2015 Ford Expedition Ditches 5.4L V8 For EcoBoost
Ford has revealed the 2015 Expedition, an updated version of its SUV with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine from the F-Series trucks under the hood, and massaged external styling. Set to debut officially at the DWF Auto Show, the new Expedition will be available in 2015 form as a Platinum series model for the first time, and while the EcoBoost engine is smaller in capacity than the 5.4-liter V8 Explorer drivers are familiar with, Ford says the newer engine offers not only more fuel efficiency but more power and torque at low engine speeds.
Because of those improvements the 5.4-liter is being retired from the Expedition altogether in North America, with the EcoBoost engine the only option. It's mated to a six-speed SelectShift auto transmission with a rocker-switch manual override, while the steering now uses electric assistance rather than the old hydraulic system.
The 2015 Expedition should ride better, too, Ford claims, thanks to a switch to continuously-controlled damping with switchable Comfort, Normal, and Sport modes. The system tracks 46 different body, steering, and brake inputs and adjusts the dampening in real-time to reduce bounce and help avoid seasick passengers.
As for passengers, there's room for up to eight inside in the EL version, which has a 131-inch wheelbase and three rows of seats; it musters up to 130.8 cubic feet of cargo space. The standard car has a 119-inch wheelbase, three rows, and up to 108.3 cubic feet.
SYNC with MyFord Touch has been added, along with a radar blind-spot warning system that can flag up crossing traffic, all controlled through an 8-inch touchscreen. The driver cluster gets a further two 4.3-inch LCD color displays; options include a 10-speaker, 700W Sony audio system, keyless entry with push-button start, a reversing camera, and even LED ambient lighting that can be switched between seven colors. On the Platinum trim version, meanwhile, there's leather seating in either black or red wine finish.
Outside, Ford has reworked the front end, and is now offering LED fog lamps and a redesigned rear hatch. All of the wheels are new, too, with a 22-inch factory-fit option.
Ford is yet to confirm pricing on the 2015 Expedition, which will go into production later in 2014.
