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How Fast Can Europe's Ford Explorer PHEV Go If There's No Speed Limit?

While the Ford Explorer PHEV has not been made available to the United States market yet, it has been introduced to Europe as part of the effort to move towards electrification. In the near future, chances are a similar configuration will be made available on North American markets too.
Ford Explorer PHEV 9 photos
Photo: Ford
Ford Explorer PHEVFord Explorer PHEVFord Explorer PHEVFord Explorer PHEVFord Explorer PHEVFord Explorer PHEVFord Explorer PHEVFord Explorer PHEV
So what do you do when you get your hands on what is probably the most powerful Ford Explorer ever built? Well, you take it to the Autobahn, of course, and see what kind of a top speed it's capable of, right? The European version of the Ford Explorer shown here features a twin-turbo V6 engine paired to an electric motor, making for a combined 450 horsepower (457 PS) and 620 lb-ft (840 Nm) of torque.

We've already grown accustomed to top speed tests performed by the editors at Autotop.nl, but we were quite surprised to see them take out the new Ford Explorer for a top speed run. MSRP for the U.S. version in non-hybrid, entry-level guise starts at $32,225, and there are five different trims available.

The most expensive one, the Platinum, starts at $54,480, but those of you that are thrill-seekers will most likely be more interested in the ST version, which comes fitted with a 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine with twin-turbos that delivers 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft (562 Nm) of torque. Sure, it's not as powerful as its European counterpart, but there's also no extra added weight from the batteries. For comparison's sake, the Explorer PHEV starts at €69,990, which is the equivalent of $85,825.

Back on the other side of the pond, after we get a quick tour of the vehicle on one of the Autobahn's resting spots, the driver then proceeds to merge onto the highway and open up the throttle. After two attempts, the top recorded speed is 148.5 mph (239 kph), although some argue that the car would be capable of hitting at least 161 mph (260 kph) if there wasn't any speed limiter installed.

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About the author: Dragos Chitulescu
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The things Dragos enjoys the most in life are, in no particular order: cars, motorcycles, diecast cars, and drifting. He's seen (and driven) many vehicles since he started his writing career back in 2009, but his garage currently houses a 1991 Mazda RX-7 FC3S Turbo II and a 1999 Suzuki SV650-S.
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