Driving into Ford’s expansive test facility, the navy Ford Edge Sport stood out, even from an eighth of a mile away. The lower hood, narrower headlights, new fenders, chrome grille and vertical daytime running lights effectively update the crossover’s style. A closer look sees a body that’s hunkered down over huge 22-inch aluminum wheels. Rich Kreder, Vehicle Development Manager pointed out, “Those forged wheels are premium pieces. They don’t get any better.”
The navy Edge was an early chassis development vehicle, so while the interior wasn’t production correct, the suspension, wheels and tires were. No wallow. No flex. No squeaks from the rear hatch. No porpoising. No head toss. No crashing off the suspension bump stops.
305 horsepower from the new 3.7-liter V6 added more goodness to the Edge Sport’s performance. Based on Ford’s corporate 3.5-liter architecture, the engine debuted under the radar as the standard MKT engine. But now with its placement in the 2011 Mustang and the upgraded performance afforded by variable intake and exhaust valve timing, this is an engine that’s worth some attention.
Very light throttle brought on smooth acceleration. This is an indication of good powertrain electronics programming. Conversely, dropping the hammer made the Edge launch with authority. The engine easily spins to its 6,500 rpm horsepower peak, with peak torque of 280 pound-feet arriving at 4,000 rpm. At wide-open throttle, the engine sounded good, but a bit loud. Due to the fact that the Edge was a development vehicle, it may not have had a complete sound-deadening package installed. (We’ll have to watch out for this when we test our first production model.)
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[...] 17th, 2010 | Add a Comment The stylish and intuitive execution of the 2011 Ford Edge interior highlights the midsize crossover’s improved craftsmanship and materials, creating an [...]