2015 Ford Edge: From Canada to China
Last week, Ford USA gave us the chance to learn more about the 2015 Edge, which was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in late November 2013.
This Edge will still be built in Oakville, Ontario, where Ford recently invested $700 million in a move that guaranteed 3,000 jobs. The Canadian-built Edges will be shipped worldwide, with the exception of the Eastern Bloc, whose units will be made in Russia. Ford Canada employees can therefore breathe a sigh of relief, especially since by 2018, one out of every three of the world’s SUVs will be sold in China—an immense market. This isn’t coming from me; these are the words of Jim Farley, Vice-President Marketing for Ford/Lincoln.
The 2015 Edge, which includes the SE, SEL, Titanium and Sport trims, is still a compact crossover—and is still the smallest of all Ford SUVs—but it has enough personality to avoid being confused with the old version. The dashboard will look familiar to anyone who owns a current Ford product. The big news is that the automaker seems to finally be on the right track with regard to safety, as there are now real buttons (the kind you can feel with your fingertips) on the centre portion of the dash. Gone are the touch buttons that forced you to take your eyes off the road every time you wanted to use them. Let’s hope that this spectacular improvement carries over to the rest of the brand’s vehicles.
Now bigger
Ford hasn’t officially released the 2015 Edge’s dimensions, but we know that the wheelbase has gained an inch. It’s now 2,849 mm instead of 2,824 mm and its total length is 4,779 mm instead of 4,679 (a difference of four inches). These extra millimetres result in increased legroom in back and boost the trunk capacity by 198 litres (when the rear seat backs are up, the total cargo hold has increased from 912 to 1,110 litres). A three-row version will be available in some markets, but not in Canada. Otherwise, who would want the Explorer?
The 2015 Edge will be built on the Fusion’s platform and will have 26% more flexional rigidity and 16% more torsional rigidity. These are lovely stats, but they’re awfully hard to check. Up front, there is still a MacPherson strut suspension, while in the back there’s a fully redesigned multi-link suspension. Both are calibrated for a more dynamic ride, according to the carefully worded statement issued by the Marketing department. The Edge Sport will have the same suspension, but it will be firmer.
Another new addition on some Edge trims will be adaptive steering. An electronic module located between the steering column and steering wheel modifies the relationship between the driver’s steering inputs (the number of turns) and the front wheels’ turning angle. According to the video we saw, it will be extraordinary.
Estimated power and guaranteed power
Three engines are listed on the Edge’s technical sheet. The vehicle comes factory standard with a 2.0-litre boosted by a twin-scroll turbo, whose technology reduces the turbo’s response time. During the presentation, Ford’s engineers seemed sheepish about not being able to reveal the EcoBoost engine’s total output. The press folder indicated that power and torque were ESTIMATED at 245 horsepower and 270 lbs.-ft, respectively. You might think that it would be the same 2.0-litre already included in the Edge, but apparently it’s not. An AWD Edge with this engine will be able to tow up to 3,500 pounds (1,588 kilograms). The second mill, available for the Sport trim only, will be a 2.7-litre V6 EcoBoost. It’s the same one as in the F-150 and it delivers more than 300 horsepower. And lastly, there’s the 3.5-litre V6 that already equips the Edge. We already know that this one churns out 285 horsepower and 253 lb.-ft. of torque.
All of these engines will be mated to the same transmission: a six-speed automatic with paddles mounted behind the steering wheel. All-wheel drive is available as an option, with up to 100% of the torque transferable to the rear wheels, depending on the computer’s whims.
Gadgets!
Obviously, you can’t talk about Ford without mentioning technology. Whether it’s Park Assist (which allows the vehicle to actually parallel park itself—and now perpendicularly too!), the kick-activated tailgate or the MyFord Sync system, the Edge has it all, either optionally or factory standard. There are also some handy safety features, like a new 180-degree front camera that cleans itself (using windshield washer fluid), inflatable rear seatbelts and AdvanceTrac, which modifies engine torque and brake pressure when the vehicle starts to slide. Check out the photo gallery to learn more about this.
The 2015 Ford Edge’s price has yet to be announced. The only thing we know is that the first units should be rolling into dealerships in early 2015, as 2015 models.