kstwister

I'd recommend the EL over the standard length Expy for what you are look for. Maybe another quote from captain obvious. Just fyi. Good luck!

Wonder if this non-boxed frame will allow the f 150/navigator/expedition to use all the same driveline components for a change? I'm under the assumption that the suvs will keep their irs. But from there forward being the same will go a long way to allowing drivetrain commonality.

A consistent interior theme and updated switchgear would help the inside. The 5.0 and the boosted V6 would help the drivetrain. I still think they should go with the 6.2 for the high roller Gator but its nice to see the changes. 420 ft lb of the torques out of that V6 and a 3.73 rear end would make the avg Expy a stoplight brawler! Or at the very least pull the hell out of your family and full size travel trailer.

Pure speculation on my part, but look at the demographic that buys the Tundra and Titan? Construction crews? Manufacturing? Fleet buyers? Don't know but looks not so much. If we assume it's mostly individuals then who's going to buy the diesel in that demo? Sure the media and "public" will say that want it, but who's going to buy it? Not the retired old white guy that drives to the lake on the weekend pulling a 2500# boat and trailer. Not the young guy who buys it to take to college because Toyota's have "good resale". I would guess the take rate on the 5.0 diesel would be so low that they'll drop it within 5 years. 5.0 is not really that small compared to a 6.something straight six cummins and the 6.7 fords. don't know what duramax displacement is. I think Ford is onto something with the I5. Hopefully they prove it in the Transit and can make a smooth transition to offering in F 150/Expy within2-3 years....if the market demands it.

The new GM twins are butt ugly but if they've got power the men will buy them and the women who drive them don't care. Plus if their interiors are updated, the women will be happy because when they are driving.....they don't see the outside! To preface this entire statement we have to determine that what we(the enthusiast) wants is different than what Ford can/will provide for the masses(soccer mom). Doubt I get the GT500 supercharged 5.4 out of the Cobra...damnit! Ford sold around 40k of these last year. That's not many in the grand scheme. So my thinking is this: I hope Ford drops in the Ecoboost 6 and finally updates that interior. Should swap out the 5.4 for the 5.0 V8 as well. Then you have complete interchangability between F150 and Expy/Navi on drivetrain. Ford SHOULD keep the independent rear and the superior cabin space and seating position that provides. We've got the interior issue, it's basically the same in 2014 as it was in 2007! Maybe some more bells and whistles on the dash, but that's it. That's not acceptable. Trim them up to resemble F series and get the interiors "put together" with some common themes. I'd like to see the Expy keep substantially the same hood and grills because I like the style but that's just my opinion. Could change the rear tails and french them in a bit more to smooth the exterior. I changed the exhaust on my '08 Expy to point out the back. Adds about 1' more pipe to the system and eliminated the interior resonance from my hooker aerochamber muffler. Maybe Ford is playing with the exhaust on that mule too...

a Mustang and a Fairmont in the same post....blasphemy! It's true and it's hurts....but I still don't half to like it!

I'm a Ford fanboy so my allegiance is going to result in a definite bias. That said, the only thing GM is dominant in is filing for bankruptcy and sucking on the teat of the American tax payer. So yes, they are dominant....in sucking...as it were. I'm not trying to start an internet bitch fight with you Borg. I just think the dominance you speak of is non-existant. Good day sir!

Whatever happened to that 7.0 V8 Roush(?) built on that track only Mustang? It's been a couple years back but I thought there was some direct fomoco involvement in that. Call it a....wait for it....Boss 429. A guy can dream right?

Blasphemy! My bad. 5.8 is more better. I noticed that as soon as I posted it and wondered how long it would take somebody to take me to task. I'll go say 10 Henry Fords and ask for forgiveness.

Can't comment on the rumor per say but thinking 5.7 liter ala 351 cid has way more appeal than a 5.2 liter anything. Maybe I just want to see the Boss 351 return and a bumped Coyote would be fricking great. Still slot the Boss above the GT and under the Cobra. I'm thinking the Cobra will be forced induction via the twin turbo 5.0. Should make crazy power with good reliability. Tuners are running Coyotes up to 700+ hp without much done to the internals.....

True, no premium for me. The diesel guys have good luck with the chips but they don't have the octane variation. It'll be hard to find my cake and eat it too but I'll just keep my eyes open. Thanks for the input.

Our 08 Expy is a fine vehicle but if I could get a chip and get even 1 more mpg the annual dollar savings would almost pay for the programer in one year. Have any of you ever done it to your rig? If so what unit did you use? Edge, Hypertech, etc. What gains did you see from the updates? Thanks for any input!

So you are saying building the Mustang is a bad idea? Interesting point of view.....

Hasn't Ford's deal lately been to try to have best in class mpg and hp kinda sorta? If that is the mantra then they could have the 6.2 Gator with 425 hp and lead the class. Then have the standard 3.7 V6 as a mpg getter in 4x2 models. Our 2008 4wd EB standard length Expy scales at 6000# with minimal stuff in it. IMO, you need every bit of that 5.4 you currently have. With 3.73s it's pretty zippy but I'd hate to pull a boat or heavy camper much or else you'd have your foot on the gas hard....most of the time. I don't know if the 3.7 standard V6 is up to that much of a load. The 6.2 extinction is interesting though. I can't imagine Ford putting that much into development on a motor then dropping it in less than 5 years of production. But stranger stuff has happened. I see the 5.0 standard with the ecoV6 as an option on the Expy with the Gator getting the ecoV6 standard with the 6.2 option. Or at least thats what I hope!

Am I safe to assume the Nav/Expy will still be body on frame "trucks" yes?? If so I can't imagine they will back down towing much. However, if after the redesign the rigs themselves are lighter, and I hope they are, there may be some adjustments made to the tow ratings. I love the idea of the ecoboost v6. A real world boost of 3-5 mpg would be f'n huge on these things.

You have got to be sh!tting me! Maybe the Mayans were right. If people can't deal with floormats on their own vehicles what on Earth are we doing letting them actually drive! Sad commentary on the nature of people when we have to install a safety feature on the fricking floor board/gas pedal/whatever to insure that it's not going to be bound up. I'm having a day here at work so end rant! Merry Christmas everybody! See you after the 21st.

Beautiful isn't it! Crazy part is the GTs were designed in the 60s amiright?!?!? That's a 50+ year old Ford design, albeit with modern styling tweaks, still out there kicking some high speed ass.

The four door Falcon is fairly bad ass and with updated styling, it shows(I hope) commitment on Ford's part to keep it around. I would absolutely LOVE one if I could purchase stateside. That said, I'll have to downsize a few kids to make that happen...which isn't any time soon. That sort of the crux of this issue: how many buyers would actually want a seat at the 4d rwd table? I really doubt that a US Falcon would canabalize much in the way of Fusion and Taurus sales though. I think it would make a great compliment to the line up, fill a spot between the SHO and the Mustang. Keep the Taurus fwd/awd, same with Fusion. I don't know if buyers that are looking for front drivers would even cross shop a rwd car. A Falcon with SVT treatment would be a rocket, e.g. the CTS V. It would also stack up nicely against the Charger and 300. If there were enough potential sales by offering up a comparable rwd sport 4d the business case is made. The work has been done, all fomoco has to do is deal with that pesky right hand drive business. That said, how many sales would be enough?

The EB V6 should be an absolute hit in these vehicles. The F150's with the turbo V6 are very popular around here. Some of the mileage claims aren't as stellar as what Ford claims on the sticker but you've got to feed 360+ hp in a 5000# vehicle no matter what. I'm excited about the announcement myself. Hopefully I can afford to buy a used 2016.....by 2018 when they've depreciated to a point of reality regarding true market value. Hope they can knock about 500# weight off the Expy and keep most of the utility. Weight alone is worth major mpg. Get it done FoMoCo. I want to see the new renders! Thanks for the post Premierdrum.

That shot of the Mustang shifting and pulling the Jaaag at about 2:25 on the clock is AWESOME! Good to see it smoke the zl1 as well. That's the only real "comparison" per say in that test. The Mustang is so tall it damn near looks like a truck compared to a lot of those rides! Thanks for the post! Motor noises are always good...especially an angry blown Ford DOHC V8.

If the F150 and Expy will be roughly identical on the front half, including frame and powertrain, I hope they can maintain turing radius. Our 08 Expy turns tight, not Focus tight, but for typical town and neighborhood driving, it's great. Now my 02 F150 Supercrew has a turning radius just slightly smaller than that of a 379 Pete semi......

I think the Expy's have a kind of muscular look to them with rise in the hood. Never been wild about the back end but from a functional standpoint the boxy hind end works. You can get in and out, and lean in and out, without sliming your pants on all the dust/mud on the bumper cover. Our's has the powerfold third row and while initially I thought it was nothing more than a cool gimic, the utility of hitting a button to raise and lower the seats is awesome. It beats doing gymnastics to fold and unfold while holding a grocery bag in one hand and trying to corral kids with the other. It's my wife's favorite feature of our 2008 model. The power is on par or better than our old '02 Explorer with a 4.6 and 3.73's. Economy is just as good, if you want to call it that, too. We consisently get 18-19 mpg on the road loaded up. For a nearly 3 ton box, that's about as good as it gets now. I do wish for the Ecoboost though. Maybe on our next trade!

Existing tooling could be kept and the same IRS under the gen 3 Expeditions might live on. I have no idea on frame dimensions between F series and the Expy/Navigator but it's feasible. Unlikely maybe. Guess we'll see in about 2.5 years.

Wonder if they'll keep the IRS rear? Kinda been the Expedition's claim to fame if you can call it that...

Stock price down 1/2 of 1% is not tanking. 'Yurp is a big concern but today is a buying opportunity. Just wish I had the cash!