Ford is always a step ahead of the competition. The full-size SUV segment is fresh, and the new move by the US carmaker is to deliver the heavy-duty model based on the F-250 truck. It wouldn’t be the first time the Blue Oval badge is testing such a market. The 2023 Ford Excursion is on the wishlist, but we don’t have confirmed info about the upcoming SUV.
However, there are plenty of speculations about the comeback of the largest SUV ever. The Excursion was an experiment that didn’t last for too long. But, fans still remember this vehicle as the biggest truck-based SUV. Nowadays, we have long-wheelbase versions of Expedition, GMC Yukon, and Chevy Suburban. But, that is not exactly what the 2023 Ford Excursion is going to offer.
Is there a room in the lineup for such an SUV? For sure. The Excursion would be positioned above all the available models in the market. So, the competition is not going to make problems. On the other hand, is there are a market for this kind of vehicle? SUVs are taking over the sales and smaller rides are not so popular anymore. Still, the price and size will definitely fend off some potential buyers.
Engines and Specs Predictions
The US carmaker is making interesting moves in the SUV segment. Smaller displacements with turbochargers and higher outputs are the priority. For example, Expedition is one of the rare full-size SUVs with a V6 under the hood. The drivetrain is still capable of producing 400 hp, or 450 ponies at the high-end configurations (Raptor truck, Lincoln Navigator). Also, you might expect a V6 in the mid-size segment, but Ford goes with a turbo-four in Explorer.
This pattern is not going to be possible for the heavy-duty SUV. The 2023 Ford Excursion is getting a V8, that is for sure. Since it is a truck-based vehicle, we are looking at options in the F-Series. The F-250 is using a 6.2-liter V8 as the older drivetrain. But, we are sure that the SUV is going to use the new 7.3-liter V8, a popular Godzilla engine. It can produce 430 hp and 475 lb-ft, but it can be downtuned for the SUV. A ten-speed automatic transmission is the best pairing. A rear-wheel drive is the base configuration and AWD is going to be a cool option if you are looking to get the Excursion off the road.
2023 Ford Excursion Diesel
The biggest mystery is about the diesel configuration. This is a dying class, but Ford is still delivering oil burners. Such a big vehicle needs a lot of torque. Solutions for the 2023 Ford Excursion Diesel are there, but both options have pros and cons. A 3.0-liter turbodiesel is available for the Expedition and F-150. The 2023 Ford Excursion is bigger and definitely needs more power since 250 hp is definitely not enough. If the SUV borrows the powertrain from the HD truck, that is a 6.7-liter Powerstroke mill with 450 hp and more than 1,000 lb-ft of twist. This is more than the Excursion needs. So, downpowering is likely to happen, so the SUV can offer about 400 hp and 800 lb-ft of torque. The towing capacity is expected to beat Expedition’s hauling potential of 9,300 pounds.
Release Date and Price
The 2023 Ford Excursion is still just a rumor. But, the idea is pretty attractive. The SUV class is growing and we have a lot of sub-tiers. If full-size models are not big enough, Expedition Max and Chevy Suburban are offering long wheelbases. Overall lengths of 225 inches are still below the size of the old Excursion. So, there is room for a bigger, truck-based SUV. The HD segment was updated recently, and the 2023 Ford Excursion will definitely take the advantage of the fresh concept. Still, the development is yet to start, so the 2023 YM is under the question mark. The price of the largest Expedition Max is around $55,000, which means the heavy-duty SUV will probably hit the $60k price tag.
