Ford Goes Crossover Crazy, Readies Five Customized Models For SEMA

Last week, Ford showcased five Mustangs bound for SEMA. Now, the company is previewing its crossover lineup which includes modified versions of the Edge, Explorer, Expedition and EcoSport.

Kicking things off is an Edge ST from Blood Type Racing. It features a unique exterior with a front splitter, a light blue wrap and 22-inch wheels with Toyo Proxes STIII tires. The model also has an Air Lift air suspension and a revised interior with a carbon fiber steering wheel.

Power is provided by a twin-turbo 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine which has been equipped with a new air intake, a Mishimoto intercooler and an MRT exhaust. Ford didn’t mention performance specifications, but the standard model has 335 hp (250 kW / 339 PS) and 380 lb-ft (514 Nm) of torque.

Moving onto bigger models, Ford will showcase two versions of the Expedition. The first comes from LGE*CTS and is called the Expedition Classic. It features a two-tone exterior with new bumpers, auxiliary lights and 18-inch steel wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/AKM2 tires.

The Expedition has also been outfitted with a ReadyLIFT suspension leveling kit, new sway bars and a Borla cat-back exhaust. Other highlights include custom leather seats, a Napier tent and a console vault.

The other Expedition was developed by Hulst Customs and it is billed as a “luxe cruiser designed to get you to where you are going in comfort, class and style.” It has a new hood and grille as well as a custom grey paint job. Other upgrades include 26-inch Lexani wheels and a Yakima FatCat snow board carrier with an Outlier snowboard from Deviation Snowboard Works.

The model is based on an Expedition Max Limited and is powered by a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine. It is connected to a ten-speed automatic transmission and a four-wheel drive system.

While Ford is getting ready to introduce a redesigned Explorer, MAD Industries has created a “high-fashion” version of the current model. Dressed in Ruby Red and Jet Black paint, the crossover has a custom interior with black leather seats, body color trim and billet aluminum pedals.

While most of the other models eschew performance upgrades, the Explorer embraces them. As a result, the crossover has an Eibach Pro-Plus suspension and a Power Stop braking system with “extreme” brake pads and cross drilled rotors. Other highlights include PedalMAX and BoostMAX upgrades from JMS.

Lastly, the Tucci Designs Big Adventures EcoSport is an extreme off-roader which features custom fender flares, tubular bumpers and 16-inch wheels wrapped in meaty tires. The crossover also has a Warn winch, auxiliary lights and a bike rack.

Performance upgrades are minor, but include a K&N air filter and a Ford Performance exhaust.