2011 Ford Edge debuts: Gets edgier styling

2011 Ford Edge shows off its new nose (Courtesy: Ford)

Ford debuted its new 2011 Ford Edge crossover last week at the Chicago Auto Show.

To view the new Ford Edge from all angles, check out the slideshow in this link which is packed great photography.

The first thing that the casual observer may notice is the Edge's new styling up front.  It looks like the Ford Edge is ready to go toe to toe with with GMC Terrain when it comes to boldness of design.

If that grille wasn't enough for you, how about the 22" wheels on the new Edge Sport model?  The Edge Sport also comes with a 3.7-liter V-6 engine, Tuxedo Black grille, smoked headlamp and taillamp treatment, body-color rocker moldings, oval chrome exhaust tips, body-color door cladding and revised body-color lower front and rear fascias.

The big news on the inside of the 2011 Ford Edge is the MyFord Touch driver connect technology.  MyFord Touch technology, which you have seen previously labeled as MyLincoln Touch in the 2011 Lincoln MKX offers various ways for the driver to control operate features in the car:

• Five-way buttons mounted on the steering wheel, naturally placed for a driver’s thumbs to control menu commands and select functions
• An 8-inch LCD screen in the center stack and 4.2-inch screens in the instrument cluster provide vehicle and infotainment information
• Voice control, including a new “flattened grammar” voice-control system that simplifies common commands and introduces voice control for more features, such as audio tuning and climate control

Ford continues its recent trend of emptying its technology cupboards for  the 2011 Edge with standard and available technologies such as Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with Cross Traffic Alert, MyKey™, Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel-Filler System, Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start, (pause to take a breath) Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning with Brake Support, HD Radio™ technology with iTunes® Tagging capability, LED auxiliary lamps, rear view camera; rain-sensing wipers, remote start, available HID (high-intensity discharge) headlamps, power liftgate and mind control.  Okay, I made up the last feature, but I am sure Ford will soon add it.

In addition to a revised tire and wheel lineup, the 2011 Ford Edge has three engine choices, a retuned suspension, new four wheel disc brakes and many revisions to the subframe, glass and aero to create a quieter cabin.  Ford likes to tout the 2011 Edge as having "Less noise, More poise."

The 3.5-liter V-6 sticks around and produces 285 horsepower and 253 ft.-lb. of torque while the 3.7-liter V-6 in the Edge Sport delivers 305 horsepower and 280 ft.-lb. of torque.  A 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 will also offered.  Ford is not willing talk numbers on the EcoBoost mill, but it says that it will offer  "Best-in-class fuel economy and impressive performance and torque."

We will be finding out more about the 2011 Ford Edge as its arrival at Ford dealerships approaches.  Stay tuned to all the latest news by subscribing to this author's e-mail list and receive notification when a new article is fresh out of the oven.

 

 

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