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Ford has said that it expects almost one third of its total sales to be SUV-style models by 2020. That will have risen from 23 per cent in 2013. While the new Kuga, launched in 2012, and the small EcoSport (which is due for a massive upgrade to try and improve poor impressions of its overall quality) are key components, Ford is saying that the new Edge will be one of the most crucial models in this crossover drive.
"Globally, Ford has been at the forefront of SUVs for decades, and is now delivering a European line-up that offers stylish design, car-like dynamics and fuel efficiency that are key to why SUVs have become so popular in Europe," said Jim Farley, chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe. "As demand for SUVs continues to grow, so will the range that Ford offers - from rugged models with true go-anywhere ability to sporty models designed to suit urban lifestyles."
The Edge will make its European-spec debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week, coming with a choice of diesel engines - a 2.0-litre 180hp TDCI or a bi-turbo 2.0-litre with 210hp. Both versions get four-wheel drive as standard, and Co2 emissions are as low as 149g/km. Ford is also claiming combined fuel consumption of up to 78mpg. The 180hp engine comes with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, while the 210hp version gets a standard Powershift automatic.
The all-wheel-drive system is primarily front-wheel-drive, but Ford claims that it can adjust the torque going to each end of the car in its 16-milliseconds - twenty times faster than the blink of an eye.
The Edge will offer new Ford technologies, including Adaptive Steering, which automatically optimises the steering response according to vehicle speed, making it easy to manoeuvre at low speeds, while remaining precise and intuitive at higher speeds; and Front Split View Camera, which makes restricted visibility junctions or parking spaces easier to negotiate.
Edge will introduce segment-first Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection; a camera- and radar-based system that operates at speeds from 5mph to over 100mph to detect vehicles and people in the road ahead. The system can automatically apply the brakes if a potential collision is detected and the driver does not respond to warnings. Ford says it anticipates a five-star safety rating from independent crash test authority Euro NCAP.
Ford says outstanding refinement is achieved with acoustic windscreen glass and laminated glass for the driver and front passenger door windows, which help minimise noise in the cabin. Underbody panels and wheel well liners further minimise road and wind noise. All Edge models (except Zetec trim) are also equipped with Ford's Active Noise Control technology that detects unwanted engine noise in the cabin and cancels it out with opposing sound waves that are fed through the car's sound system.
Meanwhile, the Kuga will also be getting an update with a new SYNC system and a larger touchscreen, while the EcoSport will get a big makeover, including the option of deleting the eighties-style spare wheel mounted on the rear door.
The Edge and the Kuga and EcoSport updates come as a survey, carried out by Ford, suggests that the current boom in SUV sales isn't going to go away. The survey shows SUVs are highly desired by Millennials - those aged 17-34 - indicating Europe's SUV boom is poised to accelerate as the generation reaches prime new car buying age - Millennials account for 24 per cent of Europe's adult population. The new survey shows one in four Millennials in Europe who intend to purchase a vehicle in the next year say they are considering an SUV.
More so than other age groups, Millennials say SUVs make them feel powerful when they drive, are the kind of vehicle they want to be seen in and are more sporty and fun to drive than other vehicle types - according to top strategic research consultancy Benenson Strategy Group. "The survey makes two important points - the SUV boom in Europe is not a passing fad and young people are not as ambivalent about car ownership as some suggest - especially when it comes to SUVs," said Roelant de Waard, Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. "For both rational and emotional reasons, many younger buyers in Europe see SUVs as the perfect choice for them."