Ford readies its new Edge to take centre-stage in booming SUV market

Like them or loathe them, SUVs are here to stay, and sales are on the up, even in economically unstable European markets. Ford is predicting significant growth in SUV sales across the globe and – more importantly – particularly at the larger end of the market, where premium models such as the Volvo XC90 and Audi Q5 and Q7 reside. And that’s why it’s bringing the new Edge SUV to showrooms next summer.

Given that this is all part of the “One Ford” global strategy, by which models are sold in all markets, the Edge has distinctive US traits, such as a dominant chrome front grille and styling lines. Ford’s design chiefs refer to the looks as being akin to a “sprinting cheetah”, which seems bizarre given its size – the terminology surrounding its looks were clearly penned by over-eager US marketing types.

Nonetheless, it’s a smart-looking model and fits nicely between the mainstream five-seater SUVs and the more expensive premium segment.

Although it boasts an interior that’s larger than the behemoth Audi Q7, the Edge is only a five-seater, with no plans for an extra row. It will also come only in four-wheel-drive and for Irish buyers will only feature a 2-litre diesel engine with 180bhp or 210bhp. The 180bhp version has a respectable emissions figure of 180g/km. Petrol options will be offered in the US, but no hybrid version is planned for now.

The new Ford boasts some fancy new technology as well, including a 180-degree front mounted camera that gives the driver a view of both sides of the road when driving out onto a busy junction where visibility is impaired. It also features a new adaptive steering system which senior Ford executives claim is much better than the lacklustre systems currently on offer and can reduce the force required to turn the wheel on tight and twisting turns, but without reducing steering feel.

Another new feature is an active noise cancellation system. This features three microphones mounted in the car that detects excess noise and works to counter them, much the same way that noise-cancelling headphones operate.

Finally, the Edge also features the new inflatable rear seatbelts that deploy an inbuilt airbag in the case of a crash.

Throughout the presentations it was names such as Audi, VW and Volvo that were dropped most heavily, but the buying cohort is likely to come from current S-Max and Kuga owners looking for something different.