I’ve never understood why the Ford Expedition has never been a true expedition capable vehicle. ‘Expedition’ is defined as “an excursion, journey, or voyage made for some specific purpose, as of war or exploration”. When I think of an expedition, I think of expeditions such as:
- Lewis & Clark
- Livingstone expedition in Africa
- Sir Edmund Hillary and Mount Everest
- The travels of Marco Polo
The Ford Expedition has always been more of a family SUV than an adventure vehicle, but that may be changing.
In 2022 Ford will begin offering a ‘Timberline’ package on the Expedition. The Timberline elevates the Expedition above the Jeep Wagoneer with best available ground clearance in its class of 10.6 inches (versus a maximum 10 inches for Jeep Wagoneer), F-150 Raptor underbody protection and best available power in its class. The Timberline SUV model weighs 4% less than Jeep Wagoneer SUV and boasts a better power-to-weight ratio, as Ford’s high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine tops the Jeep Wagoneer SUV 5.7-liter V8 engine with 48 additional horsepower and 106 more lb.-ft. of torque.
“Timberline sets a new standard with full-size SUV customers who need more passenger space, great off-road capability and a basecamp for life’s journeys,” said Mike Kipley, Ford Expedition chief engineer.
Timberline boosts Expedition trail capability, starting with standard 10.6-inch best ground clearance in its class and a wider track, while improved approach and departure angles enable deeper travel into the backcountry on tougher trails. Timberline is powered by Ford’s high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine producing 440 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. of torque.
More functional upgrades include Trail Turn Assist – the same system as on Bronco SUV – that can tighten the turning radius on hairpin trails to take customers further off-road, rugged 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler AT tires, two-speed transfer case and tough F-150 Raptor underbody shielding.
Elevating the new instrument panel and craftsmanship further is an available 12.4-inch high-definition digital gauge cluster that features a large information on-demand area, along with Expedition-specific graphics and animations that respond to the flagship’s selectable drive modes and can display off-roading data and turn-by-turn navigation.
Will the new Timberline package help the Ford Expedition live up to its name? Only time will tell.
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