#FREEDOM CHEVROLET BIG STONE GAP DRIVER#
#FREEDOM CHEVROLET BIG STONE GAP FULL#

Ford also included some cool features, such as a massive center console capable of holding a 15-inch laptop and a futuristic-looking sound bar positioned on top of the dashboard.

#FREEDOM CHEVROLET BIG STONE GAP DRIVER#

The driver faces a digital instrument cluster, while the dashboard is dominated by a height-adjustable, 15-inch touchscreen that displays the infotainment system and hides a storage compartment. Step inside and you’ll find space for five passengers on two rows of seats. In comparison, the American-market Explorer (which is available in some European nations) measures approximately 199 inches long.

#FREEDOM CHEVROLET BIG STONE GAP FULL#

Full technical specifications haven’t been released but Ford notes the crossover stretches roughly 177 inches from bumper to bumper. It rides on a relatively long wheelbase, while its rear bumper features a piece of trim shaped like the one embedded into the front bumper. Visually, the Explorer’s front end is characterized by a grille-less design and an “EXPLORER”-branded piece of trim flanked by thin lights. That’s not a “maybe,” a “we’ll see,” or a “who knows?” It’s a “no.” “The new electric Explorer is the European interpretation of an electric Explorer - made in Europe for Europe,” a spokesperson told us. Let’s address the elephant in the room: the model pictured in our gallery is not a replacement for the American-market Explorer, and Ford confirmed to Autoblog that it will not be sold in the United States. Built on the MEB platform, the European-market Explorer is an electric, city-friendly model that shares nothing but a name with the SUV sold here. Sort of.Īutoblog (“ European-spec 2023 Ford Explorer is an EV with Volkswagen bones“) explains:įord enlisted the help of Volkswagen and repurposed a familiar nameplate to plant its stake in Europe’s electric crossover segment.

It makes sense that Ford is finally making its most popular vehicles available with electric options rather than making weird models few want to buy. “The customer response to these vehicles has just been incredible.” “We’re on track for a run rate of over 600,000 EVs by the end of this year and 2 million by late 2026,” said Bob Holycross, Ford’s vice president of sustainability, environment and safety Engineering, at a Deutsche Bank investment conference in March. Ford began selling the F-150 Lightning and electric Transit van in 2022.įord has plans to sell many more EVs in coming years. Key to that growth was an expanding lineup. In 2022, Ford sold more than 61,000 all-electric vehicles in the U.S., up about 125% year over year. The electric Explorer adds to Ford’s EV lineup, which includes the Mustang Mach E, F-150 Lightning and electric Transit van. (There was some investment in new charging infrastructure in the so-called Inflation Reduction Act but it’s certainly not going to get us to European standards.) That’s a problem considering that consumers and manufacturers alike are pushing full steam ahead on moving to EVs indeed, California is mandating it. And we’re adding ports at a rate where we’ll never catch up. Granting that Europe collectively is larger, richer, and more densely populated than the United States, the gap is telling. America has been adding roughly 20,000 ports a year for the past few years. There are roughly 148,000 public charging ports in the U.S., according to the Energy Department. That’s fast enough to be reasonable for those who want an EV but can’t afford or are otherwise unable to get a home charger for overnight charging.īy next year, Ford estimates there will be 500,000 charging points across Europe. Range and power details weren’t included in Ford’s news release, but Ford said the battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in about 25 minutes using high speed, direct current EV chargers. The five-seat, crossover-sized vehicle will be built in Germany.

buyers will have to wait though since the electric version of the Explorer is only for Europe right now. (Ford sold 653,957 F-series trucks in the U.S. You know you’re getting old when products introduced within your adult lifetime have become “iconic.”įord sold 207,673 Explorers in the U.S. The iconic SUV made its debut in 1990 and is the company’s best-selling model after the F-150 pickup truck. Now the Ford Explorer is going electric.įord Motor F –1.06% (ticker: F) on Tuesday unveiled its all-new, all-electric 2023 Ford Explorer for the European market. Barron’s (“ Ford Is Electrifying Its Most Iconic SUV”):įirst came the Mustang.

Freedom chevrolet big stone gap