Ford Excursion

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Ford Excursion

2000-2004 Ford Excursion
Manufacturer Ford Motor Company
Production 1999–2005[1]
Assembly Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Predecessor Ford Bronco
Successor Ford Expedition EL/Max
Class Full size, heavy duty sport utility vehicle
Body style 4-door SUV w/ 2 rear barn doors[2]
Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Engine 5.4 L Triton V-8 gas engine
6.8 L Triton V-10 gas engine
7.3 L Powerstroke V-8 Turbodiesel
6.0 L PowerStroke V-8 Turbodiesel
Transmission 4-speed automatic
5-speed automatic
Wheelbase 137.1 in (3,482 mm)
Length 226.7 in (5,758 mm)
Width 2000–01: 80.0 in (2,032 mm)
2002–05: 79.9 in (2,029 mm)
Height 4WD: 77.2 in (1,961 mm)
2WD: 74.8 in (1,900 mm)
Curb weight 7,725 lb (3,504 kg) Diesel
7,230 lb (3,280 kg) Gasoline V10
Related Ford Super Duty

The Ford Excursion was a heavy duty, full size sport utility vehicle produced by the Ford Motor Company from 2000 through 2005 for the North American market and through 2006 for Mexico. Based on the heavy-duty, full-size Ford Super Duty line of trucks, the Excursion was Ford's largest SUV in its lineup during the tenure of its production. It competed mainly against the lighter duty Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL 1500 and 2500 models.

Contents

Overview [edit]

2005 Ford Excursion

The Ford Excursion was introduced in 1999 as a 2000 model-year vehicle. It was described as the "biggest sport utility on the planet."[3] Sales were initially good, peaking in the 2000 model year with over 50,000 sales. Designed for buyers with super-sized interior cargo and towing needs, the Excursion's "gargantuan proportions came at a price" making driving and parking it into major challenges.[4] As gasoline prices rose, the sales declined.[4] Within a few years, buyers began "reeling in the SUV monster: demand is so low that Ford cut Excursion production."[5] Industry insiders expected Ford to stop producing the Excursion, but sales continued through the 2005 model year, for which it received a minor facelift.

The last Excursion was produced on September 30, 2005, at Ford's Louisville plant, although the last Excursions were sold as 2006 models for the Mexican market. Production of the Excursion was canceled to focus on Super Duty pickup trucks.[6]

An extended-length Expedition half-ton, named the Expedition EL (Max in Canada and Mexico) replaced the Excursion in the company's lineup for the 2007 model year.

Design [edit]

Drivetrain [edit]

An Excursion in use as an emergency vehicle

Engines included the standard gasoline Triton 5.4 L V8, as well as the optional gasoline Triton 6.8 L V10, and the Power Stroke 7.3 L V8 diesel engine. The 2003 models replaced the 7.3 L International diesel with a more powerful 6.0 L International diesel.

A 4-speed automatic transmission was the standard transmission at first, but it was replaced by a 5-speed automatic in 2003. The 5.4 L Triton V8 was rated at 255 hp (190 kW; 259 PS) and 350 lb·ft (475 N·m). The 6.8 L Triton V10 produced 310 hp (231 kW; 314 PS) and 425 lb·ft (576 N·m). The 6.0 L Powerstroke Diesel was rated at 325 hp (242 kW; 330 PS) and 560 lb·ft (759 N·m). The rear axle for all Excursions was a Sterling 10.5 axle. The four wheel drive models got a NV273 transfer case and Dana 50 front axle.

The powertrain components are the same as those offered in the Super Duty truck.

Fuel economy [edit]

Built using the same platform and powertrain as the Super Duty (a line of trucks over 8,500 lb (3,900 kg) GVWR), the Excursion received complaints and criticism over its fuel economy as a passenger vehicle, while Super Duty line-up did not. Automotive critic, Dan Neil included the Ford Excursion as one of "The 50 Worst Cars of All Time".[7]

The Excursion was designed to be classified as a heavy-duty vehicle, as for commercial or rural use, with a GVWR 8,900 lb (4,000 kg) - gasoline V10 engine and 9,200 lb (4,200 kg) - any diesel engine which exempted the vehicle from CAFE fuel economy regulations and quoting United States Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) fuel economy estimates.[8] Lacking official fuel efficiency tests, a statement by Joan Claybrook described the Ford Excursion as getting "just 8 mpg-US (29 L/100 km; 9.6 mpg-imp) in the city and 12 mpg-US (20 L/100 km; 14 mpg-imp) on the highway and weighs as much as two Jeep Grand Cherokees."[9]

Blocker bar [edit]

The Excursion was modified to include an under-bumper blocker bar device first developed by the French transportation ministry in 1971.[10] This was because initial crash testing indicated terrifying results in head-on collisions with the Excursion vaulting over a Ford Taurus into the sedan's windshield.[10]

Trims [edit]

The truck uses code U4 in the 5th and 6th positions of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

In 2003 the Excursion saw the availability of an upmarket Eddie Bauer trim line.

Yearly U.S. sales [edit]

Calendar Year Total American sales
1999[11] 18,315
2000 50,786
2001[12] 34,710
2002[13] 29,042
2003 26,259
2004[14] 20,010
2005 16,283

References [edit]

  1. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=RsHqYbQ6maEC&pg=PA48&lpg=PA48&dq=Ford+Excursion+is+the+biggest+sport-utility+on+the+planet#v=onepage&q=Ford%20Excursion%20is%20the%20biggest%20sport-utility%20on%20the%20planet&f=false
  2. ^ http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/build-logs-project-install-gallery/89669-ford-excursion-barn-door-subs-handcrafted-car-audio.html
  3. ^ "Big, bigger, biggest". Popular Science 255 (5): 48. November 1999. Retrieved 2012-09-07. 
  4. ^ a b "Ford Excursion Review". Edmunds. Retrieved 2012-09-07. 
  5. ^ "SUV SUX Ford admits its big wheels are deadly Now what?". Adbusters: 38. Retrieved 2012-09-07. 
  6. ^ Stone, Matt; Matras, John (2006). 365 Cars You Must Drive. MBI Publishing. p. 144. ISBN 9780760324141. Retrieved 2012-09-07. 
  7. ^ Neil, Dan. "The 50 Worst Cars of All Time". Time. Retrieved 2012-09-09. 
  8. ^ Weitzman, Larry (2000). "The Ford Excursion, It doesn't get any Bigger". Theautochannel.com. Retrieved 2012-09-17. 
  9. ^ National security, safety, technology, and employment implications of increasing CAFE standards: hearing before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. United States Senate, One Hundred Seventh Congress, second session. 2002-01-24. p. 13. Retrieved 2012-09-07. 
  10. ^ a b Bradsher, Keith (2004). High and mighty: the dangerous rise of the SUV. PublicAffairs. p. 199. ISBN 978-1-58648-203-9. Retrieved 2012-06-12. 
  11. ^ "Ford Motor Company Sets New Full Year U.S. Sales Record". Theautochannel.com. Retrieved 2009-04-28. 
  12. ^ "Ford Motor Company's December U.S. Sales Climb 8.2 Percent". Ford Motor Company. Retrieved 2012-06-16. 
  13. ^ "Ford's F-Series Truck Caps 22nd Year in a Row as America's Best-Selling Vehicle With a December Sales Record". Theautochannel.com. 2004-11-17. Retrieved 2009-04-28. 
  14. ^ "Ford Achieves First Car Sales Increase Since 1999". Theautochannel.com. 2004-11-17. Retrieved 2009-04-28. 

External links [edit]

Media related to Ford Excursion at Wikimedia Commons

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Vehicle is only available in Mexico
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