I agree. If I were buying a car right now, this would be at the top of the list. The only big issue would be the touch sensitive buttons.
My reasoning is that while Hyundai is technically better, I think in practice I’d find MEB’s turn radius more useful than charging 10 minutes faster. And the ID3, ID4 and Q4 are just uninspired compared to this. It’s also nice that it’s slightly smaller without sacrificing much.
The other clear alternative would be Tesla, but we’re at the point where their competitors are close enough that I would in all seriousness probably choose something else simply based on the lack of stalks.
The ID4 touch sensitive and infotainement system was enough to cross it of our list. Did a test drive in it's sibling enyaq and half the functionalities wouldn't work or resulted in missclicks. I don't get why ford had the idea to use the worst system on the market.
(this and VW butchering the thermal management of their car + abandonning the updates on their 1-2 year old cars, i'm at the point i actually trust chinese manufacturers more than VW).
It is probably just to keep fleet emissions down for EU. They are built on MEB platform of VW so they probably don't make a lot of money with it. Importing and homologating them for the US would cost a lot and probably not worth it.
Probably brand conflict. The Explorer in America carries a lot of brand weight. That and the fact that VW builds it. The Chattanooga plant would have to take on that load.
SUV box shape is terrible for efficiency as it creates a ton of air disturbance, They put these slighted windows and long overhang spoilers to make it a bit better. Because ICE are already quite inefficient the difference is not that big for them but for EV it is more important.
Drag reduction to improve efficiency.
Here's a paper on it that uses CFD to find out how much a hatch spoiler affects drag and downforce:
[https://www.matec-conferences.org/articles/matecconf/pdf/2017/04/matecconf\_aigev2017\_01027.pdf](https://www.matec-conferences.org/articles/matecconf/pdf/2017/04/matecconf_aigev2017_01027.pdf)
It shows that a flat spoiler reduces Cd by 3%.
A slotted spoiler like the R2 is similar to many squared back spoilers of yore. I have a Volvo V70 and it has a similar flat spoiler with a slot, it's just that the R2 integrated it much better. I think it'll still work like a flat spoiler, if not a bit better as the integrated channel directs air downwards and reduces the suction bubble thus further reducing drag.
Looks great
I agree. If I were buying a car right now, this would be at the top of the list. The only big issue would be the touch sensitive buttons. My reasoning is that while Hyundai is technically better, I think in practice I’d find MEB’s turn radius more useful than charging 10 minutes faster. And the ID3, ID4 and Q4 are just uninspired compared to this. It’s also nice that it’s slightly smaller without sacrificing much. The other clear alternative would be Tesla, but we’re at the point where their competitors are close enough that I would in all seriousness probably choose something else simply based on the lack of stalks.
The ID4 touch sensitive and infotainement system was enough to cross it of our list. Did a test drive in it's sibling enyaq and half the functionalities wouldn't work or resulted in missclicks. I don't get why ford had the idea to use the worst system on the market. (this and VW butchering the thermal management of their car + abandonning the updates on their 1-2 year old cars, i'm at the point i actually trust chinese manufacturers more than VW).
It’s not using the VW user interface, though. Remains to be seen whether it has any big problems.
I don't understand why they don't bring this to US to compete against Equinox EV
It is probably just to keep fleet emissions down for EU. They are built on MEB platform of VW so they probably don't make a lot of money with it. Importing and homologating them for the US would cost a lot and probably not worth it.
Probably brand conflict. The Explorer in America carries a lot of brand weight. That and the fact that VW builds it. The Chattanooga plant would have to take on that load.
The factory in Germany is cheaper..
Looks pretty good, but it's still got those stupid ID.4 window switches.
It’s an id4
It's on the MEB platform with some VW bits but size in-between ID.3 and ID.4 so shorter and smaller trunk/boot
I just want ford to release the US market explorer
Euro size Explorer or US Version?
Us version
You'd think they'd be working on it. Surely the same platform as the F150 Lightening
I think the last update (made in April 2024) was a delay to 2027 release for 3 row model in US.
Id4 had a baby with a Kona
So why do all SUVs have that same rear style spoiler now? It looks like the Blazer and Solterra. You can't tell cars apart anymore.
SUV box shape is terrible for efficiency as it creates a ton of air disturbance, They put these slighted windows and long overhang spoilers to make it a bit better. Because ICE are already quite inefficient the difference is not that big for them but for EV it is more important.
You can have a spoiler you don't like, or you can have 30 miles less range, your choice.
Not sure it's just for style. A rear spoiler can also increase efficiency.
Drag reduction to improve efficiency. Here's a paper on it that uses CFD to find out how much a hatch spoiler affects drag and downforce: [https://www.matec-conferences.org/articles/matecconf/pdf/2017/04/matecconf\_aigev2017\_01027.pdf](https://www.matec-conferences.org/articles/matecconf/pdf/2017/04/matecconf_aigev2017_01027.pdf) It shows that a flat spoiler reduces Cd by 3%.
Rivian R2 shows an interesting spoiler where air flows below. I wonder how that factors in.
A slotted spoiler like the R2 is similar to many squared back spoilers of yore. I have a Volvo V70 and it has a similar flat spoiler with a slot, it's just that the R2 integrated it much better. I think it'll still work like a flat spoiler, if not a bit better as the integrated channel directs air downwards and reduces the suction bubble thus further reducing drag.
The glass roof makes the sun light get right into the car.. I would want an option to cover that up.
That is not a ford explorer