I asked Amko Leenart, Ford of Europe's design director, why Ford used VW's dismal controls in the Explorer and Capri, and he told me that Ford had worked with a partner to improve the sliders' response. (but he didn't want to tell me). how), then admitted that “we tried to improve it a little bit – and I think we did – but at the same time, it is what it is. VW is our supplier for certain parts, and at the time we had to make this choice.”
It's a real shame, because these decisions, made on balance sheets and in meeting rooms, can kill very nice cars. And in the Explorer's case, that's compounded by the fact that it's a good electric vehicle, quiet on the road, with good range and a distinctive, winning exterior.
Courtesy of Ford
I understand that the delays in the project mean that the Explorer and Capri missed their window of opportunity and that potentially better competing options arrived at just the wrong time for Ford, but with a primary focus on range and trying to shorten the development. once, the bet was not really won. And then trying to charge almost £54,000 (around $68,500) for the top-of-the-line model makes things even more difficult.
Jim Farley is a smart man, and I'm sure he looked at the Explorer and the Capri, and then his Xiaomi, and realized that there is a better way for Ford to tackle electric vehicles than 'by dressing the platforms of its rivals. But there is also the UK's zero-emission vehicle mandate, which requires it at least by 2025. a quarter of new cars sold by UK manufacturers are emission free. Ford needs to sell more electric vehicles and quickly. It's a difficult circle to solve.
I know the focus at Ford is on hybrids right now, but given the success of the F-150 Lightning and Mach-E, and all the elements that will be celebrated in the European-only Explorer, I Hopefully we'll see a lot more full-EV action from the company in 2025. Just make it made by Ford and available to everyone, then surely it can't lose.
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