Ford Press Release: New Ford Expedition Shares a Proven Platform

05/16/96

FORD EXPEDITION: SHARING A PROVEN PLATFORM

KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 9 -- Ford Expedition is tough by
association -- derived from the 1997 Ford F-150 pickup platform and
sharing nearly half of its components with the 1997 F-Series.

This approach to the design and development of the Expedition will
produce a host of benefits on the road and make the new Ford full-size
utility vehicle more affordable.

"From a customer's point of view, it's a winning approach because
the product they get will incorporate the best features of the
best-selling vehicle in North America," said Dale Claudepierre,
Expedition chief program engineer.

The Expedition team worked with the F-Series team early in the
planning stages to develop the longer wheelbase vehicle that would
deliver the package that full-size sport utility customers sought.  The
longer wheelbase allows for second-row seating room, the wide doors that
allow easy second-row entrance and exit and an optional third-row seat.

"Expedition ends up being about five inches longer than its leading
competitor with excellent seating in the second row and an available
third-row seat, which is not available in other vehicles in the
segment," Claudepierre said.

Expedition also bears a family resemblance to both the F-Series and
the Ford Explorer compact sport utility vehicle.

"People are going to look at Expedition's hood, headlamps, front
bumper and fenders and recognize these from the new F-150," Claudepierre
said.

The resemblance extends to F-Series legendary toughness, too.
Expedition benefits from the more than 5 million test miles to which the
F-150 has been subjected.

Testing includes drivetrain endurance, 4x4 off-road durability, and
corrosion resistance.  This is in addition to 2.5 million miles of
testing systems and components exclusive to the Expedition.

Expedition's development reflects the company's Ford 2000 philosophy
of producing more cars and trucks on fewer platforms and sharing common
components to reduce product development costs while increasing cycle
plan flexibility.  It also allows Ford to make new products
available faster.

Shared componentry in the Expedition and F-150 pickups is an example
of efficiencies gained through Ford's company-wide Ford 2000
realignment.

Ford 2000 identifies cross-vehicle and sales sharing opportunities.
It allows global sourcing strategies to be adopted and is achieving
major efficiencies.  It lowers the investment of new programs by
adopting the best of common engineering and manufacturing practices.

The program reduces complexity along three broad categories:


* Vehicle Architecture: reduces overlap and redundancy by allowing a
  greater number of vehicles to share the same platform.  This reduces
  the amount of master tooling and stamping dies.

* Vehicle Design: addresses assembly of parts to execute a specific
  design.  As a result of Ford 2000, a new department was created
  specifically to pursue powertrain and vehicle parts sharing
  opportunities.

* Build Variations: deals with the different ways a product can be
  built.  Fewer build combinations and unique body configurations drive
  build simplification efforts.



Shared Expedition and F-Series Components

Major systems and components shared by the Expedition and the F-150
pickup trucks include:


* V-8 Engines -- Ford's modular Triton engines will power Expedition.
  The 4.6-liter V-8 is standard; the 5.4-liter V-8 is optional.

* Transmissions -- Expedition features two electronic four-speed
  automatic overdrive transmissions.  The 4R70W is linked with the
  4.6-liter engine, and the E40D with the 5.4-liter engine.

* Front suspension -- A short and long arm (SLA) front suspension
  system features forged steel upper control arms and cast lower arms.

* Braking systems -- Four-wheel disc antilock brakes are standard and
  were co-developed with the F-250.

* Front-end design back to A-pillar -- Hood, headlamps, front bumper
  and fenders, and instrument panel are common to both vehicles.