Since Ford is all about new releases lately, this was to be expected. As you can see, just recently Blue Oval company revealed its refreshed 2018 Ford F-150 Special Service Vehicle (SSV) and redesigned 2018 Ford Expedition Special Service Vehicle models for police, government, and fleet customers.
According to a release that came from Stephen Tyler, Ford police brand marketing manager, we find out that “While our Police Interceptor Utility remains the best-selling law enforcement vehicle in the country by a large margin, some agencies need to haul five people with higher equipment carrying capacity, or off-road capabilities are required.” He continued by adding “That’s where the F-150 SSV and Expedition SSV come in.”
Apparently, both of these vehicles are powered by company’s second-gen twin-turbo 3.5 L EcoBoost V6 engine, while the F-150 SSV has something additional in its sleeve and it comes in the form of the upgraded 5.0 L V8. Both of these engines will be attached to a new 10-speed automatic transmission with Auto Start-Stop system integrated. The 2018 Expedition SSV features a rear 3.73:1 gear for its electronic limited-slip differential. Thanks to the extended idle times and additional on-board electrical power Ford also replaced the stock alternator for a high-output 240-amp one.
Since these are special service vehicles, their interior is supposed to be special as well, mostly because a lot of customization is required up front, and because of easier cleanup out back. That is why both vehicles feature a 40/blank/40 vinyl bench seat up in front instead of the civilian models’ 40/20/40 bench. Out back is a vinyl seat and vinyl flooring that replace the standard rear bench and carpeting, respectively.
According to the company, the 2018 Ford F-150 SSV is available in XL trim and SuperCrew or SuperCab styles with rear or four-wheel drive configurations. Ford also claims that the F-150 and Expedition SSV models are the only new vehicles equipped with aluminum alloy bodies, vinyl seats, and a 10-speed column-mounted shifter.
