Ford Expedition Introduction
Ford introduced the Ford Expedition in 1997 as the successor of the Ford Bronco. The Expedition was the response from Ford to the people who wanted a more comfortable SUV for daily use.
1997-2002 Ford Expedition First Generation
The Expedition was based on the F-150 platform of its time and shared some components with it too. Although not being a premium vehicle, the Expedition offered a comfortable ride and depending on the trim levels, it could have leather seats, second row captain’s seat, and a premium sound system. Ford offered the Expedition with two gasoline engines mated to a 4-speed automatic which allowed the vehicle to tow up to 3.5 tonnes. The two engines were the 4.6L V8 and 5.4L V8. Through the facelift, they saw an upgrade of the power and torque they made. The car could be 4WD or RWD. The safety features on the Expedition were enough for the owners to have a peace of mind in an accident. They included: Air bags, ABS, side intrusion door beams, post-crash fuel pump shut-off, and three-point safety belts for all rows of seating with tension and locking retractors. In the year 1999, the Expedition received a facelift similar to F-150. It consisted of a new grille, a new front bumper, and a larger centre air intake.
2003-2006 Ford Expedition Second Generation
Ford redesigned the Expedition similar to the F-150. One of the major updates was the rear suspension. Some perceived the new independent rear suspension as being controversial at some point. There was a misconception that the towing and off-road capabilities would be reduced. The new suspension improved the ground clearance and reduced the unsprang weight of the car with 110 lbs. Ford also increased the towing capacity of the SUV to the staggering 4 tonnes with the proper heavy-duty towing package, which included heavy duty rear differential. The frame of the car got updated with a new hydro formed fully boxed frame which resulted in 70% improvement in torsional stiffness. With the changes, upgrades of the steering, braking, and electronic systems were made.
The engines from the previous generation were carried over, but major changes and improvements were made so they could qualify the Expedition as Ultra Low Emission Vehicle.
2007-2017 Ford Expedition Third Generation
The new updated version of the Expedition used a new ladder frame platform called Ford T1 platform that was an evolution of the 11th generation F-150.
The new frame featured new independent suspension and 10% more torsional rigidity. The same 5.4L Triton V8 could power the Expedition like the previous generation but being paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. In 2015, the third generation Expedition received its facelift. Its design got slight changes like new front grille, new front bumper, new tailpipe, etc. The biggest change was in the engine. Ford started using their 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine. The engine was making 365hp and making the big SUV more fuel efficient. The interior of the Expedition remained similar to the outgoing models, but the materials got revised and upgraded. The dashboard was redesigned and it looked similar to that of the F-150.
2018- Ford Expedition Fourth Generation
Fourth generation Expedition uses a new body on frame architecture with high strength lightweight materials named the T3 platform. The new platform uses new four-wheel independent suspension and updated powertrain that includes the revolutionary 10-speed automatic transmission. The engine used for powering this generation is a slightly changed 3.5L EcoBoost V6. Some new features included in the Expedition are 360-degree camera, park assist system, automatic braking, lane keep assist, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, six airbags, four wheel antilock brake system, active cruise control, and blind spot monitors.