Ford this week unveiled an all-new, aluminum-bodied version of its big Expedition SUV that is both bigger and lighter than the version that it replaces.

Built in Louisville, Ky., the truck promises better fuel economy and new features when it goes on sale this fall.

The Expedition grows 4 inches longer on a 3-inch longer wheelbase. The bigger Expedition Max – previously called the Expedition EL – grows 1 inch. Its wheelbase is unchanged.

“The 2018 Expedition arrives on the market at a good time,” Autotrader senior analyst Michelle Krebs said. “Sales of full-size utilities were up 22 percent in 2016, with the sales momentum expected to continue in 2017.

“The Expedition has headroom for higher pricing. More volume times bigger prices equals beefy profits for Ford.”

Both SUVs will be powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 linked to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Ford expects the combination to improve fuel economy and give it class-leading towing capacity.

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Full-size SUVs like the Expedition have been surging. Sales of the Expedition increased 44 percent in 2016 to 59,835 in the U.S.

The Expedition competes with SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Nissan Armada and Toyota Sequoia. The Max competes with the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL.

New interior features include a rotary shifter on the center console. The second-row seats will slide fore and aft to adjust legroom and for access to the third row. The third row will recline and retains its previous power-folding feature. The Expedition seats up to seven or eight, depending on whether the middle row has two captain’s chairs or a bench seat.

It’s Ford’s first complete reworking of the big SUVs in about 15 years. Like Ford’s F-series pickups, it adopts all aluminum body panels and has a new frame.

The front of the high-strength steel frame, from bumper to windscreen, is shared with the F-150. The rest is new to accommodate the Expedition’s three rows of seats and independent rear suspension.

That rear suspension has always been the Expedition’s claim to fame. It’s unique in the segment and contributes to a smooth ride and rear passenger room.

New features will include adaptive damping that adjusts ride to suit conditions, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, trailer-connect assist, wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Wi-Fi, up to seven USB ports, four 12-volt outlets and one 110-volter.

In addition to its current lineup of SUVS, Ford will add five to its U.S. product line by 2020: the Bronco, subcompact EcoSPort, one with electric power, and two yet to be disclosed.


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