2018 Ford Expedition Goes Aluminum

The 2018 Ford Expedition will have an aluminum body – a move designed to shave weight and appease Uncle (though that’s not being said out loud).

“It really sets the new standard in the segment,” said Craig Patterson, Ford’s large SUV marketing manager.

The Expedition, unveiled Tuesday in Dallas ahead of the Chicago Auto Show, went on the same diet as its F-150 and Super Duty counterparts. The new aluminum body shaves about 300 pounds, a weight savings Ford expects will result in better fuel economy, although it did not provide specifics. The current model gets about 15 mpg city/21 highway.

Other updates for 2018 include an independent rear suspension and continuously controlled damping. Under the hood, the new Expedition will be powered by the same 3.5 liter V6 EcoBoost engine the current model has, but paired with Ford’s new 10 speed transmission.

The interior features more legroom with sliding second-row seats and reclining third-row seats. Both rows of seats have power-folding options. It has twice the cubby space as the current model and features charging ports at every seat, including six USB charging ports, four 12-volt power points and a 110-volt power outlet.

The center console also features a wireless charging pad and a Wi-Fi hot spot that extends 50 feet around the vehicle.