TRANSPORT
Ford's Expedition Makes the Aluminium Switch
Among truck manufacturers, Ford has become a standard-bearer for lightweight & sustainable aluminium.
21 October, 2016
The American auto company is now bringing those advantages to its other flagship models.
The Ford Expedition is the next vehicle the American auto manufacturer plans to deliver with an aluminium body, following on the success of its switch to aluminium in the F-150 pickup series.
The lighter Expedition will start rolling off the line with the 2018 model, once the company's assembly facilities are retooled to create and install aluminium panels. Ford officials announced the decision to investors in late September, which was cause for celebration at the only American assembly plant where Expeditions are made. That facility will see $1.3 billion in upgrades to convert its operations so that the Expedition, as well as the F-150 and Super Duty, will all be manufactured using aluminium materials.
The lighter Expedition will start rolling off the line with the 2018 model, once the company's assembly facilities are retooled to create and install aluminium panels. Ford officials announced the decision to investors in late September, which was cause for celebration at the only American assembly plant where Expeditions are made. That facility will see $1.3 billion in upgrades to convert its operations so that the Expedition, as well as the F-150 and Super Duty, will all be manufactured using aluminium materials.
Current (2017) Ford Expedition model. Images: Carsinfo Tech
Ford isn't elaborating at this point, but industry analysts are saying that it is a smart move. Stricter laws on fuel efficiency and emissions are on the way, and the shift to aluminium makes the Expedition more competitive in an SUV market that has been dominated by GM vehicles like the Suburban and the Tahoe. Expedition sales, however, were off the charts this summer at nearly 43 percent over previous year annual sales, giving Ford an opportunity to capitalize on the model's popularity.
The company plans to follow the same steel frame and aluminium body approach it has used with the F-150, according to Car and Driver. That aluminium, introduced in the 2015 model, saved 315 kilograms (when including vehicle components), with the body accounting for about 70 percent of the weight savings. The F-150's body, cylinder block and heads for the engine, the main case for 6-speed automatic transmission, and various suspension components all amounted to 454 kilograms of aluminium in the pickup truck.
A similar reduction – along with the fuel savings and vehicle emissions cut – is expected in the 2018 Expedition, which will go on sale next year.
The company plans to follow the same steel frame and aluminium body approach it has used with the F-150, according to Car and Driver. That aluminium, introduced in the 2015 model, saved 315 kilograms (when including vehicle components), with the body accounting for about 70 percent of the weight savings. The F-150's body, cylinder block and heads for the engine, the main case for 6-speed automatic transmission, and various suspension components all amounted to 454 kilograms of aluminium in the pickup truck.
A similar reduction – along with the fuel savings and vehicle emissions cut – is expected in the 2018 Expedition, which will go on sale next year.
Both the more affordable Expedition and the high-end Lincoln Navigator are getting a makeover, with low gas prices helping the SUV market approach its former levels of success. The new aluminium Ford Expedition's aesthetic details remain the stuff of speculation, though it is likely the 2018 will use the F-150's engine and powertrain as well. At least some of the mystery surrounding the new-look Expedition should clear up in January, when the 2018 model will likely appear at the Detroit Auto Show.
Image: Ford
Ford has seen real success with the aluminium F-150, despite some initial skepticism from the public and a few challenges from competing vehicle manufacturers. It all began with the bold move to make a switch in its top-selling model, which had been the best-selling vehicle in the United States for more than three decades when the company planned its redesign for 2015.
The risks were worth it, the company said, because Ford was committed to meeting vehicle fuel efficiency standards. As evidenced by their investment in an aluminium Expedition, that commitment very much remains in place. For example, thirty percent of the new F-150 trucks also have a hybrid battery that saves fuel by shutting off the vehicle instead of idling at stoplights, and that number will go to 60 percent in the coming year. The company hopes that by 2020, a battery to support day-to-day driving will be standard.
Meanwhile, the aluminium body in the next-generation Expedition is yet another step toward meeting performance standards that comply with industry regulations – without compromising on the SUV's safety or the tough-duty expectations of a consumer who expects one strong enough to work and tow.
The risks were worth it, the company said, because Ford was committed to meeting vehicle fuel efficiency standards. As evidenced by their investment in an aluminium Expedition, that commitment very much remains in place. For example, thirty percent of the new F-150 trucks also have a hybrid battery that saves fuel by shutting off the vehicle instead of idling at stoplights, and that number will go to 60 percent in the coming year. The company hopes that by 2020, a battery to support day-to-day driving will be standard.
Meanwhile, the aluminium body in the next-generation Expedition is yet another step toward meeting performance standards that comply with industry regulations – without compromising on the SUV's safety or the tough-duty expectations of a consumer who expects one strong enough to work and tow.
Banner image: Ford