When a brand with the background and experience it has Ford in the entire world market launches a model like this New electric Ford Explorer Made by and for Europe, any customer clinging to fossil fuels and traditional mobility who is still left behind in the failure to adapt to the new era should confirm once and for all that the zero-emissions period is serious.
This new Explorer, produced alongside the Capri in the German factory in Cologne, aims to become the high-volume model par excellence within the North American firm's catalogue for years to come, and the truth is that it has very important factors and arguments to achieve this.
The 100% European Ford Explorer
The design, which although subjective is one of its strong points, is joined by others such as technology, functionality, the diversity of engines and some autonomy figures which, combined with fast charging times that are less than half an hour, allow us to finally overcome the fear of leaving the city for fear of being stranded (the well-known range anxiety.)
Aesthetically, it wants to maintain a slight familiarity with the fantastic current Explorer PHEV with a V6 engine, especially in the square and robust lines of the front. However, apart from having a faired grille (this one does not need to cool any combustion engine), the main difference between the two lies in the more than half a metre in length that separates them. This new Explorer reaches 4,47 meters long by its height of 1,87 and 1,63 meters. The wheelbase is also considerably shorter, 2,77 meters.
This means that inside there is only room, albeit good, for five occupantsAs for wheels, depending on the version, a set of 19, 20 or even 21 inches can be equipped.
Comfortable, technological… and even with a safe!
Those who are more aware of automotive news will notice a certain relationship in the interior with the latest electric launches from Volkswagen. And this new Explorer EV shares a good number of components with the ID.3 or ID.4; without going any further, the MEB platform and some controls in the passenger compartment (gear selector located on the steering column, digital instrumentation, etc.)
In any case, we emphasize that, in the case of the Ford, both the design and the care for the feeling of quality These are aspects that are perceived to be much more worked on.
The technological spotlight is on a huge 14,6-inch screen in vertical format that can be slid up to 30 degrees to avoid reflections. As we show you in the video above, this makes it possible to gain more storage space than We can use it as a kind of safe when we got out of the car.
The resolution, the response, the graphics and absolutely everything related to the SYNC4 infotainment system It is great. However, it is a real pain to have to access the assistants menu every time we stop or get out of the car to deactivate the ones we need - if we ever want to deactivate any of them.
The rear seats are sufficient for two medium-large adults and the driver to travel comfortably. trunk cubes a capacity of 470 liters, which is around 100 liters less than the ID.4 homologated.
Engines and autonomy of the new Ford Explorer
At the time of its arrival on the market, There will be two versions: a rear-wheel drive model with 286 hp and a 77 kWh battery for a theoretical range of 602 km, and an all-wheel drive model with 340 hp and a 79 kWh battery for a range of 566 km. A more basic version with 170 hp and a 52 kWh battery will be available later and can be ordered from December.
The fastest of all, which is the most powerful, promises a 0 to 100 km / h in 5,3 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h.
The maximum charging power in alternating current is always 11 kW, while in direct current it is 135 and 185 kW for the 77 and 79 kWh, respectively. Thus, both versions will be able to go from 10 to 80% of the capacity in a little less than half an hour.
How is the Ford Explorer EV doing?
As we said, the MEB platform is similar in dynamics to that of electric Volkswagens, but Ford has wanted to leave its mark by modifying the spring, shock absorber, stabilizer, steering and also the ESC programming. All this makes it a more agile and appropriate model than their German relatives when it comes to moving around in different contexts outside the city.
Although the Ford has no chance of vary the hardness of the shock absorbersThe truth is that it is not something that is missing since the suspension already has a fairly correct configuration both to provide the necessary comfort on fast roads or in urban areas and to offer sufficient firmness to positively retain inertia and drifts.
The starting price for the current range's entry-level electric Explorer starts at 50.758 euros (44.590 euros if we count the campaigns), but the future 170 hp Explorer will reduce this margin to 34.800 euros (discounts included.)
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