Those who suffer from vertigo should look away: Ford... is climbing to new heights with an ambitious climbing competition for which a Ford Explorer Plug-In Hybrid has climbed to the top of the world's tallest self-supporting climbing tower.
Inspired by the motto "explorers never stop" embodied in the all-terrain, all-electric, seven-seat, adventure SUV, Ford invited climbers from Norway to climb the 47-metre-high OVER climbing tower on 31 July and achieve the fastest time to win a free, two-year lease of the car.
Six months of planning!
For the daring 'Explore New Heights' competition - designed to honour the spirit of adventure and determination that inspires Ford customers with an active and sporty lifestyle - the company created a special rig to support the Explorer Plug-In Hybrid on the tower's steep roof.
The project took six months of planning, with a thorough study by engineers and architects to ensure that the tower could safely support the additional weight of the rig and SUV.
Ford also worked with climbing champion Martin Mobråten to design a challenging route from the ground to the vehicle that will encourage competitors to push their limits. Difficult obstacles and spectacular jumps were designed to test even the most experienced climbers.
The Explorer Plug-In Hybrid will remain in place in the OVER tower until August 27, and visitors who don't suffer from altitude phobia will be able to get a free limited-edition T-shirt 1 and have their photo taken in this setting - even if they take the stairs.
The 'Explore New Heights' Competition
The OVER tower, located in Lillesand, in southern Norway, was inaugurated in June 2021. It is 47 m high, and from the top you can see halfway across the Skagerrak Strait leading to neighbouring Denmark.
The basic structure of the tower is made of solid wood and there are 44 m of aluminium climbing surfaces on all four sides.
To add to the challenge, Ford worked with OVER tower managers and Martin Mobråten to extend the climbing surface beyond the observation deck to the top of the tower - meaning the finalists had to climb the full height of the tower to reach the Explorer Plug-In Hybrid and claim victory.
Fourteen of the best climbers competed in a mini qualifying round, and of these, the top six qualified for the final. The winner was 21-year-old Leo Ketil Bøe, from Bergen, who completed the daunting task in 3 minutes and 33 seconds to win the Explorer Plug-In Hybrid rental contract and a prize - a replica of the 1/100 scale OVER tower, a 3D printed product.
The ultimate adventure vehicle
Offering electrification, seven-passenger luxury and true off-road capability, the Explorer Plug-In Hybrid is an SUV designed for adventure enthusiasts.
Ford's most powerful hybrid in Europe combines an EcoBoost petrol engine, 13.6 kWh battery and electric motor to produce a total of 457 hp and 825 Nm of torque. The car offers 0-100 km/h acceleration in 6.0 seconds, a towing capacity of 2,500 kg and a range of 42 km (WLTP) on pure electric power. 2
Intelligent All-Wheel Drive and Terrain Management System with seven Drive Modes 3 help the SUV cope with all road conditions - from smooth, unpaved roads to off-road trails, mud, snow and sand - while passengers travel comfortably in three rows of seats. With the second and third rows folded down, there's over 2,200 litres of cargo space for sports equipment.
He said
"It takes the most adventurous customers to test a vehicle as capable as our Explorer Plug-In Hybrid, so we knew that not even the world's tallest self-supporting climbing tower could stand in their way. Our goal with Explore New Heights was to create a symbol of exploration and adventure that would inspire people across Europe to enjoy summer after a tough year.
"Norway is one of the most advanced markets for electrified vehicles in the world, so the OVER tower was a logical choice for such a competition in which our all-electric, seven-seater SUV would participate."
Dan Jones, senior manager, Passenger Vehicle Communications, Ford Europe
