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The Ford Expedition first hit sales lots in 1997 and wowed buyers
everywhere with its ample interior space and spectacular towing capacity.
However, it was not until 2007 that the Ford Expedition EL was released, the
extended length version of the already massive SUV. The nine passenger SUV has
been one of Ford's bestsellers since its inception; nevertheless, in recent
years sales have started to dwindle based primarily on poor fuel economy and
increased competition in the market. Even though sales have decreased, law
enforcement and some government facilities still use the Ford Expedition in
their fleets.
In 1997, Ford released its replacement for the Bronco, the huge Expedition. In
the beginning, the Expedition only seated eight passengers and was fitted with
either a 4.6L or 5.4L V8. The horsepower topped out at 260. One of the most
appealing qualities of the Expedition has always been its towing capacity. From
1997 - 2002, Ford equipped the Expedition to tow up to 8,000-lb, a number that
well surpassed any other SUV on the market at the time.
When the 2003 model year hit, the Expedition had a new engine and greater towing
capacity. The 5.4L engine got an upgrade with 24-valves, and the 4.6L engine was
no longer an option in the Expedition. The new engine also gained around 40
horsepower. The towing capacity jumped to a whopping 8,400-lb. Buyers were
impressed more than ever with the changes.
When the Expedition EL was introduced in 2007, other changes overshadowed the
new trim. The entire platform for the Expedition was changed to the T1 - a
sturdier, versatile platform. Ford also gave the engine another boost with a
5.4L Triton V8. Also in 2007, an environmentally friendly edition was released
as well. The hybrid gas/electric version has gotten great praise from critics,
but buyers have been put off by the still poor fuel economy.
The EL replaced the Ford Excursion in the maker's lineup and is called the
Expedition Max in both Canada and Mexico. The extended length is shown in the
added 16 inches. Also, the EL is available in four different trim levels: Eddie
Bauer, Limited, King Ranch, and XLT. Most recently, the Ford Expedition EL has
been used in many television shows and has been also utilized by many government
officials. Overall, the Ford Expedition EL has not been around for long, but
Ford is nowhere near letting go of the extended length version of the SUV just
because of a couple years of lower than expected sales. Ford plans to release a
new Expedition EL in the 2009 model year and has no plans for a lesser
production run. |
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