The 2008 Ford Expedition and Expedition EL extended length model combine bold Ford Truck design, functionality and toughness with high levels of interior refinement for consumers who need the flexibility of a full-size SUV. With eight available arrays across the lineup, Expedition and Expedition EL provide customers the most choice amongst full-size SUV offerings.

2008 Ford Expedition

Specifications
  • Segment: Array

According to results from a Global Quality Research Study survey conducted by the RDA Group, an independent research company, 85 percent of Expedition EL owners are Completely Satisfied with their vehicles after three months of ownership, placing the Expedition EL at the top of its class for quality. Additionally, Expedition EL was rated top large SUV as a Total Quality Award™ winner in Strategic Vision’s 2007 Total Quality Index™ which measures new vehicle owner satisfaction.

Expedition and Expedition EL are available in XLT, Eddie Bauer, Limited and King Ranch trims. All Expeditions are built at the Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, Mich.

New King Ranch Edition joins a comprehensive lineup

The rugged sophistication of the King Ranch Expedition returns for 2008. Available on Expedition and Expedition EL models, the King Ranch Package adds unique 18-inch machined aluminum wheels and King Ranch badging, chrome exhaust tips, Pueblo Gold exterior accents and heated power mirrors with signal, memory function and security approach lamps.

The interior features exclusive King Ranch Chaparral leather seating on all three rows of seats, center console lid and door trim panel inserts with wood trim on the switch plates, floor console, shifter handle and instrument panel. The leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel features duplicate climate & radio controls and Chaparral leather insert. The King Ranch comes standard with the PowerFold™ third-row seat.

Two additional options are being introduced across the lineup as well, including:

 

  • Power running boards that automatically extend when doors open to ease exit and entry into the vehicle.
  • A Rearview Camera System for greater visibility when driving in reverse or hooking up a trailer. Mounted in the rear liftgate, the rearview camera is activated when the vehicle is shifted into reverse, giving the driver a clear view behind the vehicle. The video image is displayed in the self-dimming rearview mirror.


The XLT, Eddie Bauer and Limited packages also receive several updates for 2008, including:

  • Body-color front and rear fascia, wheel lip moldings and side cladding replaces black color on previous model XLT.
  • A new 18-inch chrome clad wheel option on XLT models.
  • Keyless entry keypad, electrochromic mirror, heated power mirrors, leather-wrapped steering wheel, auxiliary A/C, full overhead console, illuminated visors, second-row map lights are now standard on all models.
  • Chrome exhaust tip now standard on Eddie Bauer models.
  • Power adjustable pedals, power rear quarter windows, universal garage door opener and Reverse Sensing System are now standard on Limited and King Ranch models for interior convenience.

 

Comfortable and Capable

The 2008 Expedition delivers a sophisticated level of interior comfort, refinement and quality. For example, Expedition’s seats are designed with large bolsters, soft cushions and premium materials to provide increased comfort on long trips. Expedition’s seating also is very capable. Expedition XLT features six-way power-adjustable front seats, with a 10-way-power driver’s seat standard on all models with leather trim.

One-lever action, kneel-down, 40/20/40-split second-row seats are the first in Expedition’s class to fold flat with the load floor to offer extra cargo space and easy third-row access. A class-exclusive CenterSlide™ sliding center section can be moved forward up to 11 inches to give the front-seat passenger easy access to a young child in the second row. The second row is available in this 40/20/40 bench configuration, or with two captain’s chairs and a walk-through center passage.

Available on XLT and standard on all other models, Expedition’s 60/40-split third-row seats provide best-in-class legroom.

Both second- and third-row seats fold flat into the load floor, providing easily accessible cargo space without the inconvenience of removing a heavy, cumbersome rear seat. For the ultimate in convenience, Expedition offers a first-in-class available PowerFold™ third-row seat that folds flat with the touch of a button.

Getting to the adventure in the 2008 Expedition is easier with the help of a DVD-based navigation system that features a 6.5-inch color touch screen, voice activation and spoken upcoming street names and intersection programming in three languages.

An available 340-watt AM/FM audio system is MP3 capable and features an in-dash six-CD changer with six premium speakers, plus a subwoofer. Expedition comes standard with an audio input jack with plug-and-play iPod capability. Expedition owners may also choose factory-installed SIRIUS® Satellite Radio and the family-entertainment DVD system with a large 8-inch flush-mounted flat-panel display and two sets of remote-control infrared headphones.

Expedition EL Extends Full-Size Appeal

For full-size SUV customers who want even more cargo-carrying capability, Ford offers the 2008 Expedition EL. With 14.8 inches of additional overall length, Expedition EL delivers 130.8 cubic feet of cargo space – including 24 cubic feet more behind the third-row seat than the already spacious Expedition. Expedition EL rides on a 131-inch wheelbase – 12 inches longer than the standard Expedition – to preserve the base model’s superior ride and handling.

Expedition EL is unique from the B-pillar back with its own floor pan, one-piece body side, running boards, rear fascia, roof rack, rear quarter glass, one-piece headliner and quarter panel trim. The second-row doors are also unique to improve the ingress and egress to both second and third rows.

Bold Styling Sets Tone for Tough Expedition

Expedition’s design makes a promise of powerful capability. Inspired by Ford F-Series – America’s best-selling truck for 30 straight years – Expedition melds that ruggedness with expressive lines, delivering a vehicle that exudes confidence, from the prominent four-bar grille to the large blue oval mounted on the liftgate.

Expedition’s prominent grille serves as the focal point for the raised powerdome hood. Dual-beam headlamps feature the Ford-themed step-up design with the integrated side-marker lights wrapping around into the front fenders. Smooth sides and large wheel lips further define Expedition’s confident stance and frame its large wheels and tires. Expedition owners can choose from seven wheel designs, including available 20-inch chrome-clad, six-spoke wheels wearing P275/55-R20 all-season tires.

Improved Road-Cruising Quietness

Expedition engineers set aggressive targets for reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Normal conversation is easily discernible from the front row all the way to the third-row seat, thanks to the use of sound-deadening materials in the carpet and headliner, thick insulation behind the dashboard and door panels, thick side glass and a specially engineered acoustical windshield – all designed to help reduce interior noise. And it doesn’t stop there.

Large, soft body mounts and engine and transmission mounts isolate the cabin from unwanted vibration. Wind tunnel-tuned-and-tested outside mirrors further reduces wind and road noise. Even Expedition’s tires have been specifically tuned to reduce road noise.

Chassis Provides Solid Foundation

The 2008 Expedition features a strong, tough, fully boxed frame, engineered to F-Series tough truck durability standards.

The chassis features an independent front suspension, front frame section and modular front-end construction for ease of assembly and quality. The tube-through-tube frame construction adds additional frame stiffness to provide a solid foundation for improved driving dynamics. Ford’s patented porthole-through-frame design allows the drive shafts to feed through the frame rails, lowering the center of gravity for better ride and handling and maximizing passenger space in the third-row seat.

The 2008 Expedition’s first-in-class independent rear suspension (IRS) features a five-link design for better control of fore/aft and lateral load forces. Monotube shocks on all four corners allow for precise tuning and a refined ride.

A variable boost steering pump uses lightweight aluminum components to reduce steering efforts for easy maneuverability at slow speeds while delivering a firm, responsive feel at highway speeds.

Large front and rear brake calipers and rotors provide for a durable braking system with excellent stopping power. A dual-bore master cylinder delivers a confident brake pedal feel offering more control over the brake curve.

4x4 Capability, Tough Truck Standards

Expedition’s available 4x4 system provides the capability required by today’s full-size SUV owners, who can confidently rely on its toughness and durability. Expedition is tested to meet the same Ford tough truck standards as the F-Series pickup, including being put through the same durability tests at extreme test facilities in Arizona and California.

The 4x4 models have two-speed transfer cases with optional electronic shift-on-the-fly capability, controlled from a dash-mounted rotary knob. In low range, the electronic throttle control changes to a special off-road calibration for more precise torque management in the worst conditions, such as a sandy hill climb or when pulling a heavy boat out of the water on a moss-slicked ramp.

5.4-Liter V-8 Mated to Fuel-Efficient 6-Speed Transmission

Expedition is powered by Ford’s tough truck-proven 5.4-liter Triton™ V-8 engine. With three valves per cylinder and variable cam timing, the 5.4-liter engine delivers a balance of refinement and muscle. Rated at 300 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque, Expedition can tow up to 9,200 pounds, for the best tow rating in its class.

The Triton™ engine is paired with a standard class-exclusive 6-speed automatic transmission. With a wide 6.02:1 gear ratio and two overdrive gears (fifth and sixth), Expedition’s 6-speed transmission has smaller steps between gears than a typical 4-speed automatic and offers improved shift quality, faster acceleration and improved fuel economy.

Standard Safety Features include AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control)

The 2000 Expedition was the first full-size SUV to earn five-star front safety NCAP ratings for the driver and passenger from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a recognition it has maintained every year since 2000. This seven-year run on five-star ratings sets Expedition apart as best in its class. The Expedition is designed to meet all known future government crash standards.

Expedition offers a long list of standard safety content for 2008 including:

  • Ford’s exclusive AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control) is standard on both Expedition and Expedition EL. Unlike competitors’ systems, Ford’s system utilizes two gyroscopic roll rate sensors to accurately measure the vehicle’s yaw and roll angles. If the roll rate sensor detects a significant roll angle, the system applies additional countermeasures – such as applying brakes to one or more wheels or reducing engine power – to help the driver maintain control.
  • Safety Canopy™ side-curtain air bags rollover detection system includes extended-duration side curtain air bags featuring roll-fold technology that extend down to the beltline for increased coverage.
  • Dual-stage front air bags deploy with varying power based on crash severity, the driver’s seat position and safety-belt usage. Expedition uses environmentally responsible heated-gas hydrogen inflators for the passenger air bag.
  • Seat-mounted front side air bags provide extra protection in the event of a side impact
  • Expedition’s door trim features a unique design that works with the standard seat-mounted side air bags to enhance occupant safety in a side impact.

 

Key Features and Options:

Standard features include: 300-hp 5.4-liter V-8 with 6-speed automatic transmission; 17-inch aluminum wheels; Integrated Class IV tow hitch receiver, AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control); Three-row Safety Canopy™ side air curtains; Front-seat side air bags; Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS); Floor shifter; Remote keyless entry; Auxiliary audio input jack.

Available options include: Rearview Camera System; Power deployable running boards; 18-inch chrome aluminum wheels; Premium leather seats; Rear Seat DVD Entertainment System; Power moonroof; Power Liftgate; Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package; Premium Stereo; Navigation system; SIRIUS® Satellite Radio; Power adjustable pedals; Heated and cooled front-row seats; Second-row Captain's Chairs; PowerFold™ fold-flat third-row seat; Black luggage rack crossbars; 4x4 Off-Road Package; Convenience Package.