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
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...
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