All-Electric Explorer Scoops Prestigious ‘Red Dot’ Design Award

COLOGNE, Germany – Ford’s all-electric Explorer has won the prestigious Red Dot Award in recognition of its striking exterior design and the high-quality technical features.

The award was bestowed by an international jury and presented at the Explorer sales launch in Germany.

“We have focused on a reduced design language with concise graphic elements that take up and reinterpret design elements of the US icon Ford Explorer,” says Murat Güler, chief designer of the new electric SUV. “The Explorer has the best interior that Ford has ever built in Europe. It combines a modern, purist aesthetic with unprecedented functionality.”

The Red Dot Award is one of the world's best-known and most prestigious design competitions. Jury members from around two dozen nations - including professors, designers, journalists and other experts - independently assess each submitted product based on numerous different criteria such as degree of innovation, functionality, ergonomics, durability and ecological compatibility. In 2024, the Red Dot, which is internationally recognized as a seal of high-quality product design, will be awarded for the 69th time.

The new Explorer completely reinterprets the confident appearance and rugged charm of Ford's iconic SUV range. While its powerful appearance and distinct identity cite the American heritage of the off-road legend, its flowing, futuristic and muscular lines follow the guiding principles of aerodynamic efficiency.

The black A-pillars make the roof appear to float above the passenger compartment. This creates a visor-like appearance that underlines the lifestyle appeal of the crossover model. An unmistakable line graphic, harmoniously embedded in the glass, characterises the particularly strikingly designed C-pillars.

At the rear, the striking appearance of the new Explorer benefits from compact, dynamic proportions. In conjunction with the narrow rear window, they emphasize the width of the vehicle. The vertically arranged rear lights with “Light Blade” signature emphasize the SUV character.

The inviting interior is characterised by a sporty ambience, to which the so-called wrap-around effect of the cockpit contributes in particular: visually, the instrument panel merges seamlessly into the door panels as if they were a single element. Classic equipment details such as the extremely slim air vents recede visually. Instead, modern, forward-looking technologies come to the fore - such as the sculpturally shaped speaker panel, which is reminiscent of a soundbar. Overall, the particularly inviting interior impresses with its minimalist aesthetics.