Latest news with #Expedition
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
This SUV gets pickup performance; it's capable, comfortable and … expensive
ORO STATION, ONT.—Take one racetrack under construction. Add a beautiful blue sky. Mix in a brand-new, full-size SUV specially tuned for off-road work and an enthusiastic road tester. And what do you get? A grand day! I'm at the site of what's soon to be the Oro Station Motor Circuit racetrack, near Lake Simcoe regional airport, about 90 minutes north of Toronto. The piles of soil and boulders here provide a great means to test the mettle of the all-new Ford Expedition Tremor. All Expedition trims have been re-engineered for 2025, but the Tremor is an all-new addition to the line. Every model comes with four-wheel-drive, three rows of seating and an all-new, split rear tailgate. Just the upper part can be open. The lower portion stays closed to keep things in place. The front centre storage bin slides rearward under power to reveal an additional, eight-inch, storage tray. Tremor-spec., hitherto available only on Ford pickups, provides: knobby 33-inch, General Grabber, all-terrain tires; 10.6-inch of ground clearance; tow hooks; and a grille design with additional auxiliary lights and underbody protection. 'Electric Spice' accents around the front air intakes, on the tow hooks, and, even on the wheels, are eye-catching, but functional; the yellow on the wheel spokes surrounds the tire's valve stem so it can be located more easily when caked in mud or snow. The Tremor is about more than just looking the part of a tough off-roader; it's meant to be used as such. Hence the underbody skid plates that protect the radiator, gas tank and more. Hence the added ride height, the addition of a Rock Crawl drive mode and the fact that it comes available only with the more powerful version of the 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 all Expeditions get. It produces 440 horsepower and 510 pounds-feet of torque, fed to all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission. There's an electronic locking rear differential for even more off-road ability. With Rock Crawl drive mode activated, I traverse basketball-sized rocks embedded in the dirt below. Even with the girth associated of a full-size SUV, it gamely clambers through the obstacles, with only a few strikes of the skid plate below. The truck can handle all the throttle and braking duties through the Trail Assist feature that acts as a form of off-road cruise control. All the driver has to do is steer, a task helped by another piece of tech: a camera facing forward and down with onscreen indicators that show each wheel's expected path. That makes it much easier to avoid certain obstacles, once you get used to looking at the 13.2-inch screen below. Every Expedition gets a digital speedometer. The 24-inch display also contains the fuel gauge, Google Maps and blind-spot camera display. It's neat. But you have to look at it and use buttons mounted on the oval-shaped steering wheel — I will say this provides a clearer view of both the instruments and the road ahead — to adjust the wheel and the pedals. It just doesn't feel as natural as a button or lever mounted on the column. If you'd rather not worry about using the steering wheel at all, you can do that as well — to a degree. The Tremor is equipped with Ford BlueCruise, which enables you to drive for extended periods without ever having to put your hands on the wheel, or your feet on the pedals. It doesn't work on all roads, but on the highway I was on, it was aces, even adjusting when the road lost a lane in a construction zone. It kept a perfect distance from the vehicle ahead and kept me dead-centre in the lane. It will even change lanes for you; simply nudge the turn indicator stalk, and, when safe, it will change lanes to pass. Space and creature comforts inside keep occupants happy. For better visibility, the second-row seats get a higher mount than the first, and the third row sits even higher still. It can accommodate three kids comfortably — there are child seat latches — and two adults should have no problem getting comfortable back there. They get USB-C ports and cupholders as well as their own ceiling-mounted climate vents to keep them comfortable on longer journeys. If you want to pitch up at a backcountry campsite, certain features make it a glamping-like affair. These include a trunk-mounted folding picnic table, extra interior lights, USB-C ports and a 400W power outlet. Even with the knobbier tires, the Tremor provides a smooth ride on normal roads and with all the other interior accoutrements, it makes for a perfect long-distance travel companion. At more than one 100 grand before delivery, it won't be a massive seller. But it's a hugely capable three-row SUV. Back on the dusty obstacle course, I try to unseat the Tremor, but there really is nothing that can stop it. Off-camber soft dirt? No problem. Steep climbs that would make a mountain goat think twice? Aces. How about a set of fallen logs? Hard to traverse smoothly, but that was likely because of my lack of skill. But the logs were dispatched. If the Tremor can handle all this, a forestry road to a backcountry campsite shouldn't be a problem, even in bad weather. Type: Five-door, full-size SUV; four-wheel-drive Engine: Twin-turbocharged V6; 440 horsepower; 510 pounds-feet of torque (motive force) Fuel: 15.4 litres/100 km in the city; 10.7l/100 km on the highway; 13.3l/100 km combined Transmission: Ten-speed automatic Cargo: 3,072 litres or 108.5 cubic feet behind first row; 1,979l or 69.9 cu. ft. behind second row; 648l or 22.9 cu. ft. behind third row Towing: 4,218 kilograms, or 9,300 pounds, as equipped Price: $103,470, as tested
Business Wire
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
NHN Updates ‘DARKEST DAYS' with ‘Resident Expedition' Feature – Roadmap in Full Swing
SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NHN (KRX: 181710, CEO: Woojin Jung) announced on June 26th that it has rolled out a new update for its zombie apocalypse title DARKEST DAYS, featuring the addition of the 'Resident Expedition' content. The new 'Resident Expedition' content is a mini-game where players organize expeditions using their residents and vehicles. Players can form teams based on each vehicle's seating capacity. Share DARKEST DAYS is an open-world shooting RPG developed and serviced by NHN. Since its global open beta launch on PC and mobile platforms on April 24, player engagement has been steadily increasing, particularly in multiplayer content, proving its immersive appeal. The game continues to evolve in quality during the ongoing beta, and this update sets the stage for deeper, more exciting gameplay. The new 'Resident Expedition' content is a mini-game where players organize expeditions using their residents and vehicles. Players can form teams based on each vehicle's seating capacity, and use fuel as a movement resource to explore board-type tiles featuring combat, rewards, buffs, and more. Victories grant Resident XP and various loot. A new high-level map, 'Twilight Holitore,' has also been added for players who prefer PvE content. This non-conflict zone is designed for PvE farming and features zombies ranging from level 41 to 45. In 'Twilight Holitore,' players can obtain all the items available in the original Holitore, along with additional shelter facility blueprints that were previously difficult to acquire. Also debuting in the update is the new submachine gun 'Tommy.' Available in grades N to SSR, the Tommy boasts a 50-round magazine, allowing for prolonged engagements compared to other SMGs. The Tommy and a new SSR-grade armor set called the 'Hunting Set' can be acquired through in-game farming or through a Lucky Box with boosted drop rates. Players can now also use a new vehicle, the 'Ambulance', which features an impressive 11-slot storage capacity, about half the size of a player's inventory. This makes item collection more efficient and enjoyable. In addition, DARKEST DAYS has added a report system to the PvP map 'Rootland' and improved the kill log upon death, providing a more stable and secure gameplay environment for players. Meanwhile, DARKEST DAYS revealed its 2025 update roadmap in late May, sharing plans for core content with players. Through the June 5 update, DARKEST DAYS introduced cumulative XP gain after level 40 and additional ER sources with improved acquisition rates. Moving forward, DARKEST DAYS also plans to implement guild system and content updates, a new growth system (Survivor Levels), melee weapon buffs, a complete skill system overhaul, and a rework of the party system to better meet player expectations.
Car and Driver
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
2025 Ford Expedition Test: Just Shy of Greatness
Have you ever torn apart every corner of your home, swearing you left an item in some specific place, only to find it hiding somewhere that makes absolutely no sense? Perhaps you placed it there while in a fugue state, for reasons that made sense at that moment but are no longer apparent. Why else would your AirPods be in the freezer? That's what it feels like to drive the 2025 Ford Expedition, at least sometimes. There are many facets of this seven-seater that make perfect sense, but there are certain corners of the new-Expedition experience that leave us wondering what the folks in Dearborn might be smoking. Thankfully, those small issues don't really get in the way of Ford delivering on its mission to create a comfortable, capable three-row SUV. View Exterior Photos Michael Simari | Car and Driver We Begin Under the Hood While the powertrain isn't often the headline-grabber in any family vehicle, Ford didn't scrimp on the Expedition's juice. A twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 resides in the engine bay, and in standard guise it produces a meaty 400 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. But opting for the $6545 Stealth Performance package bumps output to 440 horses and 510 pound-feet. That's enough scoot to shove this 5844-pound brick to 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds and to dispatch the quarter-mile in 13.8 seconds at 99 mph. This Expedition is quicker than it has any right to be. Sadly, there's a price to be paid in fuel economy, with the SUV mustering just 20 mpg on our 75-mph highway fuel economy test, falling short of the EPA's 22-mpg estimate. Although we did get 23 mpg out of the long-wheelbase Max variant. The power comes on nice and smooth. As you lean on the accelerator, the 10-speed automatic sprints its way down the order, picks the right gear, and shoves you off toward the horizon accompanied by an ample quantity of engine noise—our microphone recorded 79 decibels at wide-open throttle, positively drowning out its closest competitors. View Exterior Photos Michael Simari | Car and Driver Ride and Handling Smooth doesn't describe the engine alone. The ride quality is clearly tuned for a luxury-forward vibe that keeps things nice and soft. Credit to Ford's engineers here for accomplishing this without relying on air springs, either. This Expedition rides on a combination of steel springs and adaptive dampers, but the result could easily be mistaken for a pneumatic solution. The SUV simply soaks up bad pavement and transmits very little harshness. Depending on your preferences, its inherent softness might make it too wallowy in corners; then again, considering we measured a just-fine 0.78 g on the skidpad, you're not liable to be blitzing hairpins in this thing anyhow. HIGHS: Stealth package hustle, luxury-forward ride, La-Z-Boy-tier seating. Braking performance is adequate, requiring 180 feet to clamp down from 70 mph, but you may have an issue with how the brake pedal feels. It became a love-or-hate situation at the office. Whereas its competitors tend to have stiffer brake feel, the Expedition's was on the softer side. Some editors found this easier for modulation, but others simply deemed the pedal too mushy—and, at the top of the throw, a bit too grabby. View Interior Photos Michael Simari | Car and Driver The Inside Story The front seats are basically loungers, swallowing occupants in a sea of soft leather, making it easy to knock out a few hours of driving with little fatigue. There's plenty of storage in the center armrest cubby, as well as in the deep cubby next to the cupholders. But the center console has a party trick: Hit a button and it slides rearward, uncovering even more storage and offering easier access for second-row occupants. Once you start moving away from the first row, though, things aren't as great. The second row is fine, but its amenities don't stack up to the competition, and that situation is more obvious when you finally crawl back to the third row. While large windows let in a good amount of light, the adults we crammed back there complained of poor foot and elbow room. Riders in the outboard seats found their elbows constantly inside the cupholders. Thankfully, children should find the space suitable. View Interior Photos Michael Simari | Car and Driver If you're wondering how that left-field introduction factored in, perhaps you'd like to fiddle with the Expedition's headlights. You reach down and to the left, as you would in most modern cars, spin the dial, and—oh no, you've changed the vehicle's drive mode and activated the four-wheel drive! In its infinite wisdom, Ford decided to put the drivetrain controls where the headlight ones used to be—and where your muscle memory still thinks they're located. Want to adjust the headlights? That's now done via the central touchscreen by pressing a small tile that Ford placed in the magical land of Narnia (the bottom-right corner). View Interior Photos Michael Simari | Car and Driver Silly decision-making continues from there. The widescreen display just below the windshield is largely empty; granted, you get camera feeds when you engage the turn signals, but this real estate could be better utilized in literally every other situation. Looking for a tachometer, a pretty standard inclusion for a car? You can only see it in Sport mode, and even then, it takes up maybe 20 pixels and requires opera glasses to read, like a postage stamp on a Times Square billboard. LOWS: Touchy brakes, strange tech logic, maybe a little too floaty. The steering-wheel buttons are devoid of labels; to see what they do, you must rest a finger on said button and let the screen show you its intended function. Even the steering wheel itself feels a bit off. Squircles are slowly becoming commonplace as dashboard design adapts to its flatscreen future, but that doesn't mean we like 'em. Yes, the Expedition is quick, but not quick enough to earn the Ford GT's tiller. View Interior Photos Michael Simari | Car and Driver Thankfully, not every corner of the Expedition's human-machine interface is fraught with questionable decisions seemingly made over three-martini Dearborn lunches. Ford's infotainment software is still easy to use, and we appreciate that it shows Apple Maps (via CarPlay, wireless or wired) on the primary dashboard display, which frees up space on the lower touchscreen to fiddle with music or dictate a message. BlueCruise, Ford's hands-free highway driving aid, is easy to use (once you figure out which wheel button activates it) and does a commendable job of holding its lane position and, when requested, changing lanes. Body-on-frame three-row SUVs carry the dubious honor of always being expensive, and the Expedition is no different. Like its cohorts, the Expedition starts off in the mid-$60,000 range, but the sky's the limit with options and fancy trims. Our Platinum model is one rung from the bottom, and the sole option is the aforementioned $6545 Stealth Performance package that adds the high-output V-6, adaptive dampers, 22-inch wheels, blacked-out exterior trim, red brake calipers, and a high-flow exhaust. Out the door, this little number would run you $83,490. We were gonna say that pricing is pushing toward Navigator levels, but the Lincoln starts at $102,190 these days, so the Ford's got plenty of runway left. View Interior Photos Michael Simari | Car and Driver The 2025 Ford Expedition is capacious enough to take the entire family to the beach for a long weekend, and it's connected enough to do half the driving and keep all your passengers' devices topped off, but it's also hiding a surprising amount of hustle under the hood. Sure, some of the tech seems designed to frustrate rather than assist, but if you can either ignore those things or simply get used to them, what remains is an eminently solid vehicle for large families on the go. VERDICT: A solid family hauler despite some dubious design choices. Specifications Specifications 2025 Ford Expedition Platinum Vehicle Type: front-engine, rear/4-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon PRICE Base/As Tested: $76,945/$83,490 Options: Stealth Performance package (EcoBoost high-output engine; 22-inch Magnetite-painted aluminum wheels; Driver's package with continuously controlled damping suspension and 22-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system; Stealth Appearance package with black badging, roof rails, and belt molding, and carbon-black front bumper with black headlight bezel; red brake calipers), $6545 ENGINE twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port and direct fuel injection Displacement: 213 in3, 3496 cm3 Power: 440 hp @ 5400 rpm Torque: 510 lb-ft @ 3300 rpm TRANSMISSION 10-speed automatic CHASSIS Suspension, F/R: control arms/multilink Brakes, F/R: 13.8-in vented disc/13.2-in vented disc Tires: Michelin Primacy LTX 275/50R-22 115H M+S DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 122.5 in Length: 209.9 in Width: 80.0 in Height: 78.1 in Passenger Volume, F/M/R: 63/59/47 ft3 Cargo Volume, Behind F/M/R: 109/61/22 ft3 Curb Weight: 5844 lb C/D TEST RESULTS 60 mph: 5.1 sec 1/4-Mile: 13.8 sec @ 99 mph 100 mph: 14.2 sec Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec. Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.1 sec Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.2 sec Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.9 sec Top Speed (gov ltd): 125 mph Braking, 70–0 mph: 180 ft Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.78 g C/D FUEL ECONOMY Observed: 19 mpg 75-mph Highway Driving: 20 mpg 75-mph Highway Range: 460 mi EPA FUEL ECONOMY Combined/City/Highway: 18/15/22 mpg C/D TESTING EXPLAINED Reviewed by Andrew Krok Managing Editor, Reviews Cars are Andrew Krok's jam, along with boysenberry. After graduating with a degree in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2009, Andrew cut his teeth writing freelance magazine features, and now he has a decade of full-time review experience under his belt. A Chicagoan by birth, he has been a Detroit resident since 2015. Maybe one day he'll do something about that half-finished engineering degree.
Miami Herald
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Ford's Wild Ride: Booming Sales While Recalls Mount to Record Highs
While automakers around the globe contended with struggling sales throughout 2024, largely due to increased competition from China, Ford saw strong performance on its home turf. The American automaker saw six percent growth last year. In particular, Ford's electrified lineup performed well, with sales exceeding 285,000 units in 2024. Notably, the all-electric Mustang Mach-E outsold the Mustang muscle car, which could signal a change is in the wind for the legendary pony car. It isn't all good news for Ford, though, as the American automaker has garnered a reputation for recalls and warranty claims. In May, for example, Ford recalled nearly 1.1 million vehicles in the United States due to an issue with the rearview camera. Issues with quality have frustrated Ford executives, with CEO Jim Farley indicating managers could see their bonuses slashed if they fail to meet metrics in a new performance system. Despite cutting sedans from the lineup, Ford continues to offer mass appeal with vehicles that put capability and practicality at the forefront. As a result, the American automaker's sales were fairly solid in May, with a 16.3% year-over-year increase to 220,959 vehicles sold. In the first five months of the year, Ford's sales are up 6.1% compared to the first five months of 2024. The Ford F-150 continued to be America's best-selling truck for the 48th consecutive year. On the smaller side, the Ranger is the world's second-best-selling midsize pickup, and the Maverick continues to dominate the compact truck segment in the United States. May also proved to be the Expedition's best sales month in two decades, with 11,298 units sold. Tariffs have threatened to increase vehicle prices in the United States, with a proposed 25% tariff on imported vehicles and parts. Ford has also continuously promoted its made-in-America marketing campaign, noting that it's the most American automotive manufacturer. 80% of all Ford vehicles sold in the United States are built here as well. The American automaker has also offered an employee pricing incentive to consumers since early April, further bolstering sales. While Ford's sales have been solid in the first half of the year (so far), that doesn't mean that trend will continue through the second half. Tariffs, recalls, and the end of the employee pricing incentive could put a damper on those sales numbers. Ford's reputation for recalls is still going strong in 2025. The American automaker has been on fire with recalls over the past few months alone. According to data from CarEdge, Ford has issued 51 recalls in the first five months of the year, with over 1.8 million vehicles affected. Comparatively, Volkswagen Group, which includes Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen, among others, issued just 14 recalls in the same period. One of the most recent recalls includes nearly 200,000 Mustang Mach-E models in the United States, and another 120,000 in other markets, due to door latches that can trap passengers in the EV. Averaging more than 10 recalls per month isn't a good look for any automaker, but it's even worse for Ford. The automaker announced it would be appointing a new head of quality in early 2025, but that individual has yet to be named. Ford reported that its Q2 2024 recall and warranty costs exceeded $2.2 billion, up $800 million from the prior quarter. On top of all the recalls, it turns out not all of Ford's remedies fix the problem. Most recently, a class-action lawsuit indicates that some EcoBoost engines have a defect that allows coolant to leak into the cylinders, causing them to crack. Instead of replacing the entire engine block, which would presumably solve the problem entirely, Ford is cutting corners with smaller, less effective remedies, like installing coolant level sensors. Worse yet, other recall solutions are directly affecting a vehicle's appeal and capability. The Ford Transit Trail was advertised as a more capable, off-road version of the popular van. The recall issued indicates that the tires could rub on the inner arch liners while turning. To fix the issue, the automaker removed the 30.5-inch tires and replaced them with 28.5-inch tires. The lawsuit alleges that the fix reduces the van's ground clearance and off-road capability, which are two of the van's major selling points. Since taking over as Ford CEO in 2020, Jim Farley has been pushing for improvements in vehicle quality. In fall 2024, he suggested that managers could see their bonuses slashed to 65% of their total if quality and cost metrics aren't met. Farley also introduced a new performance system designed to hold employees accountable, a major shift in the company's century-plus history. "It's a fundamental change in the way we're running the company. We now truly differentiate and reward excellence at Ford," Farley said, regarding the new performance system. "It's a massive culture change." The Ford Mustang is the last of its breed, a generational pony car designed to deliver spirited performance at a relatively affordable price point. Unfortunately for the beloved muscle car, ballooning vehicle prices and consumer cutbacks on spending have put the Mustang in a tough spot. For many, purchasing a second vehicle purely for the fun aspect isn't in the cards in the current economy. That, and various other factors, resulted in the gas-powered Mustang's year-over-year sales falling by 9.5% in 2024. With just over 44,000 units sold, the Mustang pony car is no longer the best-selling model wearing the legendary nameplate. That honor goes to the all-electric Mustang Mach-E, which saw sales jump by nearly 27% to more than 51,700 units sold. While the two models share a nameplate, they're far from the same vehicle. Whereas the gas-powered Mustang is a muscle car, the Mustang Mach-E is an electric crossover, making it the more practical choice for the average consumer. The muscle car segment was never a bloated one, with just a handful of competitors. With the discontinuation of the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro, however, the Mustang is truly the last of its kind. Fortunately, it doesn't seem like Ford is planning to follow its competitors into the sunset. Instead, the American automaker actually seems to be taking the opposite approach with a supercharged version of the Mustang. The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD is essentially a street-legal, track-ready race car. With a top track speed of 202 mph and 815 horsepower under the hood, the Mustang GTD marks a major turning point for the muscle car. That extreme performance led to the Mustang GTD making headlines as the first sports car from an American automaker to run the Nürburgring course in under seven minutes. As a limited production model, the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD will cost you around $325,000 if you're lucky enough to be selected for ownership. Ford has had its ups and downs, but with a new performance system designed to improve vehicle quality and reduce costs, the American automaker seems to be heading in the right direction. Unfortunately, recalls on older vehicles aren't uncommon, and many of the current recalls reach back to the 2020 model year. That means those recall and warranty costs could haunt Ford for years to come. On the bright side, Ford's sales have been strong in recent months, with the Expedition seeing its best sales month in 20 years. With tariffs increasing costs and the employee pricing incentive ending in early July, though, the automotive manufacturer could be in for a rough go of it in the coming months. Not only that, but increased competition from competing truck brands, like Ram, could put Ford in a tight spot if they can't get costs under control. Given the Ranger's global success, however, the American automaker is set up for success not only in the United States but also around the world. That's not a bad position to be in, especially if they can iron out the all-too-present issues at hand. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Drive
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
Here's Why GM Is Sticking With V8s While Everyone Else Switches to Six Cylinders
The latest car news, reviews, and features. I published a story last week that said the V8 is no longer America's truck engine. That's because manufacturers like Ford have increased six-cylinder production drastically in recent years, and Toyota has even gone V6-only in the Tundra. V8-powered models only accounted for 38% of truck registrations in 2024 as a result; meanwhile, six-cylinder models made up 47.6%. So, why the heck is General Motors investing $888 million into next-gen small-block V8 production? The simple answer is that people still want it. We reached out to GM for comment on the company's recent decision to pour copious amounts of money into its Tonawanda Engine Plant in New York. A spokesperson explained that it's all to give buyers the options they prefer. 'We're making these investments to provide our customers choice when it comes to vehicles and the powertrains we offer,' the representative said. It's no surprise that of Detroit's Big Three, GM is the one making this investment. Data provided by Chevrolet shows that half of all new Silverado 1500s ship out with a V8, whether it be the 5.3-liter (42%) or 6.2-liter (8%). Ford, on the other hand, told me it only puts V8s in about a quarter of its F-150s. GM plans to double down on V8s with the sixth-gen small-block confirmed for 2027. The whole idea is to offer customers what they want. Ram failed to do so when it cancelled the Hemi in 2024, and now, it's on a comeback-slash-apology tour as it revives the V8 for 2026 model year trucks. With this big propulsion plant investment, GM ensures customers won't have to worry about a lack of V8 options for a while. Chevrolet As I looked for insight on GM's decision, I turned to the same shortlist of auto industry experts who helped me with my last V8 story. Stephanie Brinley, principal automotive analyst at S&P Global Mobility, pointed out that GM uses its V8s in way more applications than just pickups. 'For GM, the V8 is important for both full-size truck and full-size SUV,' Brinley said. 'As you know, the full-size SUVs offer an I6 diesel or a V8. While Ford has gone to all V6 for Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, registrations of those models reached about 88,000 units in 2024. GM's full-size SUV registrations reached nearly 274,000 units, and about 93% of those were V8 engines. Add in the full-size trucks, and GM's scale for the V8 option is notably different from the full-size truck-based competition.' Ah, yes. The Chevy Tahoe is king, and after it, the GMC Yukon. Even the Cadillac Escalade sells in respectable numbers for something so pricey, and guess what engine they all rely on the most? That's right: The small-block V8. Additionally, demand for electrified trucks has cooled off tremendously. That's another area where GM has invested big-time, as it currently offers battery-only versions of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra as well as the Hummer EV. Sam Abuelsamid, vice president of market research at Telemetry Agency, notes that the soft EV truck market was likely enough to force a strong course correction. 'It didn't come as a huge surprise given the failure of full-size electric trucks in the marketplace,' Abuelsamid noted. 'Given that GM hasn't followed Ford, Toyota, and Stellantis down the turbo-six-cylinder path for truck engines, this is their most cost-effective way forward.' 'It's not known what they [GM] are planning for the gen-six small block, but assuming that they continue with the same pushrod OHV architecture, it has notable advantages over a turbo V6 in cost and compared to a DOHC V8 like Ford's Coyote in cost and packaging,' said Abuelsamid. Abuelsamid even went as far as saying it was 'always inevitable' that the V8 would remain GM's core truck engine through the 2030s. GMC Robby DeGraff, manager of product and consumer insights at AutoPacific, said it has to do almost entirely with customers' demands for variety—and, like his peer mentioned, the lack of interest in electrified pickups. 'GM making this massive investment in the future of ICE powertrains is a clear sign of the times, and the result of the consumer take rate for EVs just not being as strong as GM CEO Mary Barra and her team likely hoped for years ago,' he explained. 'While engines with fewer cylinder count continue to become more and more advanced and capable via turbocharging and electrification, there will always be some degree of robust demand for eight cylinders amongst pickup truck buyers (even though that number is shrinking).' 'I think we've seen too recently how instrumental the V8 engine is among the Detroit Three's future,' DeGraff continued. 'Ford keeps dumping money into development of it, Stellantis is reviving the Hemi for Ram, and GM can't afford to sit back and let its current crop of V8s age.' When I made the claim before that the V8 is no longer America's truck engine, I got plenty of emails and comments from passionate drivers who insist that it is. Now, it's important to note, I wasn't asserting that based on customer preference but rather on real-life market data. It's clear that some people still want and, indeed, demand V8s in their trucks and SUVs. GM is listening to them, and it will go on providing plenty of options for those folks over the coming years. Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@
