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Ford Trucks and Cars For 2000 |
By Carey Russ |
There's big truck news at Ford for the 2000 model year. Big, as in big. Make that BIG. As the sport-utility size race heats up, Ford has topped the competition with the more-than-full-size Excursion.
Excursion
The consumer appetite for large sport-utilities continues, and Ford now has the Excursion for folks who want a vehicle larger than the Expedition. As the Expedition is built on the regular F-series truck platform, the Excursion is the SUV built on the Super Duty pickup platform. The Excursion is bigger in every dimension, and can hold up to nine people and 48 cubic feet of cargo at the same time, and tow up to 10,000 lbs. Yet its engines -- 5.4-liter V8 and 6.8-liter V10 gasoline and 7.3-liter V8 diesel -- have exhaust emissions levels up to 43 percent lower than permitted, and it will be certified as a low- emissions vehicle (LEV). By weight, more than 85 percent of an Expedition is recyclable. There are two trim levels, and buyers have a choice of two- or four-wheel drive. All models are equipped for heavy- duty towing.
F-Series Full-Size Pickups
Ford's F-Series full-size pickup line continues to expand. The light- duty F150 is available in a "Harley-Davidson F150" 4x2 SuperCab Flareside box limited edition in, naturally, black. Coming in the near future is the F150 SuperCrew. It is the first four-door crew cab-bodied light-duty pickup and offers much more passenger room than the extended cab in a much smaller vehicle than the traditional crew cab pickup. If something larger is needed, Ford can oblige with the F250 and F350 Super Duty pickups. With 44 different configurations in regular, extended, and crew cab forms, there's a Super Duty for every need. There are equipment enhancements throughout the line.
Expedition
The Expedition may be smaller than the Excursion, but it fits the SUV needs of plenty of people. To fit even more, power-adjustable pedals are standard on all models this year. The sonar-based "Reverse Sensing System" will be offered. There are minor interior and exterior trim changes.
Explorer
The mid-sized Explorer SUV also gets the "Reverse Sensing System".
Ranger
Ford's compact pickup, the Ranger, has a new "Trailhead" 4x2 model with a 4x4 look.
Econoline
The full-sized Econoline van lineup expands with the introduction of the E-450 Super Duty stripped chassis, good news for motorhome makers.
