by "Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
Published 11/09/2017 at 13:26
by "Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
Published 11/09/2017 at 13:26
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STARS: 8
The picture above was included with this Autoweek article about the new 2018 Ford Expedition . I was very surprised to see the presence of honest-to-God trucky looking sidwalls on a production large SUV, instead of the trend towards gigantic wheels and lower profile tires.
Looking at this close-up of the actually-has-a-sidewall tire got me to thinking. It’s a Michelin Primacy XC tire, which According to Michelin is a new OE-fitment all-season truck tire, and according to Tire Rack falls in their Highway All-Season category.
Then I thought, hmm, what’s that badge on the fender there?
Oh my. That’s the FX4 “off road” package. With highway all-season tires. I found this more detailed article about the FX4 package , and in addition to the chunky tires, it includes the following goodies:
Rear electronic limited slip differential with 3.73:1 final drive ratio
Off-road-tuned shocks
7 skid plates and shields including sand shields for each turbo; steel plates guarding the steering gear, engine, transmission and transfer case; and a full-length fuel tank plate
Shortened chin spoiler for better approach angle
Heavy-duty radiator
That article mistakenly refers to the Primacy XC tires as “all-terrain Michelin Primacy XC tires tuned more for on-road driving than for true off-roading.” That’s an accurate description, except for they’re not all-terrain tires. The Ford configurator also refers to them as all-terrain tires, when they’re clearly not.
But hey, whatever. Nobody’s actually going to go rock crawling in an Expedition, and tall sidewalls on trucks are a good thing!
"victor" (victor)
11/09/2017 at 13:29, STARS: 0
I love this car, but the pricing really gets up there. They must be throwing cash on the hood. Otherwise, why not a LC?
"Dasupersprint - base trim is enough" (dasupersprint)
11/09/2017 at 13:30, STARS: 0
It looks really good
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
11/09/2017 at 13:30, STARS: 0
I guess the F150's e-locker doesn’t work in the rear IFS diff on this truck. Shame.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
11/09/2017 at 13:32, STARS: 0
The thing I don’t get is how they justify the pricing. I mean we’ve all come to acknowledge that truck margins are huge right? Its not a secret. Sure its not cheap to make a big investment in a truck like this with its new suspension, new [aluminum] body panels and new interior bits but 55 to start? give me a break.
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
11/09/2017 at 13:32, STARS: 1
LC has just about zero add-on options, plus the third row unfolded leaves very little cargo space. And some people just like their own brand better.
"LongbowMkII" (longbowmkii)
11/09/2017 at 13:45, STARS: 0
this should be popular among the “farms”/new construction luxury houses off the beaten path. paving a half mile gravel driveway or getting a luxury SUV is a pretty equal consideration.
"Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies" (jordanwphillips)
11/09/2017 at 13:52, STARS: 0
According to Motortrend, it makes the Suburban/Tahoe seem kind of shitty.
"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
11/09/2017 at 13:56, STARS: 1
It’s about time! Taller sidewalls protect the rim and allow for some adjustment to the ride with changes in air pressure. There’s no airing down a low-profile tire.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
11/09/2017 at 14:09, STARS: 1
I’d never buy a house with a dirt or gravel driveway because I don’t want to kick a bunch of shit up on my car every day.
"jimz" (jimz)
11/09/2017 at 14:31, STARS: 0
assuming “LC” means Land Cruiser, I don’t think comparing the Expedition to something whose base price is over $30,000 more is useful.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
11/09/2017 at 15:13, STARS: 0
The eLSD is arguably more useful for stuff like driving around town in the snow. Although I could see how the locker would be better for tricky boat ramp situations.
"victor" (victor)
11/09/2017 at 15:33, STARS: 0
The 2018 Expedition starst at 52k and ranges to 73k before ANY options are added.
"jimz" (jimz)
11/09/2017 at 15:44, STARS: 0
think about that for a second. how does a vehicle go from 52 to 73k without adding any options?
"Spasoje" (Spasoje)
11/09/2017 at 16:37, STARS: 0
I can forgive them the highway tires, since I know why they do it (fuel economy), AND since they actually offered a smaller wheel size to begin with. Would give me an excuse to just order BFG KO2s for the thing after I use up 50% of the tread on these...
"victor" (victor)
11/09/2017 at 17:13, STARS: 0
I’m talking about the base prices for the trim lines before options packages are added.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
11/10/2017 at 13:35, STARS: 0
So actually, this pic just popped up of the Expedition’s 4wd selector...
The owner’s manual confirms it’s a lockable eLSD.
The owner’s manual also mentions the 4wd system has 2H, 4A, 4H and 4L modes, but there’s no 4H on the switch in the pic. Maybe if you get the LSD you lose 4H mode and can only lock the center diff with 4L? Unless maybe there’s some other way to get into 4H on LSD-equipped models.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
11/10/2017 at 14:19, STARS: 0
Thats actually pretty sweet that its both an LSD and a locker. I mean its a clutch locker but it should function the same..for the first 100,000 miles anyway until the clutches are toast.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
11/10/2017 at 14:22, STARS: 0
Yeah, it’s definitely cool although eventually the clutch will wear.
If it were available in a vehicle not so huge as an Expedition, I might be more excited.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
11/10/2017 at 14:25, STARS: 0
I betcha the new bronco gets it, or at least hope that it does. Its an axle thats not common to other vehicles though (cept the ranger) so we’ll see.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
11/10/2017 at 15:42, STARS: 0
Honestly while I geek out on this stuff I can’t see much of it in my future. If/when I get another SUV type thing it’s probably going to be something my wife is willing to drive. I have a feeling a KL Cherokee is about the truckiest thing I would be able to manage for that. Which is fine. We just need something good in the snow.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
11/10/2017 at 15:46, STARS: 0
My wife is really enjoying her GX470, SILKY smooth ride and versatile...but crappy economy.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
11/10/2017 at 16:13, STARS: 0
I actually looked at a similar vintage GX before I bought my WK. It was blissfully free of the navigation system. Overall I like it much more than the 4th gen 4Runner because you’re not stuck sitting down on the floor looking up over the dash through a gunslit windshield. But it’s definitely a bulkier vehicle than my wife would want to drive.
Lately I’ve been kinda digging the 2014-15 Kia Sorento SX. For whatever reason, Kia did a whole update to the platform for what was basically a refresh. The styling is a smoothed-up version of the previous-gen Sorento but it has a new interior and the platform underneath is like the bigger, more dustbuster/Sedona-looking current Sorento.
It has Magna Dynamax awd which is kinda like Haldex but it engages both axles when you’re starting from a stop, and it ties in with other sensors to supposedly be proactive about the torque split. It has a lock button that’s usable at lower speeds. I had a base Santa Fe Sport as a rental over the summer and really liked it. The step-up motor on that is the 2.0T vs. the 3.3 V6 in the Sorento, and the fuel economy is rougly equal, but the Sorento adds a 3rd row in the same overall size as the Santa Fe Sport. There’s plenty of cargo room with the 3rd row stowed. The current Sorento and the 3-row regular Santa Fe are both bigger. You can get it loaded up with a panoramic sunroof and vented seats.
