Ford’s Expedition has discovered Platinum.
The full-size SUV is getting a makeover for 2015 that includes the addition of the Platinum trim level currently offered on Ford’s F-Series pickups, plus a host of technology that’s also headed for its updated Lincoln Navigator sibling next year.
That means the Expedition will switch from a V8 engine to Ford’s 3.5-liter turbocharged V6, likely delivering upwards of 370 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque, and will be available with an active suspension system featuring “continuously controlled damping” that has previously been an option only on Lincoln vehicles.
Fresh grille and tailgate designs announce the new model, which will still come in standard and extended EL versions, while a mild interior overhaul includes the latest multi-screen MyFord Touch infotainment system and a 10-speaker 700-watt Sony audio system. A blind spot warning system and cross-traffic are also new to the model line.
Along with the Platinum, which has a cabin trimmed in French-stitched Brunello leather, the Expedition will be offered in XLT and Limited model when it goes on sale late in 2014, with a King Ranch version rejoining the lineup at a later date.
Although far from a complete redesign, the 2015 Expedition marks the model’s first major overhaul since 2007, but the next one may not take so long. An all-new SUV based on the upcoming aluminum-bodied 2015 F-150 is rumored to be on the way within the next three years.