Talk about a test drive - adventurer and YouTube star Lexie Alford has just become the first person to circumnavigate the globe in an EV while using the all-electric new Ford Explorer.
After a bit of a delay (it was supposed to drive onto forecourts last year) the Ford Explorer has just gone on sale here in the UK, with a launch price beginning at £45,875.
You can, of course, lease the Ford Explorer with Select Car Leasing and we’ll bring you those prices as soon as we can.
The Explorer is a big car for Ford, having been the result of a new collab with Volkswagen that sees it riding on the same EV platform as the VW ID.4 and ID.5.
You can expect a range of up to 374 miles on a single charge, very decent power of up to 340 PS, a rapid 0-62mph acceleration time of just 5.3 seconds, and a generous 450 litre boot for all of your own weekend adventures away.
How can you be sure the Explorer will really go the extra mile? Well, just look at what Lexie - aka 'Lexie Limitless' - has achieved since setting off on her epic road trip in September last year.
Lexie and the Explorer covered a staggering 30,000 km (18,641 miles) while setting a new world record in the process.
She crossed the finish line in Nice, France, this week, and the 25-year-old Californian said: “On this epic adventure, I met incredible people from many corners of the world and experienced 27 beautiful countries while behind the wheel. But this journey came with a unique set of challenges. It has been the honour of a lifetime to be trusted by Ford to circumnavigate the globe in the electric Explorer, which has been like home for the last six months. I had the goal of pushing the limits of what’s possible to do in an EV and I’m proud to say I have!”
Lexie, who also holds the world record for being the youngest person to visit every country in the world, was aided by the Explorer’s 185 kW DC rapid charging capabilities, which can take the battery from 10-80 per cent in around 26 minutes.
The Explorer will initially be up for grabs with a 79 kWh ‘extended range’ battery - while a more affordable 77 kWh ‘standard range’ battery will be available to order later this year.
Standard kit on the entry-level launch models includes 19-inch alloys, a 14.6-inch touchscreen, a 7-speaker audio system with soundbar, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, a rear view camera, and safety tech like adaptive cruise control, cross traffic alert and a cyclist-protecting ‘exit warning’ system.
Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, adds: “Ford wants to bring passion and emotion to electric vehicles in Europe. There are enough boring cars and SUVs out there. The new Explorer represents Ford’s unique character, which is stamped on every car in this fantastic convoy. We’re proud to launch this new all-electric passenger car designed specifically for Europe’s roads and customers, and obviously capable of taking you anywhere in the world.”
Price wise, the Explorer is roughly on a par with the Ford Mustang Mach-E - at least until the more affordable variants arrive at the back end of 2024.
In terms of other rivals, the Ford Explorer will compete with the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV6, Nissan Ariya, and the Skoda Enyaq iV.
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