Thursday 11th January 2018

Ford Edge ST for Detroit

UK only gets diesel Edges, the US is getting a 335hp V6 - where's that special relationship when you need it?

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The world of performance SUVs is a bigger deal than ever, in case you hadn't noticed. An Audi SQ2 is soon to join the existing the SQ5 and SQ7, SEAT will create an Ateca Cupra and there must be another AMG SUV on the way soon too. The demand isn't going to abate any time soon, which means more of the mainstream manufacturers will jump on board.

See exhibit A, the Ford Edge ST. Set to be shown to the world at the Detroit show, the ST is powered by a 2.7-litre twin-turbo V6 with 335hp and 380lb ft - Ford says this is the most powerful V6 engine in its class, although the 400hp Macan Turbo may have something to say about that.

Power goes through an eight-speed automatic gearbox and the standard Edge's all-wheel drive, with "selectable" traction control and "ST-tuned" sports suspension. It can be identified by its 21-inch wheels, new bumpers, more prominent side skirts and a pair of racy exhaust tips. There's a host of driver assist features too, because that's just as important as anything else now: Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering should keep things tickety boo, Evasive Steering Assist is there if something goes skew-whiff and then Post-Collision Braking for when it all goes to pot. Oh yeah, and 911 Assist if you're really in a pickle.

"Edge ST puts a new animal on the road - a performance SUV with a track mentality," said Hau Thai-Tang, executive vice-president of Ford's Product Development and Purchasing. Which Ford has proven in its launch video by, er, giving it to Ben Collins to drive around a car park. Make of that what you will.

While it would be surprising for a twin-turbo V6 Edge to make it to the UK - Ford currently only offers diesels here - it would also be perhaps the first time an ST model wasn't offered in this market. To our minds the first ST model was the Mondeo ST24 of more than 20 years ago and since then we've had a fairly steady stream of fast(ish) Fords, from the underwhelming (ST170) to the bloody fantastic (outgoing Fiesta). To be denied one seems a bit of a shame, even if the reality of an Edge ST makes that position understandable. More to follow from Detroit...

[GTEYE]

I wonder why Ford Europe have it seems avoided anything with even vaguely sporting pretensions for the best part of 20 years on anything bigger than the Focus?

The Mustang is obviously from the US, but faster Sierras and Mondeos used to be very popular, at least in the UK

[GTEYE]

Car-Matt said:

GTEYE said:

I wonder why Ford Europe have it seems avoided anything with even vaguely sporting pretensions for the best part of 20 years on anything bigger than the Focus?

The Mustang is obviously from the US, but faster Sierras and Mondeos used to be very popular, at least in the UK

Because they dont sell, there just isnt enough 'badge' these days to get the sales going in big enough numbers to make it worthwhile and no brand image.
The Mondeo is almost invisible these days in a sea of Audi/BMW. No one will have them as company cars as despite there always being generous discounts on Fords the P11d values remain inflated and we'd rather have a poverty spec Audi instead. (by we I mean consumers, not me)

No racing programme, no real punchy marketing and just not a lot going on in Mondeoland for me. The Vignale idea is a dead duck and is taking gthe brand into pensioner land.

Fords always used to be so sharp to drive and that would make up for the cheaper bits, the development of the Focus shows this in micro, the base mk1 was such a great driving car, the mk2 less so and the mk3 even less so.....but i bet the dash is softer touch plastic lol

I don't disagree - its as if Ford themselves have given up on the Mondeo - which is a shame as they are by all accounts actually a decent steer.

You don't even get them as rental cars anymore!