Louth Motors: The Ford Explorer preview

Ford gave us a static view of the new Explorer at the Digital Hub in Dublin.

It’s Ford’s second all-electric model after the Mustang Mach-E and will arrive here in early 2024 followed rapidly by two other models, an all-electric Puma and a new crossover, before the end of 2024.

That’s one model to four in less than a year and supports Ford’s claim to be an all-electric motor company by 2030.

Even commercial vehicles will be all-electric by 2035 so pretty soon an exhaust noise will be a thing of memory on a new car.

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Ford moving to all-electric engine propulsion is really big news and tells you everything you need to know about the direction all car manufactures are heading.

Alfa Romeo, remember, will be all-electric by 2027 so for the much bigger Ford to make a similar move really is big. Who knows how this will all turn out in the wash but Ford have given the strongest signal yet.

The Explorer sits between the Focus and Kuga in the Ford range.

That’s what Ford says but it has practically the same dimensions as the Kuga which it might just simply replace. No official confirmation of pricing yet but budget in or around €50k.

For that you’ll have a choice of two trims and a recharge time of 25mins to get from 10% to 80% - bun and coffee time.
No details on range as yet and I suspect this will be firmed up closer to the official launch.

In the metal is showcases Ford’s new futuristic face design, rear slim light blade and high waist muscular side profile.
It has a meaty look about it and would inspire you to go off, exploring.

It’s quite hard to be new and different looking and the front reminds me of the Opel Mokka without too much squinting.

Inside it doesn’t have the same typical Ford interior which is a welcome change not because it was in any way bad just that it is different.

The pre-production model interior may change so I’ll hold off until the actual one arrives. However, I will say that it is a very pleasant place to sit in.

You are no one unless you have a big screen these days and Ford have tried to be different by allowing you slide the 14.6 inch screen up and down to be set at different angles.

There’s also a Mega console between front passengers that I know sounds obvious but it is super practical and more of this I say.

To make your journeys pleasant there is a seven speaker sound system with a soundbar. The boot is always important and at 450litres it's what you’d expect for a car of this size.

We got told a lot of information about the car but missing was the electric motor and battery manufacturer which is to follow.

Previously, we would be told at length about the slightest engine modification and how brilliant the engineers were to achieve this but where electric motors and batteries are concerned we are told nothing.

For such a seismic move from petrol/diesel to electric the silence on this is as close to the sound from the electric cars, practically zero.

A full review after it is launched next year will be published here in Louth Live Motoring.