Forget the Explorer as you know it, Ford is replacing it with a new zero-emission version. Its first volume all-electric passenger vehicle to be built in Cologne, Germany, spawns from an agreement with Volkswagen. Bottom line? The medium crossover is the technical twin to the Volkswagen ID.4.

So, the new Explorer is fully electric and swaps the oversized dimensions of its namesake currently in the line-up, which will be discontinued in Europe, for a more compact profile. It sits on Volkswagen’s MEB structure and will be available in both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive, but there are not much more details Ford wants to share at this point.

Muscular version?

However, looking at the specifications of its Volkswagen sibling, it is more than likely that Ford will offer the same two battery packs (52 kWh and 77 kWh of usable energy), a similar range of up to 500 kilometers, and a muscular version as an answer to the GTX version from Wolfsburg. All in all, Ford has a reputation to consider when it comes to driving pleasure.

On the outside, the Explorer impresses with a bold and angular style without being uneasy to the eye. In the minimalist interior, the Explorer is more Tesla Model S than Volkswagen ID. 4, thanks to a central touch screen in portrait mode and a small floating digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel.

Locker on board

In times of harsh interior plastics out of cost-cutting measures, Ford promises a quality approach to finishing with soft-touch materials. Following customer feedback, it has also retained physical buttons for temperature control. In addition, the steering wheel has a squircle form. But there are not many words about ecological materials, like plant-sourced materials or water-based paints, as the trend nowadays dictates.

Clever enough, that central screen (15 inches) can move up and down to uncover a stowage compartment for valuable items. So, there’s actually a safe on board. Not locked, but nonetheless handy is the box that replaces the transmission tunnel in between the front seats. With 17 liters, it’s big enough to house a laptop.

Automatic lane changes

As for driving aids, the Explorer features active lane assist. If conditions allow, the vehicle can perform overtaking maneuvers on the highway autonomously. The car comes equipped with 12 ultrasonic sensors, five cameras, and three radar devices that collectively can monitor 360 degrees around the vehicle.

This safety jacket also helps with parking, which can be performed automatically. Clear Exit Assist ensures that the doors are kept closed in the case of an approaching cyclist or vehicle.

Though Ford abstains from battery specifications, fast-charging times are communicated as 10-80% in 25 minutes, which admittedly is faster than any of the ID.4 models. Is Ford hiding something up its sleeves? We’ll know when the final details are released – first deliveries of the Explorer are expected by the beginning of 2024.