New Ford electric Explorer
Discussion
ZesPak said:
To be fair, have these dime-a-dozen family cars had so much character in the past?
All running the most boring drivetrain of the day, just a bit different styling?
Yes there was a time when cars were not overbloated dullboxes with large screens where the platform underneath is irrelevant. They could do strange things like handle well, ride well, and be engaging with a focus on driving. Back in those days, manufacturers made their own cars as a differentiator. All running the most boring drivetrain of the day, just a bit different styling?
DMZ said:
ZesPak said:
To be fair, have these dime-a-dozen family cars had so much character in the past?
All running the most boring drivetrain of the day, just a bit different styling?
Yes there was a time when cars were not overbloated dullboxes with large screens where the platform underneath is irrelevant. They could do strange things like handle well, ride well, and be engaging with a focus on driving. Back in those days, manufacturers made their own cars as a differentiator. All running the most boring drivetrain of the day, just a bit different styling?
rodericb said:
Different windows, windscreen is further back, roofline different yet:
It's the fixed distance from front axle to a-pillar - resulting in a tiny little bit of wing behind the front wheels - that gives all these MQB / MEB cars away. Once seen, never unseen. article said:
The proportions and glasshouse betray the VW underpinnings, even though Ford says it’s pushed back the windscreen.
Writer getting paid by the word? And chalk one up for motor noter BS bingo with underpinnings.The proper US Explorer is a very different beast to this euro softy box - the 'proper' Explorer is huge!
This one looks OK but I find it hard to believe people buying an SUV in Europe will think that's it's in some way interesting because it shares a name with a very popular, but entirely different car in the States. What this car actually is, is a VW. And that tells you how similar modern midsize SUV's really are, you can swap the badges and it doesn't matter. The average buyer doesn't give a toss if they have supposedly made an VW drive 'like a genuine Ford' (it's just not a genuine Ford).
The car is fine, it's not special in any regard that I can see though. I don't really understand why one of the worlds biggest car firms needs to partner with another to rapidly roll out a range of EVs - seems like dilution of their own brand appeal to me, for the sake of a quick and easy solution today.
Not complaining but there's something about these sort of partnerships that just leaves me cold to the end product. I kinda want Ford designing it's own cars and platforms. Remember when MG became a brand of Rovers with a bodykit? Or Saab became essentially rebadged Vectra's? These were not cars that live well in the history books!
This one looks OK but I find it hard to believe people buying an SUV in Europe will think that's it's in some way interesting because it shares a name with a very popular, but entirely different car in the States. What this car actually is, is a VW. And that tells you how similar modern midsize SUV's really are, you can swap the badges and it doesn't matter. The average buyer doesn't give a toss if they have supposedly made an VW drive 'like a genuine Ford' (it's just not a genuine Ford).
The car is fine, it's not special in any regard that I can see though. I don't really understand why one of the worlds biggest car firms needs to partner with another to rapidly roll out a range of EVs - seems like dilution of their own brand appeal to me, for the sake of a quick and easy solution today.
Not complaining but there's something about these sort of partnerships that just leaves me cold to the end product. I kinda want Ford designing it's own cars and platforms. Remember when MG became a brand of Rovers with a bodykit? Or Saab became essentially rebadged Vectra's? These were not cars that live well in the history books!
If they can get something based on the MEB platform to drive like a European Ford then that would be quite something. I’m assuming they mean driving like an American Ford, which won’t be hard to achieve.
Does it make sense? Who knows. It’s the future anyhow. Isn’t Geely inventing a new brand every couple of months on the same platform? Zeekr, Ying Yong, Great Wall, Lotus, or whatever they’re called.
Does it make sense? Who knows. It’s the future anyhow. Isn’t Geely inventing a new brand every couple of months on the same platform? Zeekr, Ying Yong, Great Wall, Lotus, or whatever they’re called.
TheDeuce said:
The proper US Explorer is a very different beast to this euro softy box - the 'proper' Explorer is huge!
This one looks OK but I find it hard to believe people buying an SUV in Europe will think that's it's in some way interesting because it shares a name with a very popular, but entirely different car in the States. What this car actually is, is a VW. And that tells you how similar modern midsize SUV's really are, you can swap the badges and it doesn't matter. The average buyer doesn't give a toss if they have supposedly made an VW drive 'like a genuine Ford' (it's just not a genuine Ford).
The car is fine, it's not special in any regard that I can see though. I don't really understand why one of the worlds biggest car firms needs to partner with another to rapidly roll out a range of EVs - seems like dilution of their own brand appeal to me, for the sake of a quick and easy solution today.
Not complaining but there's something about these sort of partnerships that just leaves me cold to the end product. I kinda want Ford designing it's own cars and platforms. Remember when MG became a brand of Rovers with a bodykit? Or Saab became essentially rebadged Vectra's? These were not cars that live well in the history books!
I can't imagine that US beast being driven with a standard UK driving licence, far to heavy.This one looks OK but I find it hard to believe people buying an SUV in Europe will think that's it's in some way interesting because it shares a name with a very popular, but entirely different car in the States. What this car actually is, is a VW. And that tells you how similar modern midsize SUV's really are, you can swap the badges and it doesn't matter. The average buyer doesn't give a toss if they have supposedly made an VW drive 'like a genuine Ford' (it's just not a genuine Ford).
The car is fine, it's not special in any regard that I can see though. I don't really understand why one of the worlds biggest car firms needs to partner with another to rapidly roll out a range of EVs - seems like dilution of their own brand appeal to me, for the sake of a quick and easy solution today.
Not complaining but there's something about these sort of partnerships that just leaves me cold to the end product. I kinda want Ford designing it's own cars and platforms. Remember when MG became a brand of Rovers with a bodykit? Or Saab became essentially rebadged Vectra's? These were not cars that live well in the history books!
Earlier I said it looks like a cool thing. I’ve somewhat re considered my initial post. It’s basically a different wrapper on the same flavoured bag of crisps. I think in reality this is where it’s going with the underpinnings being basically identical on everything as vehicles move more towards being white goods.
Here on PH most are generally enthusiastic or at least interested in motoring and forms of personal transport. The reality though is that the vast majority of people really don’t give a monkeys and just want something smart and reliable. With the exception of battery life concerns EV provides that.
Oh yes in side profile it looks like a Citroen C3 Aircross.
Here on PH most are generally enthusiastic or at least interested in motoring and forms of personal transport. The reality though is that the vast majority of people really don’t give a monkeys and just want something smart and reliable. With the exception of battery life concerns EV provides that.
Oh yes in side profile it looks like a Citroen C3 Aircross.
Not bad looking. One of the best things about EVs is that the packaging seems to enable designers to escape the horrible front overhangs that front-engined ICE cars have been lumbered with since about 2007. On the downside height seems to be an issue with EVs, but this Explorer hides that well.
Another car, like the Jeep Avenger, that looks big in photos, but is smaller than you think. I see the CAR article says that the Explorer is a similar size to a Kia Niro.
Hmm, which small e-SUV to pick? Avenger or Explorer? Well, neither, of course, because I don't have 40 grand. Affordability for these mainstream EV "family" cars still an issue.
Another car, like the Jeep Avenger, that looks big in photos, but is smaller than you think. I see the CAR article says that the Explorer is a similar size to a Kia Niro.
Hmm, which small e-SUV to pick? Avenger or Explorer? Well, neither, of course, because I don't have 40 grand. Affordability for these mainstream EV "family" cars still an issue.
Edited by Lil_Red_GTV on Thursday 23 March 20:22
rodericb said:
LOL. That front overhang is the same as any ICE equipped car, SUV whatever.
Yep, a missed opportunity. One of the reasons I fell in love with my iPace is because they put the car design rule book in the bin and just made the best car they could as an electric car. Wheels shunted right into each corner, tiny stubby bonnet (c'mon, why not, there's nothing in it!!), flat floor and so on.I'm amazed Ford are bothered about making a new EV look like a a traditional Ford ICE car. Obviously the person buying it is not at all looking for a traditional car, because they're shopping for one that doesn't even have an engine
RizzoTheRat said:
ashenfie said:
I can't imagine that US beast being driven with a standard UK driving licence, far to heavy.
A shade under 2 tonnes according to google, which is about 500kg lighter than a range rover and 600kg lighter than a VW ID4 that this new EV version is apparently based on.But don't, you'd look a proper tit with a car the size of a full sized US pickup truck when you attempt to park it, anywhere, in this country. I knew a bloke who owns part of a US firm and ended up importing a huge Chevy truck that he fell in love with - it was very impressive but totally hopeless in the UK.
As a holiday drive in the States however, the Full sized Explorer or Chevy Suburban are great if you're a family/big group - because all the parking 'lots' are designed for such lumpy beasts. In Florida one year we got 7 people and 7 suitcases in an Explorer... Think about how big that makes the car
I think they have missed an opportunity to give the brand a bit of a refresh. That big blue oval on the front just looks out of place and ugly. If they swapped the blue to a darker silver it would look a lot better and move the look a bit more upmarket.
Also, no matter how hard a try to look past it, my eyes tell me those wheels have been drawn using MS paint. Something off about the design.
Also, no matter how hard a try to look past it, my eyes tell me those wheels have been drawn using MS paint. Something off about the design.
Well Ford's whole strategy seems to be to draw on their heritage, leading with reinterpretations of familiar names with the Mustang (Mach-E), F-150, and this Explorer. That heritage is the one advantage traditional manufacturers have over Tesla and the new Chinese brands, and may help some more conservative buyers transition to EVs. I guess time will tell if that strategy is a good one.
Lil_Red_GTV said:
Well Ford's whole strategy seems to be to draw on their heritage, leading with reinterpretations of familiar names with the Mustang (Mach-E), F-150, and this Explorer. That heritage is the one advantage traditional manufacturers have over Tesla and the new Chinese brands, and may help some more conservative buyers transition to EVs. I guess time will tell if that strategy is a good one.
The problem is that Ford's heritage is that they made a mass produced car for the masses, from scratch, and thus created the mass personal transportation movement. I can't quite tie that in with them tackling the EV movement by repackaging a VW car 
I'm not really a Ford fan, but if I was, I'm certain I would buy a Ford car because it was a Ford, not a VW.
I'm sure there are boring corporate reasons for this arrangement but as car enthusiasts... I don't think there is anything here that we can expect to give a toss about in 15 years time.
Ford is desperate - news today that their EV sector is losing them billions annually and set to cost them another $3b this year.
They were sitting ducks, like a lot of manufacturers, when Tesla was scaling everything up and has become almost the defacto white-goods EV, Ford who have historically made those mainstream white-goods cars have literally nothing to offer. Fiesta / Focus sales down to the point where they're being pulled altogether.
Their new strategy needs to be to create a half-decent, cheap-but-profitable car. No small task, especially when the ID4 isn't exactly a bargain...
Based on the ID4 - why is that? Platform sharing isn't uncommon but Ford had their own EV program in the form of the Mach-E and F150 Lightning already.
They were sitting ducks, like a lot of manufacturers, when Tesla was scaling everything up and has become almost the defacto white-goods EV, Ford who have historically made those mainstream white-goods cars have literally nothing to offer. Fiesta / Focus sales down to the point where they're being pulled altogether.
Their new strategy needs to be to create a half-decent, cheap-but-profitable car. No small task, especially when the ID4 isn't exactly a bargain...
Based on the ID4 - why is that? Platform sharing isn't uncommon but Ford had their own EV program in the form of the Mach-E and F150 Lightning already.
C.A.R. said:
Ford is desperate - news today that their EV sector is losing them billions annually and set to cost them another $3b this year.
They were sitting ducks, like a lot of manufacturers, when Tesla was scaling everything up and has become almost the defacto white-goods EV, Ford who have historically made those mainstream white-goods cars have literally nothing to offer. Fiesta / Focus sales down to the point where they're being pulled altogether.
Their new strategy needs to be to create a half-decent, cheap-but-profitable car. No small task, especially when the ID4 isn't exactly a bargain...
Based on the ID4 - why is that? Platform sharing isn't uncommon but Ford had their own EV program in the form of the Mach-E and F150 Lightning already.
It’s been done to death on other threads, but fiesta sales were only down as Ford wouldn’t let anyone buy one. They were sitting ducks, like a lot of manufacturers, when Tesla was scaling everything up and has become almost the defacto white-goods EV, Ford who have historically made those mainstream white-goods cars have literally nothing to offer. Fiesta / Focus sales down to the point where they're being pulled altogether.
Their new strategy needs to be to create a half-decent, cheap-but-profitable car. No small task, especially when the ID4 isn't exactly a bargain...
Based on the ID4 - why is that? Platform sharing isn't uncommon but Ford had their own EV program in the form of the Mach-E and F150 Lightning already.
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