Chicago Auto Show: All-new 2018 Ford Expedition gets aluminum body, 10-speed

When Ford Motor Co. leadership made the bold decision to invest in aluminum body structures for its F-Series pickups, they made sure the Expedition was integrated into the product plan. The resulting 2018 Expedition, unveiled February 7 in Dallas, shows the fruits of that wisdom.

Still riding on a separate hydroformed-steel ladder frame (itself redesigned and CAE-optimized for greater strength and lower mass), the new eight-passenger SUV sheds up to 300 lb (136 kg) compared with the incumbent model. The mass reduction enabled Ford engineers to move to a single-solution powertrain format-the 3.5-L turbocharged V6 with auto stop-start and 10R80 10-speed automatic. No V8! Reducing curb weight also allowed the addition of a large panoramic sunroof system, typically a significant mass penalty.