Ford Europe plans to go all-electric in its passenger vehicle lineup by 2030 or sooner, a seismic shift that is already well underway. The automaker is adding a total of seven new EVs to its stable by 2024, and two of them are mid-size crossovers riding on Volkswagen’s MEB platform that are expected to represent 30,000 units of The Blue Oval’s goal of producing 600k EVs in 2024, too. Now, following months of anticipation and multiple teasers, the “sporty” MEB-based crossover – which will interestingly be known as the electric Ford Explorer – has been officially revealed.
On the outside, the European Explorer EV features some styling cues borrowed from its ICE-powered namesake, albeit with a thoroughly modern design. There are some notable features present that scream “EV” – in this case, what Ford calls a “shield,” which is located where a traditional front grille would normally be found.
The all-new electric Ford Explorer is, as previously mentioned, a mid-size crossover with two rows of seating for five with around 16.6 cubic-feet of storage space behind the rearmost row. It features a modern cabin filled with premium materials, with features such as sculpted seats and a soundbar, a center console big enough to hold a 15-inch laptop, and wireless app integration.
One of the more interesting features present inside the Explorer EV’s cabin is what Ford calls “Sync Move,” which utilizes a 15-inch touchscreen that can move up and down, revealing a “private locker” behind it where owners can stash valuable items. There’s also a compartment designed specifically to hold two smartphones, along with wireless charging to boot. Other notable features include standard heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, a massaging driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, and an optional hands-free tailgate.
Speaking of charging, the electric Ford Explorer can take advantage of its DC fast charging capabilities to go from 10 to 80 percent in just 25 minutes, though FoMoCo hasn’t yet provided any battery specs, not any information regarding the crossover’s available powertrain(s), all of which will be revealed closer to the new model’s launch. However, it will be available in both rear- and all-wheel drive configuration. As one might imagine, the Explorer EV is chock full of advanced driver assist technology as well, with features including Assisted Lane Change and Clear Exit Assist making their European debut.
The all-new electric Ford Explorer is available in two trims – Explorer and Explorer Premium – and will be the first EV built at the Cologne Electrification Center in Germany. Interested customers can reserve their EV crossover now, while order banks are scheduled to open up later this year, with pricing starting out at around €45,000 ($48,513 USD).
We’ll have much more on the new electric Ford Explorer soon, so be sure to subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Explorer news and around-the-clock Ford news coverage.
Comments
Put a gasoline engine in it and sell it in the U.S. This would help fill a gap in the North American market.
Why would they use the Explorer name for a 2 row vehicle? It’s just confusing when this could’ve easily been the Edge or even Flex if you want to stretch it.
Having the same nameplate for different cars feels like a rookie move in terms of organizational simplicity.
Even more confusing is that the Edge L in China is a 3-Row SUV… This Explorer is literally shorter than the Kuga (which is an Escape for the Europe market).. What is Ford thinking????
From the time I saw Ford use the Mustang name for the new EV SUV we could tell any imagination with naming was being thrown out.
Maybe it takes courage not imagination to make these decisions.
Hello dear Fordauthority the new European Ford Explorer SUV coming to Chinese,Russian or Turkey Market ?
Best Regards
Mesut Uyanik
Is this the Lincoln EV twin that has been promised?
Nope, this is a VW-based small utility for Europe.
That interior would really help the Explorer over here which has been a flop here in the states. Kia owns the market now and Ford really needs to work on thier interiors over here, probably the worst in the industry in the USA.
I totally agree with you. The Escape is just hideous. The designers did not have to do more than an hours work to semi-design it.
Because there is no other work or cost that happens after a designer makes that 1 hour change and volume production. .
Yesterday I saw a clip of a video with people standing around it complimenting it’s design with wow ❗. I do not see wow 😮. I see, oh, ok. This design is not a head turner. I hope whatever Ford is designing for the US market is appealing and of quality.
16.6 CuFt of trunk space on a 2 row cross over? That is laughable, that is half of a current Escape
There are some good elements to this design but those ridiculous and distracting wheels are unforgivable – replace them with a plain wheel and the vehicle becomes 2x more likable.
Same! I never understood why EV wheels are required to be so freaking ugly. If I’m honest, I don’t think most EVs are all that appealing either, so maybe the wheels are fitting! lol
This is such a strange timid product dressed up with a famous name. I’m not a fan, it’s bland and soulless and almost entirely a VW. Even all the terrible unusable switchgear from the VW ID4 made its way into this car. Furthermore, they only had one version of this car to show off today? There are no ST or RS or Active versions to spice things up? They are telling us this is an adventure vehicle but in NO WAY does this vehicle look like one, nor do they show it doing anything suggested by their messaging. I’m just stunned at how nonsensical the messaging is for this product is, it really feels like they tossed the Explorer brand on it last month.
For a quick and dirty transitional vehicle on predetermined VW hard points to get Ford’s BEV pivot rolling in Europe it’s not all that bad.
There will be more individualization once Ford has its own platform in a couple of years.
As for other trim levels, Ford’s keeping its powder dry until closer to launch so as to not tip competitors.
i live in america so can care less what chinese edge or euro explorer looks like. good for them better for us. keep those garbage overseas
LoL at ‘murican design for ‘murican super patriots sentiment.
You can’t please everyone all of the time, one man’s meat is an another man’s poisonous they say beauty is in the eye’s of the beholder.
Would seem like a logical transition to an “entry level” Lincoln Star EV! Import from Germany with some cosmetic enhancements: front, rear and badging details! All the brands that Lincoln compete with have all introduced EVs, buy some time till the dedicated platform is ready, IMHO!
Star will be on a ford platform.
Truly hideous front end and those wheels look like crap. The dashboard is stark, cold and soulless, like the rest of the vehicle. No thanks to an all EV vehicle anyway!
LoL how are your short options doing?
Hey Steve, Not a fan of anything Ford BUT the Ford wheels look a lot better than some of the Tesla wheel designs. I saw a Tesla the other day and it looked like it had cheepo wheel covers from the Dollar Store.