A century ago, a daring woman named Aloha Wanderwell made history by becoming the first woman to drive around the world in a car. She traveled through 43 countries on her Ford Model T, sponsored by the Ford Motor Company, and set a world record for her feat.
Now, Ford is honoring her legacy by teaming up with Lexie Alford, a modern-day adventurer and travel influencer who holds the Guinness World Records for being the youngest person to visit every country on Earth. Together, they will retrace Wanderwell's journey around the world in a new electric Explorer, Ford's first electric SUV for Europe.
The expedition will start later this year and will cover six continents and more than 30 countries. Lexie will drive the Ford Explorer electric SUV, which is based on the Volkswagen MEB platform and built at Ford's Cologne factory in Germany.
The Ford Explorer electric SUV offers up to 310 miles of range, four-wheel drive, and a spacious interior with a 15-inch touchscreen that can be moved up and down.
Lexie will face many challenges along the way, such as different terrains, climates, and cultures. She will also document and share her experiences with her followers on social media. She hopes to inspire others to follow their dreams and explore the world.
"We're excited to see what happens with the new Explorer and Lexie Alford on this expedition inspired by Aloha Wanderwell's incredible journey," said Martin Sander, CEO of Ford Europe. "Many, many years ago, we were part of Aloha's journey, and since then we have been companions of people on countless adventures; and now we can't wait to see this ethos come to fruition in the electric future."
Ford and Lexie Alford are recreating a historic adventure with the electric Explorer, which combines the spirit of exploration with the innovation of electric mobility. They are paying tribute to a trailblazing woman and showing the world what the Ford Explorer electric SUV can do.
