New Ford Explorer: Tailwind with Red Dot Award for Design

The internationally staffed jury of the highly prestigious global design award honored the distinctive exterior design and the high-quality technical equipment in the interior of the crossover model. The new Ford Explorer was developed in Europe for Europe and has been produced at the Cologne Electric Vehicle Center since June.

Icon reinterpreted

The award in the "Product Design" category coincided with the sales launch in Germany.

"We focused on a reduced design language with striking graphical elements that capture and reinterpret the design elements of the U.S. icon Ford Explorer," explains Murat Güler, chief designer of the new electric SUV, outlining the design philosophy of Ford's first all-electric volume model in Europe. "The Explorer features the best interior Ford has ever built in Europe. It combines a modern, purist aesthetic with unprecedented functionality."

The Red Dot Award is among the most internationally renowned and established design competitions. Jury members from around two dozen nations - including professors, designers, journalists, and other experts - independently evaluated each submitted product based on numerous criteria such as the 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.

New Ford Explorer with Completely New Design Language

The new Explorer reinterprets the confident appearance and rugged charm of Ford's iconic SUV lineup. While its powerful appearance and distinctive identity echo the American heritage of the offroad legend, its flowing, futuristic, and muscular lines follow the principles of aerodynamic efficiency.

The blackened A-pillars give the impression that the roof is floating above the passenger compartment. This creates a visor-like look that emphasizes the crossover model's lifestyle appeal. A distinctive, harmoniously embedded line graphic in the glass characterizes the particularly strikingly designed C-pillars.

At the rear, the striking appearance of the new Explorer benefits from compact, dynamic proportions. Combined with the narrow rear window, they emphasize the vehicle's width. The vertically arranged taillights with "Light Blade" signature highlight the SUV character.

The inviting interior is characterized by a sporty ambiance, to which the so-called wrap-around effect of the cockpit particularly contributes: visually, the instrument panel seamlessly transitions into the door panels, as if they were a single element. Classic design details, such as the extremely slim vent nozzles, recede visually.

Instead, modern, forward-looking technologies take center stage - such as the sculpturally designed speaker cover reminiscent of a soundbar. Overall, the particularly inviting interior impresses with a minimalist aesthetic.