Ford Explorer and Ford Capri get increased range and a decreased price
A new entry-level LFP battery pack provides up to 287 miles of range in a model that develops just shy of 190bhp
Yes, you read that right: the Ford Explorer and its sleeker sibling, the Ford Capri, are both now cheaper than before and offer more range, thanks to a revised powertrain and the Government's Electric Car Grant.
The updated Explorer and Capri are available to order now starting from £35,185 and £36,985 (roughly £100 and £500 cheaper than before, respectively) when specified in entry-level Style trim. This is thanks to the inclusion of a new 60kWh Lithium Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery pack that provides up to 275 miles of range in the Explorer and 287 miles in the Capri, representing an increase in range of more than 40 miles in both cases.
Not only does the upgraded powertrain offer more range, it’s more powerful, too; the base rear-wheel-drive Explorer and Capri now develop 187bhp, up from 168bhp. Ford says this has cut the time both cars take from 0-62mph by over a second, with the sprint now over in eight seconds flat.
On top of the aforementioned Style trim, both cars are still available in Select and Premium trims, as well as the new limited-run Collection, which sits at the top of the range starting from £45,985 (Explorer) and £48,105 (Capri).
As well as boating exclusive design touches – the Capri Collection even gets a racy bodykit complete with rear spoiler – Collection models come as standard with the dual-motor AWD Extended Range powertrain, boasting 335bhp and a range in excess of 330 miles. A RWD Extended Range model will also continue to be offered with the single-motor set-up of the base car, but with a larger 77kWh battery providing a range of almost 390 miles in the Capri.
There are more changes, too, because the Ford SUVs’ adaptive cruise control systems can now detect traffic light changes, while the Driver State Assist uses a camera to monitor driver attention, tapping the brake to create an attention-grabbing jolt. Ford has also tweaked the graphics on the standard-fit 14.6-inch infotainment screen, while Pro Power Onboard is in effect a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) system that can power up to 2.3kW of appliances – enough for a washing machine, in case you were wondering.
Interestingly, however, there’s no mention of Ford’s BlueCruise self-driving software that’s now available on the top-selling Puma, and has been on the larger Mustang Mach-E for some time.
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