Ford Explorer, the cousin of the VW ID.4

A name that smells of America and stylistic codes that refer to US models;

a platform and technology borrowed from Volkswagen;

German production for European marketing.

Ford tries a new start to continue its European adventure.

To tell the truth, the American manufacturer with the blue oval did not have much choice of weapons when it came out of the radar screens of motorists.

And in the short term, the situation is not about to improve.

At the end of February 2023, the first Ford on the French market, the Puma, was ranked 21st.

As for the Kuga compact SUV, it only appeared in 47th place.

And the FordFiesta?

The city car, which the manufacturer decided to take out of the catalog next June, was three places further away.

The new Ford Explorer.

Ford

His future?

It is based on the new division of electric vehicles called Model E. A kind of snub to Tesla seen as a model by American leaders.

To develop its future electric range in a European market where its market share has melted, Ford went shopping at Volkswagen.

At the risk of becoming a satellite of the German giant and losing its identity?

The first vehicle resulting from this strategy is a compact SUV based on the MEB platform of the Volkswagen group.

Resulting from a cousinage with the ID.4, the Ford Explorer displays a length of nearly 4.48 meters, more than 10 cm less than its cousin.

The lines manage to stand out from those of the VW ID.4, except for the recess of the side glazing.

Ford

It is inside that efforts have been concentrated to offer an atmosphere very different from that of Volkswagen.

Obsessed with Tesla, Ford designers imagined a huge 14.6-inch vertical touch pad in the center of the dashboard.

It's a good idea: this screen can slide smoothly a few degrees to be slightly tilted or perfectly straight.

In the latter case, a storage space appears at the base of the tablet.

In terms of connectivity, the Explorer will offer the latest technology.

Ford

Side engine and battery capacity, Ford maintains the suspense.

The characteristics should not be very different from those of VW.

The Explorer will offer several battery sizes and several power levels.

A top-of-the-range version could exceed 300 horsepower.

Ford ensures that the price of its electric SUV will start below 45,000 euros.