorer be Ford’s best-selling car?
Ford shows the all-new Explorer, which does everything differently than its predecessor. In terms of both technology and design, it really has nothing to do with the Explorer as we know it. And that has both advantages and disadvantages.
The new Explorer is slightly larger than the Focus and, thanks to its short overhang, large aerodynamic wheels and dark wheel arches, has all four feet firmly on the ground. The minimalist design, the closed grille and narrower headlights make the Ford more of a city SUV than a tough explorer.
The design of the new Ford Explorer
Nevertheless, Ford sticks to a large flat nose and does without continuous LED bars. The stickers on the window can only be seen from the outside. You can see through it from the inside. The shape of the diamond in the C-pillar is also striking.
The exterior has been significantly revised, but the interior is also completely different. The Ford Explorer is not suitable for large families. The car cannot be ordered with a third row of seats. You sit like royalty on the two rows of seats. There is more than enough legroom for adults on the back seat and for the large panoramic roof.
The front of the Ford is no different. Due to the extension of the instrument panel into the door panels of the two front doors, when the door is closed it appears as if the interior is 5 centimeters wider. There is also plenty of space in the center tunnel, where up to 17 liters of stuff can be stowed. Here you can put a 15″ laptop or 3 bottles with 1.5 liters of water, for example.
A vault?
The 15-inch screen can be adjusted to the driver’s desired height using a sliding system. Behind the screen is a box. If the panel is pushed in front of the compartment and the car is closed, a lock in the center tunnel ensures that the items are safely stowed under the panel as a kind of safe. Behind the Ford’s wheel is a small 5-inch screen that displays data such as speed, battery charge and driver assistance.
All-electric Ford Explorer powertrain
The right pedal of the Ford Explorer has a drive train that delivers a maximum of 340 hp from two electric motors on the front and rear axles, i.e. all-wheel drive. You can also opt for rear-wheel drive with 286 or 170 hp. The size of the battery pack is not yet known to the brand.
It says that the car has a range of around 500 kilometers according to the WLPT measurement method. The range depends on which powertrain is chosen. The rear-wheel drive with little power gets further than the top model. It is also not known how quickly the battery pack charges. Ford has not yet announced the prices.