In January 2019, Ford announced plans to restructure it’s European business model that would include the launch of a never before imported model from the U.S. market. On April 2, 2019, at the Go Further event in Amsterdam, Ford announced that model would be the Ford Explorer, and it would have a plug-in hybrid drivetrain.
Sales are scheduled to begin in early 2020, with two trim levels available – the ST and the Platinum.
Explorer Plug-in Hybrid Specifications
The Explorer plug-in uses a 3.0 litre EcoBoost gasoline engine, combined with an electric motor for a total of 450 horsepower (335 kW) and 620 lb-ft (840 Nm) of torque.
With a 13.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the Explorer PHEV have a 25 miles (40 km) electric-only range. The transmission is a 10 speed automatic, and the Explorer comes with intelligent all-wheel drive.
The Explorer PHEV is rated for towing up to 2500 kg (5,511 pounds), and includes a selectable drive mode called ‘towing’.
Fuel consumption is rated at 3.4 liters per 100 kms (69 miles per gallon), with CO2 emissions of 78 grams per kilometer.
Both the ST and Platinum models come with 20 inch wheels, with slightly different designs. They also come with a 10.1 inch vertical touchscreen and a 12.3 inch digital cockpit display.
Explorer PHEV Availability
In Europe, sales will start in early 2020. Ford will announce prices closer to the date.
As of September 2019, Ford still hasn’t said the Explorer PHEV will be available in any other regions (like North America, Asia, etc).