In Europe, the five-seat Edge will be aimed at market-leading SUV/crossovers from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It is bigger inside than the seven-seat Audi Q7 but would cost 'significantly less' according to Ford.
This new offering will offer technology to rival premium SUVs. Equipment available will include adaptive steering that alters the ratio depending on speed to make it easier to manoeuvre in urban situations, and it will be the first Ford to offer this technology. It will also become the first European Ford to be offered with noise cancelling technology that detects unwanted noise via cabin microphones and generates 'opposing' noise to block it out. Other technology includes Ford's Sync 2 connectivity system that links a smart phone to an eight-inch screen on the dashboard.
Edge was first introduced in 2006 primarily as a North American vehicle. It will now be sold in more than 100 markets. It is built in Ford's Oakville plant in Ontaria, Canada and will be made for the first time in right-hand drive versions.
In Europe, it will be sold with two versions of Ford's 2.0 diesel engine, one with 180hp and C02 emissions of 149g/km and the other with 210hp and emissions of 159g/km. All versions offer four-wheel-drive.
Edge is important to Ford's plan to return to profit in Europe by next year as the company aims to triple its European SUV sales by 2018 from 90,000 last year with the Edge and its other SUV offerings, the medium-sized Kuga and subcompact EcoSport.
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| Ford Edge |
