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w w w . o a kv ill eb ea ve r.c o m O A KV IL LE B EA V ER W e dn es da y, Ja nu ar y 12 , 2 01 1 1 2 Ford Edges ahead of the pack in the SUV/CUV category Story and photos by Lorne Drury Metroland Newspapers Carguide Magazine In the automotive business, having the right product at the right time is the key. Ford has been among the best in the indus- try in updating and adding to its product lineup in recent years and for that reason, the firms fortunes have been on a tremen- dous upswing of late. Just when nearly everyone was writing off Detroits Big Three, a reversal of fortunes was beginning for Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. Ford was the first to make its way out of the doldrums, thanks in a large part to its refreshed lineup. And, helping lead the way was the Oakville, Ont.-built Ford Edge mid-size crossover util- ity vehicle. Since it debuted as a 2007 model in late 2006, more than 400,000 Edges have been sold in North America, including more than 40,000 here in Canada. So when a refresh of the Edge was in the works for 2011, Ford engineers knew they had to get it right. Members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) certainly think they did as the Edge was voted the 2011 Best New SUV/CUV $35,000 to $50,000 during testing last fall. It is now in the running for the Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year, to be announced at the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto in mid-February. But the real test is the marketplace, and early indications are that the public is embracing the new design of the Edge as well. Sales were up a whopping 23 per cent in December in Canada compared with the same month in 2009. Sure, some will say, 2009 was not a good indicator because it was smack dab in the middle of the recession. Thats correct, but 23 per cent is 23 per cent, and in my books, thats a pretty substantial increase at any time. So what changes has Ford made to the new Edge? Well, several to be exact. On the outside are new front and rear fascias. The interior craftsmanship and materials have been upgraded significantly and many new goodies are offered, include the MyFord Touch driver connect technology. And, an all-new powertrain lineup promises more power as well as improved fuel econo- my. My tester was a 2011 Edge AWD Limited, priced at $44,229 plus $1,400 freight and PDI. That price included options like the $1,850 Touring Package (panoramic roof and voice activated navigation system), $650 Vision Package (blind spot monitoring sys- tem), $800 20-inch chrome clad wheels and $1,000 Drivers Entry Package. Built on the same platform used for the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedans and the Lincoln MKX crossover, the Edge has a car- like ride and handling, thanks in part to four- wheel independent suspension. Four trim levels are available: SE, SEL, Limited and Sport. SEL and Limited are offered with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all- wheel drive (AWD), while SE is FWD only and Sport is AWD only. Standard on the SE, SEL and Limited is the 285 hp 3.5-litre Duratec V6 engine. New on this engine for 2011 is Ti-VCT (twin independent variable camshaft timing) technology that boosts horsepower and improves fuel economy. Horsepower is up 20 from the previous model, while fuel economy numbers are also improved. With FWD and the six-speed auto- matic transmission, ratings are 11.2L/100 km (25 mpg) city and 7.6L/100 km (37 mpg) highway. Add the six-speed SelectShift automatic and the highway numbers improve even more. With AWD and the SelectShift automatic, fuel economy ratings are 11.9L/100 km (24 mpg) city and 8.0L/100 km (35 mpg) high- way. Meanwhile, the Edge Sport boasts a 3.7-litre Duratec engine with the same Ti-VCT tech- nology that makes 305 hp and 280 lb/ft of torque. Available soon in the Edge will be a new 2.0- litre EcoBoost inline four-cylinder engine. Fuel economy benefits are projected to be at least 10 per cent better than a comparable V6, but with class-leading power and torque for an inline four-cylinder. Continued on page 13 Ford Edge Limited 2011At A Glance: BODY STYLE:mid-size crossover utility vehicle.ENGINE:3.5-litre Duratec V6 engine (285 hp, 253 lb/ft); 3.7L Duratec V6 engine (305 hp, 280 lb/ft of torque).DRIVE METHOD:front engine, front- and all-wheel drive.FUEL ECONOMY:3.5-litre FWD 11.2L/100 km (25 mpg) city, 7.6L/100 km (37 mpg) highway; AWD 11.9L/100 km (24 mpg) city and 8.0L/100 km (35 mpg) highway.PRICE:$27,999 to $43,499WEB SITE:www.ford.ca Voted 2011s Best SUV/CUV $35,000-$50,000 by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), the 2011 Ford Edge is in the running for the 2011 Canadian Utility Vehicle of Year.