With Ford’s SUVs, crossovers, and trucks attracting owners of other brands at a high rate and more and more consumers opting for four-wheel powered vehicles as they hit the trails in higher numbers, the time is right for more off-road-focused variants of those vehicles. The Blue Oval has obliged with a host of new models in recent months, including the Ford Explorer Timberline, Ford Expedition Timberline, Ford F-150 Tremor, and reportedly, a Ford Maverick off-road variant could be in the works, too. However, it’s worth wondering why Ford chose to name the Expedition off-road variant the Timberline rather than the Tremor, as it rides on the same platform as the F-150. Turns out, there is a reason for this variation.
“So Timberline is on the Explorer as well, so it’s a unique SUV-oriented off-road trim. So we’re building the Timberline brand within SUVs for off road,” Devin McParlane, Ford Expedition Marketing Manager, told Ford Authority executive editor, Alex Luft, in a recent interview. “It really just fulfills more customer demand for off road capability. I know a lot of customers are doing a lot more outdoor activities and traveling differently with families, it’s really the perfect time. Customer trends are pushing us this direction and fulfilling Ford’s promise for more off-road vehicles.”
Thus, it seems as if the Timberline name will be reserved for off-road-focused SUVs and crossovers, while Tremor will be used on pickups within Ford’s lineup.
The 2022 Ford Expedition Timberline – which replaces the outgoing FX4 Off-Road Package in the SUV’s lineup – is a comprehensive offering, with upgrades present across the board. That includes Ford’s higher-output 3.5L EcoBoost V6, which in this guise produces a robust 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. The Timberline also features unique styling elements, 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler A/T tires, a wider track, 10.6 inches of ground clearance, improved approach and departure angles, and Ford’s Trail Turn Assist feature.
Source: Ford Authority
