GM’s crosstown rival, Ford Motor Company, unveiled the refreshed 2022 Ford Expedition back in September of the 2021 calendar year, updating the automaker’s full-size SUV to better rival the Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL with new looks, an updated cabin, new features, and a new off-road-oriented trim level dubbed Expedition Timberline. Now, however, it looks like Ford may up the ante with a model even more off-road-capable model, and this vehicle could end up being called the Ford Expedition Raptor.
According to an exclusive report from our sister publication, Ford Authority, Ford is currently considering the development of a new performance-oriented off-road Ford Expedition variant, which may or may not wear the Raptor name. Obviously, Ford has had considerable success with the Raptor name thus far, offering up “Raptorized” variants of the Ford F-150, Ford Bronco and Ford Ranger. As such, a new Ford Expedition Raptor would certainly make sense from a branding perspective, although the vehicle itself as well as its nameplate have yet to be be finalized.
Sales Numbers - Mainstream Full-Size SUVs - 2022 - USA
| MODEL | YTD 22 / YTD 21 | YTD 22 | YTD 21 | YTD 22 SHARE | YTD 21 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET TAHOE | -0.26% | 105,756 | 106,030 | 30% | 30% |
| GMC YUKON | -6.12% | 48,220 | 51,365 | 14% | 14% |
| GMC YUKON XL | +3.67% | 34,084 | 32,877 | 10% | 9% |
| FORD EXPEDITION | -24.37% | 62,007 | 81,988 | 17% | 23% |
| CHEVROLET SUBURBAN | +5.68% | 50,951 | 48,214 | 14% | 14% |
| JEEP WAGONEER | +577.12% | 36,219 | 5,349 | 10% | 1% |
| NISSAN ARMADA | -47.74% | 11,923 | 22,814 | 3% | 6% |
| TOYOTA SEQUOIA | -34.15% | 5,314 | 8,070 | 1% | 2% |
| TOTAL | -0.63% | 354,474 | 356,707 |
What’s more, the move may help Ford better compete with GM in the Mainstream Full-Size SUV segment, which is currently dominated by The General’s products like the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. Looking over last year’s sales figures, we find the Chevy Tahoe at the top of the heap with 105,756 units sold during the 2022 calendar year, followed by the GMC Yukon family with 82,304 units. Meanwhile, the Ford Expedition trailed in third place with 62,007 units sold during the 2022 calendar year. It was followed by the Suburban at 50,951 deliveries.
Sales Numbers - GM Mainstream Full-Size SUVs - 2022 - USA
| MODEL | YTD 22 / YTD 21 | YTD 22 | YTD 21 | YTD 22 SHARE | YTD 21 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET TAHOE | -0.26% | 105,756 | 106,030 | 44% | 44% |
| GMC YUKON | -6.12% | 48,220 | 51,365 | 20% | 22% |
| GMC YUKON XL | +3.67% | 34,084 | 32,877 | 14% | 14% |
| CHEVROLET SUBURBAN | +5.68% | 50,951 | 48,214 | 21% | 20% |
| TOTAL | +0.22% | 239,011 | 238,486 |
Chevy delivered 156,707 combined units of the Tahoe and Suburban, representing 44 percent of the segment’s sales last year. GMC saw 82,304 combined deliveries of the Yukon and Yukon XL, for a 23 percent share. GM absolutely dominated the space with a combined 67 percent share.
Sales Numbers - Chevy Mainstream Full-Size SUVs - = 2022 - USA
| MODEL | YTD 22 / YTD 21 | YTD 22 | YTD 21 | YTD 22 SHARE | YTD 21 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET TAHOE | -0.26% | 105,756 | 106,030 | 67% | 69% |
| CHEVROLET SUBURBAN | +5.68% | 50,951 | 48,214 | 33% | 31% |
| TOTAL | +1.60% | 156,707 | 154,244 |
With that in mind, a new top-spec Ford Expedition Raptor may help to drive interest for the nameplate, while boosting its image as well as sales volume.
Sales Numbers - GMC Mainstream Full-Size SUVs - 2022 - USA
| MODEL | YTD 22 / YTD 21 | YTD 22 | YTD 21 | YTD 22 SHARE | YTD 21 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC YUKON | -6.12% | 48,220 | 51,365 | 59% | 61% |
| GMC YUKON XL | +3.67% | 34,084 | 32,877 | 41% | 39% |
| TOTAL | -2.30% | 82,304 | 84,242 |
Chevy Tahoe Z71
At present, the Blue Oval brand offers the Ford Expedition Timberline, which is a direct competitor to the Chevy Tahoe Z71 as well as the GMC Yukon AT4. The Expedition Timberline offers 10.6 inches of ground clearance, a unique set of wheels, underbody protection, and 33-inch tires, along with Ford’s 3.5L EcoBoost V6 producing 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. As for a Ford Expedition Raptor (or whatever it may be called), the GM camp currently has no answer to such a potential model.
GMC Yukon AT4
We’ll keep an eye out for any further developments to this story and report back once we have something, so be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more GM competition news, GM business news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Give us a TRUE sport/performance SUV. I am so tired of the “lifted” vehicles. Hardly ANYONE drives these $80k or higher vehicles off road for the intended purposes. Such nonsense.
Give me a 1 inch lowered leveled machine, sporting 22’s, paddle shifters, 10 speed tranny, true dual exhaust, magna-ride, with a CAI cowl hood, with a 550HP naturally aspirated ZO6 motor. Now that would sound wicked!!
If you want a blower. Have that as an option to upgrade, since they have everything in house from the Escalade V series
Poor motor choice but I get where you are coming from. They should go more sport oriented. Ford peaked a high performance sport EV truck to one of the racing drivers I think in F1 the other day.
Yes and please ford build it , we don’t want need or will use a 3rd row ,we want cargo space ,towing and do the same with the explorer make it a 2row go after 4runner grand Cherokee
GM give up competing with Ford. Just build the most reliable cars and trucks you can. You will be profitable and busy and profitable.
There is to much junk on the roads already..
I feel like it is 2008 and GM is putting SS and LS5.3’s in everything, Except it is Ford and they are using the term raptor. Kind of sad.
Honestly, it kind of makes sense. The dual independent suspension of the Expedition would be great for desert racing, and the ladder frame would add durability. Good thinking on their part if this rumor is true.