2000 Excursion's Design Inside and Out

Customers in the heavy-duty utility segment say they want a vehicle capable of "doing it all" with everyone and everything. Most important is the ability to transport more than six adults and their luggage.

Excursion was designed with such customer needs in mind. It is intended for consumers with an active lifestyle oriented around the outdoors and for businesses that demand the versatility Excursion provides.

The typical Excursion family will use the vehicle during the week to transport family members and on the weekend to take them and their equipment to activities such, as fishing, water sports, winter sports and camping.

Comfortable Interior

• Extensive convenience features
• Up to five power points and 10 cup holders
• Optimized audio systems

Commanding Exterior

Excursion combines a commanding road presence and modern aerodynamic elements that extend the "Built Ford Tough" image. Designers aimed for a vehicle configuration that would maximize passenger and cargo capacity while maintaining a size that is manageable for a garage and on-the-road maneuverability.

Sharing front-end sheet metal with the Super Duty F-Series pickup trucks that Ford introduced for the 1999 model year, Excursion features a pronounced "power dome" hood, all-steel chromed bumpers, built-in tow hooks and aerodynamic flush-mounted halogen headlamps.

The windshield is set at a 53-degree angle to improve aerodynamics and bolster fuel economy.

Side doors are designed with recessed, narrow rocker extensions that help maximize a useful step area depth on the standard running boards. Illuminated running boards that assist safe ingress/egress at night are optional on the XLT and standard on the Limited series.

Protective color-keyed body-side moldings are standard on the XLT. The Limited series features Arizona Beige body-side cladding that attaches at the rocker panel and wheel-lip moldings.

Outward visibility from the driverís seat - especially when towing - is enhanced by Excursionís distinctive "step-down" belt line, which lowers the forward edge of the front-door side windows. Flush glass and door edge seals help reduce wind noise and improve fuel economy.

Standard power outside rearview mirrors are heated and well-proportioned for the size of Excursion. Optional heated, power trailer tow mirrors offer three times the viewing area of the standard exterior mirrors and include an auxiliary convex mirror. During the model year, the trailer tow mirrors will also include a manual telescoping feature to allow movement in-and-out as needed when a customer is towing.

Well-Equipped Interior

For personal use, Excursion is primarily a people mover, and its well-appointed interior reflects that goal. At the same time, Ford designers recognized the vehicleís cargo capacity should be as flexible as possible. Excursion is designed to combine the best of both worlds.

Seating choices are simple and elegant. All models have a 60-40 split bench seat in the second row and removable full bench seat in the third row. The second-row seat backs can fold forward separately or together to increase cargo capacity. XLT buyers can choose a front-row bench or dual captainís chairs and select between cloth and leather seating surfaces.

Excursion Limited is equipped with front-row dual captainís chairs and leather seating surfaces. Limited also offers optional heated front-row seats.

Even the headliner provides maximum customer convenience features, including:

• Three grab handles and three ride handles - inside the front-seat passenger door opening and above both second-row door openings.
• Five ventilation registers - three for the second row and two for the third row - each with 360-degree adjustment.
• Four coat hooks.
• Separate pairs of reading lamps for second- and third-row seating.
• Cargo area overhead lamp.
• Color-keyed cloth driver and passenger visors with lighted flip-up vanity mirrors and cloth-covered secondary sun blade.

A floor console between the front-row captainís chairs features dual cup holders for front-seat passengers and two more cup holders for occupants in the second row. The console also has a forward-mounted clip for holding a notepad and a rear-mounted pen and pencil tray.

A large storage bin with lid contains a removable cassette/CD storage tray and coin holder, and can accommodate an optional six-CD changer. The rear of the floor console gives second-row passengers their own power point, separate audio controls for volume, memory and mode, plus dual headphone jacks.

Two more consoles are mounted overhead. The front unit holds auxiliary air- conditioning controls for the second- and third-row passenger area, as well as two map/courtesy lamps, a garage door opener holder and a storage compartment for sunglasses.

A trip computer - optional on XLT and standard on Limited - can calculate distance to empty, average fuel economy, compass reading and outside temperature.

A mini rear console houses duplicate fan, temperature and panel/floor controls for the auxiliary air-conditioning system.

Heating and cooling air is delivered quickly throughout the cabin by multiple vents, including six in the instrument panel (two for side window demisting) and five in the headliner (three for the second row and two for the third row). A separate duct system delivers warm air to the floor of the second row when needed for fast cabin warm-up.

At least four power points are provided throughout the cabin for auxiliary equipment. All models have two power points in the dash, one in the left side quarter panel trim for third-row passengers and one in the right side of the cargo area. A fifth power point for second-row passengers is standard on the rear of the floor console of models equipped with first-row captainís chairs.

The audio system features an AM/FM stereo/cassette/single CD and dual media capability. It produces an impressive 80 watts of power through six premium speakers located in the front doors, second-row doors and rear quarter trim areas. A six-CD changer is optional..