mackinaw Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 http://www.autonews.com/article/20151020/OEM04/151029996/ford-expedition-redesigned-slimmed-down-for-2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Interesting. Looks like it uses the same doors and front end as the 150. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I'm in the camp of hoping it's just a mule and that the front end will actually be different/softer looking than just sharing the F-150's. I mean we already know the back of it is just cobbled together, so it's possible the front is just using F-150 parts for testing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 That's still a mule. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyle Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 It appears at least that the blue tooth is not working!!! Think it looks pretty good and bet this seems pretty close to production-does not look much like a mule to me but who the hell knows! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackinaw Posted October 21, 2015 Author Share Posted October 21, 2015 IRS or not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Pretty sure that's the same one that was photographed about a month ago 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 IRS or not? Yep. The previous photos clearly showed IRS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 It is the same one. It's a mule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NLPRacing Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 This is the first we've seen an EL, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 This is the first we've seen an EL, right? First I've seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANTAUS Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index.php?/topic/59803-2017-aluminum-expedition-spotted-testing/?hl=%2B2017+%2Bexpedition Same mule as last months topic... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 This is the first we've seen an EL, right? That's not an EL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NLPRacing Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 That's not an EL. There's an EL in the photo gallery. http://www.autonews.com/gallery/20151019/PHOTOS01/101909998&Profile=1254&template=mobile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Yep, the bottom row of pics in NLP's post is the EL. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Ok I see what they did now. They lengthened it at the back of the C pillar. I was looking at the length behind the wheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 The easy way to tell (on a non-camo unit) is that the door on the EL stops before the wheel well arch. The door on the non-EL continues into the arch. It's hard to tell on the camoed versions since you can't see the door lines well through the camo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traxiii Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 I kind of like it, and always thought the F1 and Expo should share as much as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 The easy way to tell (on a non-camo unit) is that the door on the EL stops before the wheel well arch. The door on the non-EL continues into the arch. It's hard to tell on the camoed versions since you can't see the door lines well through the camo. That's how I figured it out, but like you say it's hard to tell with the camo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Changing the sheetmetal on a BOF vehicle isn't hard to do..so this mule using '15 F-150 parts mixed with current gen Expedition parts isn't too far from a production vehicle. As long as the cooling works more or less the same, it shouldn't be a big deal to change it. Not to mention when was the last time we saw a unreleased upcoming Ford product sans camo on it? We see mules but the past couple years its been nearly impossible to see a clean car before its released at an auto show..Ford has gotten pretty good at hiding upcoming products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 The easy way to tell (on a non-camo unit) is that the door on the EL stops before the wheel well arch. The door on the non-EL continues into the arch. It's hard to tell on the camoed versions since you can't see the door lines well through the camo. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Expy and F-150 share doors to keep costs down (as seen on this mule), but that front end needs to be softer (compared to F-150) for it to gain marketshare, IMO. With the '97 models that shared front ends, the F-150 was a more streamlined/softer design to begin with, so it translated better over to an SUV that wasn't "brute-ish" like this mule looks (to me). Sharing door designs on Expy would also be a super easy way for them do differentiate it from the Navigator (Expy could retain the F-series beltline dip to the mirrors, while Navigator gets a traditional flat beltline). --- I wonder if we could see an Expedition (and Navigator) "concept" this autoshow season? With the lightly-changed production models debut at next year's shows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 I wouldn't be surprised to see the Expy and F-150 share doors to keep costs down (as seen on this mule), but that front end needs to be softer (compared to F-150) for it to gain marketshare, IMO. With the '97 models that shared front ends, the F-150 was a more streamlined/softer design to begin with, so it translated better over to an SUV that wasn't "brute-ish" like this mule looks (to me). Sharing door designs on Expy would also be a super easy way for them do differentiate it from the Navigator (Expy could retain the F-series beltline dip to the mirrors, while Navigator gets a traditional flat beltline). Agreed! The current F150 front end does not translate well to an Expy and it definitely needs to be 'prettied up' to pick up sales from the Yuhoe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGR Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 I would think that most people who want softer styling would opt for a crossover over an SUV, and that SUV buyers want a truck like appearance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 I would think that most people who want softer styling would opt for a crossover over an SUV, and that SUV buyers want a truck like appearance. I'm not saying it has to be super curvy to where it's awkward like the QX80, or extremely soft in it's design cues to where it has no masculinity, I'm simply saying I think the styling should be softer than just looking like an F-150 with a cover on the bed, which looks brutish and way too masculine. I understand your argument, but I think there's a middle ground between the brute look and the "crossover" look, where you can have just enough elements of each to cater to a wider audience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
probowler Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 but that front end needs to be softer (compared to F-150) for it to gain marketshare, IMO. With the '97 models that shared front ends, the F-150 was a more streamlined/softer design to begin with Agreed! The current F150 front end does not translate well to an Expy and it definitely needs to be 'prettied up' to pick up sales from the Yuhoe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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