By Gerry Murphy

Following on from the Mustang Mach-E, Ford’s new all-electric Explorer – the latest in a series of new electric models due to arrive in the coming months – made its first appearance in Dublin last week.

We won’t be seeing the new Ford Explorer in showrooms here until early in 2024, but there has been a huge welcome for this car, and Ford bosses expect it to be a firm favourite with customers as they embark on their quest to have an all-electric fleet of cars in their catalogue.

Ford chiefs tell us that the Explorer is the first in a wave of innovative new electric vehicles from Ford and forges the way for a complete reinvention of the Ford brand in Europe.

The mid-size crossover is the company’s first electric vehicle to be built at scale in the new Ford Cologne EV Centre in Germany. It has seats for five across two rows, and is fully equipped to set families on the road to adventure.

Ford in Europe is committed to offering an all-electric portfolio of passenger vehicles by 2030 and all vehicles, including commercial vehicles to be electric by 2035.

The car is a five seat family car slightly smaller than the Kuga and will be available in front- and rear-wheel drive. The range for the new Ford Explorer has yet to be tested and will be announced before the end of this year.

“The new all-electric Explorer is a beautifully designed car that turned many a head when it made its Ireland debut at the Digital Hub this week,” said John Manning, Market Lead for Ford in Ireland.

“We are really looking forward to the vehicle’s arrival here in the New Year. With the steep rise in interest in electric motoring in Ireland, it is arriving at exactly the right time, and we expect the car to be a huge draw for active families who have opted to make the change to an electric car.”

The Explorer is the first of three new electric vehicles that will be launched by Ford in 2024. It will be available to be ordered from later this year. Full details on the specification, trim levels, pricing and officially homologated vehicle driving range will be announced closer to the vehicle’s on-sale date.

Pictured: The new Ford Explorer.