For the first time in history, the Explorer will be available in Europe starting early next year.
In January this year, Ford announced a major restructuring plan for its European business which also included the launch of a new imported model from the U.S. market. Today, at the Go Further event in Amsterdam, the Blue Oval has revealed the name of this vehicle – it’s the new seven-seat Explorer in a plug-in hybrid form.
This is the very first time the Explorer reaches European shores. One of the most successful American large SUVs will be available on the Old Continent exclusively with a PHEV powertrain which consists of a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 gas engine generating 350 horsepower (261 kilowatts) and an electric motor good for another 100 hp (75 kW). The combined peak output stands at 450 hp (335 kW) and 620 pound-feet (840 Newton-meters).
Thanks to a 13.1-kWh lithium-ion battery, the massive (by the European standards) three-row SUV will be able to travel up to 25 miles (40 kilometers) on purely electric energy. Mated to a 10-speed automatic and an intelligent all-wheel drive, the Explorer PHEV will have a combined fuel consumption of 3.4 liters per 100 kilometers (69 miles per gallon) with corresponding CO2 emissions of 78 grams per kilometer. Obviously, these figures represent just the first 62 miles (100 kilometers) when the battery is still fully charged.
The powerful powertrain ensures the Explorer PHEV is capable of towing trailers weighing up to 5,511 pounds (2,500 kilograms). To help drivers with improved power delivery, the hybrid system has seven selectable driving modes, including Normal, Sport, Towing, Snow, and more which should handle all road and weather conditions perfectly, according to Ford.
Sales of the model on the European continent are scheduled to begin early next year with two trim levels to be available – ST-Line and Platinum. Both will come as standard with 20-inch wheels with different design depending on the selected model. Just like the U.S. model, the Euro-spec Explorer will also feature a 10.1-inch vertical touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital cockpit.
“The Explorer is a true SUV – designed for families with a real sense of adventure – so it was essential that the Explorer Plug-In Hybrid featured a powertrain that could haul anything from boats to horseboxes,” Matthias Tonn, Explorer chief program engineer for Europe, comments. “We specifically chose a parallel hybrid architecture that lets drivers use all 450 hp and 840 Nm of torque. We’ve even added a more advanced version of our Blind Spot Information System, that covers a 10 meter trailer.”
Prices should be announced closer to the on-sale date.
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