The all-new 2018 Ford Expedition was unveiled today ahead of the Chicago Auto Show in Dallas, Texas, showing for the first time the long awaited aluminum bodied replacement for the long-running full-sized SUV.
Like their newest F-150, Ford is calling the 2018 Expedition the smartest, most capable and most adaptable one ever. What does that mean? We’ll it’s marketing speak for the fact it brings all the latest hardware from the 2018 F-150, the latest technologies from Ford’s science lab, and a few extra things to boot.
The first truly all-new Expedition in well over a decade, the 2018 gets a new body structure constructed entirely of aluminum to save some 300 pounds. Like the aluminum bodied pickups it shares its lineage with, it gets a stronger high-strength steel frame underneath to beef up its towing and payload capacities.
Retaining its fully independent suspension, the 2018 Ford Expedition will launch with the same next-generation 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 and 10-speed automatic transmission found in the new F-150. It brings more power and fuel economy than before with several tweaks including both port and direct fuel injection.
Like the F-150 the engine will get standard engine auto start-stop as well as an available electronic limited-slip differential on models with Intelligent 4WD. All in, the 2018 Ford Expedition is expected to reign in the class for top towing capability when final specs are released later this year closer to when it goes on sale this fall.
The interior may look familiar as this time around Ford chose to stick closer to the F-150 for basic design layout. Seating and trims will differ and notable is a dial gear selector on the center console instead of the column shift we see in most trucks.
Shown here is the top-grade Platinum trim level with patterned and quilted leather along with open pore style woodgrain trims. A panoramic glass roof will be an option, something not yet offered by GM in their Tahoe, Yukon or Escalade trio.
The new 2018 Ford Expedition will seat up to eight passengers with a new sliding second-row seat that tips and slides for easy access to the third row. And as always you can fold the seats down for a flat cargo deck. They claim the cargo space is large enough for a 4×8 sheet of plywood with the rear gate closed.
No longer letting GM have the broadband flag, the 2018 Ford Expedition will be available with a Wi-Fi hotspot that can handle up to 10 devices at once up to 50 feet away. A new dual screen rear seat theater system can tie into that Wi-Fi for streaming video from your home cable accounts.
A truckload of tech will be available as expected including all the latest in driver-assistance aids and parking assist. These include adaptive cruise control with stop and go capability, lane-keeping aid, and collision avoidance braking capabilities just to name a few. The Pro-Trailer Backup system made famous in the F-150 will also be available in the Expedition.
As before, the 2018 Ford Expedition will be available in two wheelbases, the standard size and the longer Expedition MAX to compete head-to-head with the Chevrolet Suburban.
