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Ford finally has its own version of a longtime Texas icon, the Chevrolet Suburban.

It’s the 2007 Expedition EL, an extended-length model of the full-size Expedition SUV that is 1.2 inches longer than the current Suburban/GMC Yukon XL. The new EL model was introduced with the redesigned 2007 Expedition at the recent Houston Auto Show and is intended to replace the much-larger Excursion, which was discontinued last year.

The Excursion originally was intended by Ford to compete directly against the Suburban, but its behemoth dimensions and poor fuel economy made it unsuitable for most people who might have considered it an alternative to the Suburban. It also became a symbol of excess for Ford and the SUV genre as a whole. It brought Ford Motor Co. notoriety and ridicule, particularly in liberal hot spots such as California — even while the Suburban continued to be one of the most popular sport utilities on the market.

The Excursion eventually became a target for radical environmental activists. One California owner complained that he had to start leaving his Excursion at home and drive a smaller vehicle because people would make angry gestures to him whenever he was driving it, making him feel uncomfortable.

Some owners reported vandalism to their vehicles after leaving them parked at malls or on city streets.

Its best year was its first – 2000 – when 50,786 were sold; total sales for 2005 were just 16,283 overall.

Ford is hoping that the Expedition EL will compete directly against the Suburban without generating the hateful backlash that came with the Excursion.

In Texas, where the Suburban has long been considered the unofficial state car, Ford hopes to carve into the Suburban/Yukon XL’s sales with the new, longer Expedition. Taking on the Suburban is no easy task. About one-fourth of all Suburban/Yukon XLs produced by General Motors are sold in Texas.

During calendar year 2005, through November, GM sold 41,255 large SUVs in Texas (including the Chevy Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL but not the Cadillac and Hummer), compared with just 14,546 sales for Ford (including Expedition and Excursion, but not the Lincoln Navigator, a luxury version of the Expedition). The Suburban and Yukon XL together — they are essentially the same vehicle — accounted for 16,554 of GM’s standard big utility vehicles sales, compared with 13,146 for the Expedition sales in Texas through November. Ford sold only 1,400 of the Excursion during that period.

The Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, luxury versions of the Tahoe/Yukon and Suburban/Yukon XL, respectively, outsold the Lincoln Navigator 3,546 to 2,892 during the first 11 months of 2005. The final year-end sales totals were not available.

Total GM large utility vehicle sales in Texas for that period were 47,193, compared with 17,438 for Ford. Those figures include the luxury Hummer, Cadillac and Lincoln models. That gave GM a 61.7 percent large utility market share in Texas through November. But Texas is Ford’s leading market for the Expedition, too.

“The Texas market is responsible for two of every 10 Expeditions sold, and so meeting the needs of Texans is of paramount importance for the new 2007 Ford Expedition,” said Michael O’Brien, the Expedition marketing manager.

Ford is banking on the redesign of the Expedition and the addition of the EL model to boost its large utility sales once the 2007 models go on sale later this year.

But these new models will be facing strong competition from completely redesigned GM full-size SUVs for 2007, some of which are already on their way to dealers. The redesign at GM includes the Tahoe, Yukon, Suburban, Yukon XL, Escalade and Escalade ESV. Ford and GM are struggling over weak car sales and declining profits from their cash cows — trucks and SUVs — whose sales have fallen in response to higher gasoline prices.

Therefore, the introduction of these new large SUVs is crucial to both automakers’ profitability, at least for the next few years.

Both are working to shore up their car offerings so that they can depend less on truck and SUV sales for the bulk of their per-vehicle profits.

Ford says the Expedition has a new exterior design that was “inspired by the best-selling Ford F-Series truck.”

But there are other major changes to the vehicle besides styling. It rides on an entirely new chassis and has suspension, safety and interior improvements as well. Under the hood is Ford’s 5.4-liter Triton V-8 engine, rated at 300 horsepower and 365 foot-pounds of torque. It’s powerful enough to tow up to 9,100 pounds.

The engine is connected to a new six-speed automatic transmission, which Ford says will help improve fuel economy over the current Expedition’s four-speed automatic. Ford’s high-tech roll stability control system will be standard on both models.

An optional three-row Safety Canopy rollover-detection system adds side-curtain air bags. The system automatically deploys the air bag canopy to protect the passengers. Beyond these changes, Ford cited “big improvements in capability, functionality and toughness” for the new Expedition, as well as “new levels of interior refinement, flexibility and quietness.”

“Full-size SUV buyers are, perhaps, the most demanding customers of all,” Ford marketing Vice President Cisco Codina said during introduction of the new Expedition. “They want uncompromised capability and unquestioned toughness, along with interior flexibility and refinement. The new Expedition has been designed with unique customer appeal that makes it stand out in a competitive market.”

Adding the EL model probably is the most important change, though, especially for Texas consumers.

To create the EL, Ford lengthened the regular Expedition by 14.8 inches, most of which went into additional cargo space behind the third row of seats.

That gives the EL 130.8 cubic feet of cargo space, which includes 24 more cubic feet behind the third seat than is found in the standard-length model.

The EL is built on a 131-inch wheelbase, a foot longer than that of the regular Expedition.

Ford says the EL model is unique from just behind the front seat all the way to the rear, with its own floor pan, exterior side panels, running boards, rear fascia, roof rack, rear quarter windows, headliner and quarter-panel trim.

The second-row doors also are different from the standard Expedition; they are larger to help improve ease of entry and exit to the second and third rows of seats. Up front on both models are a new, prominent grille, a raised hood, dual-beam headlights and integrated side-marker lights wrapped into the front fenders.

A number of wheel and tire combinations will be offered, including 20-inch, five-spoke chrome wheels.

Ford says the inside has received careful attention to make the new Expedition more carlike because these vehicles are most often bought for family use and many are regularly driven by women.

Trim levels include XLT, Eddie Bauer and Limited models. Leather seats are available in up-level models, along with amenities such as mahogany wood interior accents, a 10-way power driver’s seat, and both heated and cooled front seats.

The middle seat can be folded into the floor to increase cargo space as well as to allow easier access to the third seat. That seat, of course, can be folded flat into the floor when not needed.

Ford says the third seat is designed to accommodate passengers up to 6 feet 2 inches tall. The optional Powerfold third seat folds flat into the floor with the push of a button. A power tailgate also will be offered.

Other options will include a new DVD-based navigation system, a 340-watt AM/FM audio system with MP3-capable six-disc in-dash CD changer and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.

There is a jack on this stereo to which an external device such as an MP3 player or iPod can be hooked up.

Both models will be offered with optional four-wheel drive. This is a serious four-by-four system with shift-on-the-fly capability and a two-speed transfer case for low-range operation in extreme off-road conditions.

No fuel economy ratings or prices have been released.

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G. Chambers Williams III is staff automotive columnist for the San Antonio Express-News and former transportation writer for the Star-Telegram. His automotive columns have appeared regularly in the Star-Telegram since 1995. Contact him at (210) 250-3236; chambers@star-telegram.com.