Ford Explorer EV debuts for Europe – ID.Ford Anyone?
By Edward A. Sanchez — March 21, 2023
Automotive brand and model names often carry a great deal of expectation and heritage. So when names are given to models considered “non-traditional” for that name, controversy often erupts. One of the more recent examples is the Ford Mustang Mach-E. Many purists were outraged that the storied nameplate would be applied to a 5,000-pound crossover – and an electric one, to boot! Yet the Mach-E has been such a sales success that it’s starting to outpace sales of its “traditional” two-door counterpart. Ford is playing the name game once again with the Explorer, this time applying the moniker to a Volkswagen MEB-based two-row EV crossover.
To most Europeans, this is a non-event. The Explorer has never had a significant presence in Europe, most recently only offered as a premium-priced PHEV turbo hybrid (think Lincoln Aviator, without the fancy trim) that sold in very small volumes. Also, the chances of this specific model selling in the U.S. are unlikely, as the Explorer is a well-established large crossover in the North American market. If the U.S. does get a BEV Explorer, expect it to be significantly larger than its European namesake.
Perhaps the most interesting twist in this saga is that the Explorer EV was developed in collaboration with Volkswagen.
This MEB-based Ford Explorer EV likely won’t adventure to the United States.
This may surprise some coming from the same company that developed both the F-150 Lightning and the Mach-E largely in-house. My hunch is that it came down to expediency and time-to-market. Volkswagen was already up and running with its MEB models, the ID.3, ID.4, and other variants. A restyling of that platform was much less engineering-intensive than having to start from scratch.
There is a chance, however, that the second-generation model might be an in-house effort from Ford.
Let’s take a look at the specs of the Explorer EV. Its overall length of 177.1 inches makes it nearly two feet shorter than its American namesake, and shorter by a few inches than its platform-mate VW ID.4. It will be offered in both rear- and all-wheel-drive configurations, and Ford claims fast charging capability from 10-80 percent in 25 minutes. Continuing the Ford tradition of over-the-top adjectives to describe its vehicles’ capabilities, the Explorer EV features a “MegaConsole” with a 0.6 cubic foot (17-liter) capacity.
The 15-inch center display pivots up to reveal more storage space.
Perhaps this is a consolation prize for not having a usable frunk, an unfortunate attribute carried over by virtue of sharing the MEB platform.
Interior cargo volume is competitive, if not class-leading, with a capacity of 450 liters (15.9 cubic feet) behind the second-row seats, and 1,400 liters (49.4 cubic feet) with the second row folded. This is slightly lower capacity than the ID.4, likely by virtue of the Explorer EV’s slightly shorter overall length.
The main appeal of the Explorer EV will be its attractive price point, at least relative to the pricier Mach-E. Ford says the Explorer EV will start at €45,000 ($48,515) for a rear-drive model. For reference, the Mach-E starts at nearly €62,000 ($66,843) in the European market.
(Images courtesy Ford)
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