Ford Excursion
Ford Excursion 2000-2004
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Production	2000–2005 2004-2012 (F-250 Tropivan) (Brazil)
Assembly	Louisville, Kentucky, United States Goiania, Brazil
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size sport utility vehicle
Body style	4-door SUV
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive
Related	Ford Super Duty
Powertrain
Engine	7.3 L Powerstroke V8 Diesel 5.4 L Triton V8 6.8 L Triton V10 6.0 L PowerStroke V8 Diesel
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	137.1 in (3,482 mm)
Length	226.7 in (5,758 mm)
Width	2000–01: 80.0 in (2,032 mm) 2002–05: 79.9 in (2,029 mm)
Height	2000–01 & 2005 4WD: 80.2 in (2,037 mm) 2WD: 77.2 in (1,961 mm) 2002–04 4WD: 80.4 in (2,042 mm)
Curb weight	7,725 lb (3,504 kg) Diesel 7,230 lb (3,280 kg) Gasoline V10
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford Bronco Centurion (United States)
Successor	Ford Expedition EL/Max (United States)

The Ford Excursion is a full-size sport utility vehicle that was produced by the Ford Motor Company between model years 2000 and 2005 (2006 in Mexico). Based on the Super Duty pickup truck platform, it served as Ford's largest SUV in its lineup during the tenure of its production and mainly competed against the smaller Chevrolet Suburban.

Overview

Excursion was introduced in 1999 as a 2000 model year vehicle. Sales were initially good, peaking in 2000 with over 50,000 sales. As gasoline prices rose, the sales gradually fell. Industry insiders expected Ford to stop producing the Excursion, but sales continued through the 2005 model year, for which it received a minor facelift, and production of the Excursion ended in September 2005. Ford needed to free up capacity at the Louisville plant that produces the Super Duty pickup trucks. A more fuel efficient, extended-length Expedition half-ton, named the Expedition EL (Max in Canada and Mexico), has replaced the Excursion in the company's lineup for the 2007 model year.

Design

Drivetrain

Engines included the standard gasoline Triton 5.4 L V8, as well as the optional gasoline Triton 6.8 L V10, and the Power Stroke 7.3 L V8 diesel engine. The 2003 models replaced the 7.3 L International diesel with a more powerful 6.0 L International diesel.

A 4-speed automatic transmission was the standard transmission at first, but it was replaced by a 5-speed automatic in 2003. The 5.4 L Triton V8 was rated at 255 hp (190 kW) and 350 lb⋅ft (475 N⋅m). The 6.8 L Triton V10 produced 310 hp (231 kW) and 425 lb⋅ft (576 N⋅m). The 6.0 L Powerstroke Diesel was rated at 325 hp (242 kW) and 560 lb⋅ft (759 N⋅m). The rear axle for all Excursions was a Sterling 10.5 axle. The four wheel drive models got a NV273 transfer case and Dana 50 front axle.

• 5.4 L V8, 255 hp (190 kW; 259 PS) 2000–2005
• 6.8 L V10, 310 hp (231 kW; 314 PS) 2000–2005
• 7.3 L Diesel V8, 250 hp (186 kW; 253 PS) 2000–2003
• 6.0 L Diesel V8, 325 hp (242 kW; 330 PS) 2003–2005

The powertrain components are the same as those offered in the Super Duty truck.

Fuel economy

Built using the same platform and powertrain as the Super Duty (a line of trucks (over 8,500 lb (3,900 kg) GVWR), the Excursion received complaints and criticism over its fuel economy as a passenger vehicle. The Excursion has been criticized for its poor fuel efficiency: Martin Short in The End of Oil described the car as "obscene".^[1] The Excursion was designed to be classified as a heavy-duty vehicle, as for commercial or rural use, with a GVWR 8,900 lb (4,000 kg) - gasoline V10 engine and 9,200 lb (4,200 kg) - any diesel engine which exempted the vehicle from CAFE fuel economy regulations and quoting United States Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) fuel economy estimates.^[2]

Blocker bar

The Excursion was modified to include an under-bumper blocker bar device first developed by the French transportation ministry in 1971.^[3] This was because initial crash testing indicated terrifying results in head-on collisions with the Excursion vaulting over a Ford Taurus into the sedan's windshield.^[3]

Trims

The truck uses code U4 in the 5th and 6th positions of the VIN.

In 2003 the Excursion saw the availability of an upmarket Eddie Bauer trim line.

Yearly U.S. sales

Replacement

The Excursion's position in the Ford SUV lineup was replaced in 2007 by an extended-length version of the Expedition. The last Excursion was produced on September 30, 2005, at Ford's Louisville plant, although the last Excursions were sold as 2006 models for the Mexican market. Production was canceled to focus on Super Duty trucks, however, a similar SUV to the Excursion is manufactured in Brazil using the chassis of the Super Duty, and is sold as the F-250 Tropivan in both standard and extended length versions.

In addition to the Tropivan, a conversion company (Custom Autos by Tim) in Guthrie, Oklahoma manufactures "new" Excursions using new and later model Ford Super Duty trucks.

References

External links

• 2000-2005 Ford Excursion: Overview
• New Ford Conversions