Ford Unveils the 2015 Expedition in Dallas

I was partly right.  I ended up learning a lot about the 2015 Ford Expedition at its world premiere.  (For instance, Texas is Ford’s biggest market by sales volume.  Dallas and Houston are the SUV’s two top-selling cities.)

Inside, the structure looked like a hip nightclub.  Blue light did its best to calm the assembled journalists, who were eager to see the shroud come off of Ford’s newest offering.  The waitstaff floated around, making used appetizer plates and silverware disappear.  Attractive bartenders served beer and cocktails to writers whose idea of a party is discussing dealer networks and 0-60 times.  My kind of place.

John Felice, vice president of U.S. marketing, sales and service, said that Ford sold 1.2 million SUVs world-wide last year, a company record and a 35 percent year-over-year increase. The 111-year-old manufacturer will introduce 16 new products for North America in 2014.

After the cover was pulled away, the full-sized rig’s chief engineer, Jackie DiMarco, touted its luxury, performance and technology.  Ford certainly brought the right specimen to D-Town. The Expedition was decked out with glitzy 22-inch wheels, retractable running boards and a leather interior with French stitching in the Platinum trim.  Ford will offer XLT and Limited Expeditions, as well.  Word on the King Ranch treatment will be relayed at a later date.

Performance for all 2015 models will come from the 3.5-liter, direct-injected and turbocharged EcoBoost V6.  It’s proven its merit to V8-loving truck owners over the past three years by being installed in more than 425,000 F-150s.  Output should be around 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft in the Expedition.  Official specs will be announced later.

DiMarco said gas mileage should be about 10 percent better than that of the outgoing 5.4-liter V8, which earned 14 city and 20 highway miles per gallon.  Doug Scott, Ford’s truck group marketing manager, said to expect something close to the 16/22 of the F150’s EcoBoost (4X2).  However, Ford does not yet have certified numbers, according to DiMarco.

She expects her team’s project to be a towing leader in its segment.  It will have to beat the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe’s maximum rating of 8,500 pounds.

According to Ford, the new Expedition’s independent rear suspension will help deliver better ride and handling characteristics, and will leave room for “the lower, more convenient fold-flat third-row bench seat.”

A Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert and SYNC with MyFord Touch is some of the tech bundled into the upcoming Blue Oval SUV.  The latter will give buyers the option of using voice commands, an 8-inch touchscreen or traditional knobs and buttons to access infotainment and other features.

Ford’s new body-on-frame people hauler was definitely handsome.  At first glance, it looked a lot like the 2014.  Upon closer inspection, though, the differences became clearer.  The grille went from four to three bars.  Horizontal LED fog lamps replaced the old round units.  And Platinum brightwork made the 8-seater more Lincoln-like.  Scott said, “These people don’t want to think they’re driving a minivan.  They want a vehicle with some style, with some elegance, something that makes a statement.”

The interior definitely made a statement with its dynamic blend of soft hides, metallic tones and woodgrain trim.  It reminded me of a King Ranch Ford’s cockpit.  Cargo capacity will range from 108.3 cubic feet in the standard wheelbase model to 130.8 in the extended-length Expedition.

The six-speed SelectShift automatic will be able to operate in manual mode through the use of a rocker switch on the gear lever. Continuously controlled damping, a Ford first, will provide a choice among comfort, normal and sport driving modes.

Expeditions with the Platinum package will offer customers the choice of two leather colors, including Brunello with tuxedo-stripe accents.

Ford’s 2015 Expedition will launch this fall in standard (119-inch) and long wheelbase (131-inch) models.  Rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive will be available.  In terms of price, DiMarco said,  “it will continue to be a value in the segment.”

via [Ford]

Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, Derek also contributes to other outlets. He started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube to get even more automotive content out to fellow enthusiasts.

He can be reached at autoeditors@internetbrands.com.

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