Ford finally took the sheets off its new mid-size electric SUV, a tribute to the automaker’s best-selling Explorer. The fully electric Explorer, built on Volkswagen’s MEB platform, is expected to start at less than $50,000 (€45,000).
The American automaker had a big year in 2022 after selling 61,575 EVs in the US and becoming the second largest EV maker in the states behind Tesla.
However, Ford is looking to carry its success overseas with a new generation of fully electric vehicles.
Ford partnered with Volkswagen in 2020 to use the German automaker’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB) electric vehicle platform with plans to launch two fully electric vehicles and help expand its position in Europe.
Ford’s current EV passenger car lineup consists of the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E, two remakes of some of the company’s most iconic brands. Now, Ford is reinventing another classic.
After teasing its newest mid-size SUV based on VW’s MEB platform for several months with the hashtag “#ExploringReinvented,” Ford finally unveiled the new, all-electric Ford Explorer Tuesday.
electric Ford Explorer (Source: Ford)
Meet the fully electric Ford Explorer SUV
Ford took the iconic American SUV known for its durability and ability to be the everyday vehicle and unleashed a bold reinterpretation for the modern, electric era.
The new five-seat family SUV combines American design with top-notch German engineering resulting in a futuristic, stylish mid-size crossover. There won’t be a 7-seater offered, at least initially, in what would appear to be a missed opportunity.
Ford says its new electric SUV is fully equipped for family road trips with a supersized movable touchscreen, around 470 liters of storage, and advanced driver assistance technology.
electric Ford Explorer (Source: Ford)
The new Explorer will be the first model to be built at scale at Ford’s new Cologne EV facility in Germany.
Martin Sander, GM of Ford Model E Europe, commented on the release, saying:
Explorer is a trailblazer for a new breed of exciting Ford electric vehicles. Steeped in our American roots but built in Cologne for our customers in Europe, it is road trip-ready for the big adventures and fully loaded with everything our customers will need for their daily drives.
The electric SUV will come in two different trims – the Explorer and Explorer Premium, with the base level expected to start at less than €45,000 (roughly $48,500). In addition, it will be available in rear-wheel and all-wheel drive variants.
electric Ford Explorer (Source: Ford)
Ford says you will be able to charge the vehicle from 10 to 80% in just 25 minutes with access to 500,000 charging stations next year across Europe.
The new EV is part of Ford’s push into the European EV market with plans to become an all-electric brand by 2035, including nine electric vehicles in its lineup. Ford plans to sell 600,000 EVs annually in Europe by 2026, and the electric Explorer will play an integral role in getting there.
Electrek’s Take
Ford’s new mid-size electric Explorer embodies both the automaker’s roots and what it strives to become in the future with a clean aerodynamic design and modern features.
The only thing wrong with the vehicle is the market where it’s launching. Although an electric Explorer will likely sell in Europe, it would more than likely be a huge hit in the US. Just look at the hype the Kia EV9 and EV5 are getting while people are chomping at the bit for a Rivian R1S. The Explorer is already one of Ford’s best-selling cars in the States. Why wouldn’t they bring it over…or more realistically make one here?
What do you think? Should Ford launch the electric Explorer in the States, too? Maybe with enough interest, Ford will reconsider.
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Luxury is a tough concept to pin down, but being constantly connected to work, kids, and telemarketers ain’t it. Genesis gets it, and its latest ultra-luxe off-road concept ditches screens in favor of the view out the windshield – and it’s got enough off-road chops to promise two things about those views: they’re real, and they’re spectacular!
Genesis calls its new X Gran Equator concept an elegant overlander for the modern explorer that marries on-road sophistication with off-road resilience. Whatever they call it, the 4×4’s dashboard is delightfully free from sweeping touchscreens, mood lighting, and any hint of telephonic integration.
If you zoom in, you can see screens in the instruments. High-definition roll and pitch displays, altimeters, and probably other outdoorsy, overland-y things that the sort of people who want to do that in what would surely be a verywell-appointed six-figure SUV for a similarly verywell-heeled buyer.
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And that buyer? They wouldn’t miss the screen, because the screen doesn’t matter. The real show is out the front windshield – and if someone from the office calls to interrupt the vibe, you won’t even know. I know I’d pay extra for that … and I can’t imagine I’m alone.
This is how Genesis explains it:
Inside, the X Gran Equator Concept orchestrates contrast between analog architecture and digital technologies, crafting a space that feels both functional and evocative. At the center of the cabin is a four-circle display cluster on the center stack, inspired by the vintage camera dials. The interior design features contrasting colors and shapes, with a preference for geometric over organic elements. The dashboard’s linear architecture and absence of decorations focus the driver’s attention on the journey, while swiveling front seats and modular storage solutions enhance practicality.
After the show, the company will move the concept to a display at Genesis House New York in the Meatpacking District, where it will stay “in residence” until the end of July. If you’re out that way for either event, take a picture of it and tag Electrek on Instagram!
The new-for-2025 Honda P7 electric SUV officially went on sale earlier today with 469 hp and more than 650 km (403 miles) of range from its 89.8-kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery … and you won’t believe the price!
First shown as a concept at the launch of Honda’s Ye brand a year ago, today. Ye is a joint venture between Honda and local automakers Dongfeng, who build the brand’s S7 model, and GAC, which helped develop the mechanically similar P7 that just went on sale.
And, by “similar,” I mean really, really similar. The AWD version of the new Honda P7 offers up to 620 km (385 miles) of CLTC-rated range, while the RWD can go 650 km (403 miles), which are identical figures to the S7. Even the crossover’s dimensions, at 4,750 mm long, 1,930 mm wide, and 1,625 mm tall with a 2,930 mm wheelbase, are identical.
Even the interiors – which are fantastic, by the way, with an innovative mix of screens, buttons, and super-slick sideview monitors – are tough to tell apart.
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Honda Ye EV interior(s)
So, how can you tell the P7 apart from its S7 sibling? The P7 has C-shaped lighting elements that are distinctive from the S7’s X-shaped lights. The end result is a face that reads a bit more “Honda” to me, but that may or may not be a good thing in the Chinese market.
Pricing for the new Honda P7 starts at 199,900 yuan (about $27,200) for the two wheel drive variant, and is also offered with all-wheel drive for 249,900 yuan (about $34,000, as I type this), complete with the sort of advanced ADAS features you have to pay good money to supervise here in the US. That pricing makes both P7 models significantly less expensive that the what the company thought would be the vehicle’s main competitor, the Tesla Model Y.
Kia just pulled the cover off its all-new 2026 EV4 today at the New York International Auto Show, marking the automaker’s first global all-electric sedan.
With a sleek design and practical features, Kia is clearly aiming to offer a compelling, affordable alternative to the flood of electric SUVs on the market.
The Kia EV4, set to hit US roads in early 2026, will be available in three trims – Light, Wind, and the sportier GT-Line.
Exterior and interior
2026 EV42026 EV4
Built on Kia’s 400V Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the EV4 sedan sports a distinctive low, aerodynamic profile with a sporty fastback roofline. The front showcases vertical LED headlights paired with Kia’s signature Star Map lighting and a modernized version of Kia’s Tiger Face grille.
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Around back, vertical taillights and a two-piece spoiler emphasize the sedan’s sporty stance. Buyers can choose between standard 17-inch aero wheels or the 19-inch wheels exclusive to the GT-Line trim.
Inside, Kia’s EV4 emphasizes comfort, convenience, and spaciousness. A modern, open cockpit features high-quality materials, a two-spoke steering wheel, and an available 64-color ambient lighting system. With ample passenger room and cargo space, the EV4 balances practicality with a sleek, contemporary feel.
Powertrain and performance
2026 EV4
The EV4 comes with two battery options: a 58.3 kWh pack delivering about 235 miles of range (standard on the Light trim), or a larger 81.4 kWh pack good for around 330 miles (Wind and GT-Line trims). Both models feature a 150 kW front-mounted electric motor.
Charging won’t slow you down: Kia estimates a 10-to-80% DC fast charge takes just 29 minutes for the smaller battery and 31 minutes for the larger. The EV4 comes with a standard NACS charging port and is on the front passenger side.
This Kia sedan has a drag coefficient as low as 0.23 Cd. Its updated i-Pedal 3.0 system offers smooth one-pedal driving, even in reverse and adaptive regenerative braking. Additionally, Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability means your EV4 can power everyday devices like laptops or camping gear.
A tech-loaded interior
2026 EV4
The EV4 features nearly 30 inches of combined widescreen displays. Personalization is easy, including themed interfaces and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Kia’s Digital Key 2.0 lets drivers manage locks, start the climate control remotely, and access other vehicle functions via smartphone. And Kia’s built-in AI Assistant ensures natural, responsive interactions, adding another convenience layer.
Comfort isn’t an afterthought, either. Dual-zone automatic climate control, available heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and acoustic windshield glass round out the premium feel.
Advanced driver-assist technology
2026 EV4
The EV4 is equipped with Highway Driving Assist as standard, which automatically adjusts the vehicle’s set speed to match the posted speed limit (if initially set to the speed limit) and maintains distance from the vehicle in front.
Standard Hands-On Detection helps ensure drivers stay engaged by monitoring steering-wheel grip, enhancing safety on longer trips.
Other available features include Driver Attention Warning, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, and Lane Following Assist. Optional Remote Smart Parking Assist simplifies parking in tight spots.
Look for the Kia EV4 sedan to reach US dealers in early 2026.
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