Ford has unveiled a premium new electric SUV - the chunky and funky Explorer.
The Explorer represents an exciting new chapter in the Ford story for UK motorists.
For many lease customers, the Ford brand has been associated with affordable hatchbacks like the Fiesta and Focus.
Yet production of the Fiesta and the Focus is set to cease in the next couple of years - lease one now while you still can - and instead Ford is looking to usher-in a ‘new wave of bold, iconic electric vehicles’ which are ‘steeped in Ford’s American roots and designed for Europe’.
And this is the result - the eye-catching Explorer, a car that ‘combines German engineering with striking American style’, says Ford.
The ‘German engineering’ bit comes from a new alliance between Ford and Volkswagen which means the Explorer sits on the same electric platform as the VW ID.4 and ID.5.
The radical Explorer will also be built at the new Ford Cologne EV Campus in Germany.
Martin Sander, general manager at Ford Model e, Europe, explains:
“Explorer is a trailblazer for a new breed of exciting Ford electric vehicles. Steeped in our American roots but built in Cologne for our customers in Europe, it is road trip-ready for the big adventures and fully loaded with everything our customers will need for their daily drives.”
So what can leasing customers look forward to when the Explorer arrives in Blighty later this year?
Ford says it’s a medium-sized hatchback-SUV crossover with seats for five people and which should appeal to active families.
While Ford hasn’t confirmed as much, the Explorer is likely to share battery options with the VW ID.4, which means a choice between a 52 kWh pack or 77 kWh unit and a range of up to 328 miles between charges.
The range-topping Explorer should also have power of around 304 PS - just like the VW ID.4 GTX variant.
The Explorer’s exterior is unashamedly American, with that big slab of a front end very much invoking a sense of apple pie and baseball.
The cabin gets a 14.6 inch touchscreen that can slide up and down to suit the driver and which conceals a private storage locker to stash valuables.
There’s a futuristic-looking sound bar on top of the dash to improve your audio experience.
Wireless phone charging is standard, as is Ford’s SYNC Move infotainment system, which lets you control everything via voice commands.
Standard equipment will also include heated front seats and steering wheel, a massaging driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and a hands-free powered tailgate.
There’s also a wealth of driver assistance and safety features to enjoy, including Assisted Lane Change and Clear Exit Assist, the latter of which provides a warning about approaching cyclists before you open any of the car’s doors.
The Explorer also has a super-practical 450 litre boot.
Price-wise, you can expect the Explorer to slot into the Ford range between the Kuga plug-in hybrid and the fully-electric Mustang Mach-E.
The Explorer will be available to lease later this year in two versions - Select and Premium - the precise details of which we’ll be able to bring you at a later date.
In the meantime, you can lease the plug-in hybrid version of the Ford Kuga (below) from £395 per month, or the electric Mustang Mach-E from £534 per month*.
*Prices include VAT. Credit is Subject to Status, Ts and Cs and Arrangement Fees apply. Excess mileage may apply. Stock levels and prices correct as of 21/03/23.
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