According to a German newspaper report the Explorer EV will launch in Europe ‘next summer’.
Ford has reportedly pushed the European launch of the Explorer EV by six months, due to new global safety regulations for drivetrains, that are about to take effect- reports Germany’s Kölnische Rundschau (via Electrive).
Ford Explorer EV was originally slated to go on sale in early 2024. It is underpinned by VW’s MEB platform and was previously planned to hit commercial production this month, at Ford’s Cologne facility. The manufacturer inaugurated this facility in June this year and has since been ramping up the production gradually.
The regional daily reports Ford to have officially communicated this to the EV factory’s workforce, on August 10, 2023. Ford Explorer Electric will be built adhering to the upcoming safety guidelines- says the newspaper which, however, doesn’t give any more detail of the ‘global safety rules’.
Starting in 2024, all new cars in the European Union will have to host a bunch of additional assistance systems. All recently homologated vehicles here comply with these.
Ford Explorer EV won’t be available to buy until next summer, according to the daily. Ford has been accepting pre-orders since March 2023.
Details of the powertrain are sparse at the moment. It’s unclear which parts are being sourced from Volkswagen and how the Ford EV would differentiate itself from other MEB models, in mechanicals.
At its premiere, Ford did say that the electric Explorer would have “responsive” and “refined” RWD and AWD powertrains with DC fast charging times of 10-80 percent in just 25 minutes. Ford is aiming for a base price of under 45,000 euros ($49,600) when official bookings open, in early 2024.
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Ford Explorer EV : Details We Know Of Yet
Electric Ford Explorer has little in common with the Explorer SUV sold in the US or its plug-in hybrid iteration. Designed specifically for Europe, the new Explorer EV is the first Ford ever to be built on the MEB platform. It’s also the Blue Oval’s first volume electric passenger car to be built at Ford’s Cologne EV factory. It is a two-row midsize crossover (by European standards) and is slightly shorter than its VW sibling ID.4.
Key design highlights include a shield-like EV grille, signature headlights, U-shaped skid plates, vertical taillights, Black A pillars, aero-optimized alloy wheels (19, 20, and 21-inch wheels available) and slim rear windows. This BEV is confirmed to feature new body colours like Arctic Blue and Vibrant Blue My Mind.
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The electric SUV has a sleek, modern look on the inside. It gets a 15-inch portrait-style Ford Sync Move center touchscreen, which can be raised and lowered in an arc of over 30 degrees, 5-inch floating digital instrument cluster, a haptic trackpad near the central screen, keyless entry, dual zone climate control, 10-colour ambient lighting, wireless charger, 360 degree camera etc.
This will be the first Ford to offer automated lane changes, in Europe. It features a wide range of ADAS features including Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go functionality, Pre-Collision Assist, Cross Traffic Alert with Active Braking, Active Park Assist 2.0, Lane Centering tech and Assisted Lane Change.
Ford has plans of introducing more MEB-based vehicles in EU, by 2024. An all-electric Puma is also expected in the coming years.
Source: Kölnische Rundschau via Electrive
