Forbes: 2015 Ford Edge Rivals Luxury Vehicles

We couldn't have said it better ourselves! See why Forbes is really excited about the 2015 Ford Edge. And they're not the only ones...

The 2015 Ford Edge Pushes Into Premium-Car Territory With Major Upgrades

Written by Matthew De Paula for Forbes, 6.30.14

Cars like the 2015 Ford Edge will make it harder for some to justify shelling out big bucks on luxury vehicles. A comprehensive makeover to this midsize crossover promises to bring refinement, comfort and technology normally only seen on cars costing thousands more.

Ford chose a good foundation on which to re-engineer the Edge: It is now based on the same platform as the current Ford Fusion sedan, which debuted in 2012 and has excellent handling dynamics. 

The new chassis uses more high-strength steel to make it stiffer, which, in turn, helps the redesigned suspension better absorb bumps and potholes. The end result should be a smoother ride and more agile handling.

The interior should be noticeably quieter, too. Ford better isolated the cabin from road, wind and engine noise by adding more insulation and a thicker, laminated windshield, among other improvements. Some upper trim levels also get thicker laminated front side windows and noise-cancellation technology to neutralize certain sounds associated with road or engine noise. Both features are found on many luxury cars.

Inside, the 2015 Ford Edge has better fitting panels with fewer seams and tighter gaps. That might not sound like a big deal, but in terms of perceived quality, it is. Leg-room is more generous than before, not only because the 2015 Edge is slightly longer than the previous model.

Optional features that you’d find on luxury vehicles include a heated steering wheel and cooled seats. There are even some things most luxury vehicles don’t have, such as inflatable safety belts for second-row occupants. These seat belts help reduce injuries from frontal crashes by distributing crash force energy over five times more surface area of the torso than a traditional seat belt.

Another feature normally found only on luxury vehicles is adaptive steering. It makes it easier to The new Edge is also the first Ford to come standard with a turbocharged EcoBoost engine, which was optional on the outgoing 2014 model.
steer at low speeds and keeps the car more stable at high speeds. The 2015 Edge is the first Ford to get adaptive steering, but the automaker plans to introduce the technology on other models.

A “significantly improved” 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine produces 245 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Though torque remains the same and horsepower only goes up by five, compared to the previous 2.0-liter EcoBoost, a redesigned turbocharger should make the engine feel more responsive.

The new 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine is also lighter and more efficient, aided by a stop/start function that shuts the engine off during temporary stops. Ford has not released fuel economy estimates, but this new engine should do slightly better than the outgoing 2.0-liter EcoBoost, which got an estimated 24 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving.

A second new EcoBoost engine will be the most powerful engine offered on the 2015 Edge. This new 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 replaces last year’s 3.7-liter V6 on the Edge Sport. It produces 300 horsepower—5 horsepower less than the outgoing 3.7-liter V6—but Ford says it is designed to offer the power of a V8 engine in a smaller, lighter and more efficient package. The Edge Sport also gets a tighter suspension that offers 15 percent to 20 percent better road-holding capability.

A raft of advanced safety features mimic those found on luxury cars, including cameras and radar that give a 360-degree view and help the 2015 Edge warn drivers of impending collisions and even help avoid them by applying the brakes, if necessary.

As before, the Edge has seating for five and will not offer the option of a third row. Ford is aiming the Edge at young parents seeking something sportier and hipper than the larger Explorer and Flex, which offer third-row seating.

The 2015 Ford Edge goes on sale early next year. Ford has not announced pricing, but it should be close to that of the current model.

Ford F-150 Tops 2014 American-Made Index List

Just in time for National “Made in the USA Day," Cars.com just unveiled its annual American-Made Index, and guess which Built-Tough pickup truck from Detroit was named leader of the pack?

That’s right! Ford's F-150 topped Toyota Camry and every other vehicle this year in Cars.com's most "American-made" vehicles ranking. It doesn't hurt that Ford's F-150 and its heavy-duty variants are, together, the nation's top-selling vehicle of any sort.

The American-Made Index, in its ninth year, rates cars based on two key pieces of information that can be found on the window stickers of every new car: final assembly point and domestic-parts content.

The labels show the percentage of U.S. and Canadian parts. In addition to showing where the car was built, the label will tell you where its engine and transmission were made, as well.

The Ford F-150 is America’s best-selling AND “Most American” vehicle, with a vast majority of its parts and assembly hailing from Ford headquarters in Dearborn, MI, and the Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, MO, which specializes in the F-150 Regular, Super & Crew Cab models.

And the F-150 isn't the only thing that makes Ford truly #AmericanMade. In fact, Ford is America's #1 selling brand! On top of industry-leading innovation, design and commitment to sustainability, the Ford Motor Company employs an estimated 60,000 people in the U.S. alone, most of whom work throughout the company's numerous U.S. plants.

To us, though, it's not surprising at all. Because on top of practically sparking the American industrial revolution, Henry Ford is credited with CREATING the American Middle Class when he decided in 1914 to increase Ford employee wages to $5 per day -- more than DOUBLE what other industrialists were paying their workers.

Although it astonished and angered his peers, Ford calculated that paying so much would allow his workers to buy their own Ford cars, reducing the industry-typical high turnover levels and ultimately inventing the concept of employees as "brand ambassadors." It would create a loyal workforce that would boost productivity, employee morale, satisfaction and profits to new heights.

The new wage rate set off seismic shifts in American society. A tidal influx of job candidates from the South and around the world flowed into Detroit. Factory jobs became prized, helping turn America into the world’s industrial colossus. Detroit and America were never the same.

Celebrate Made in the USA Day and every other day with Ford! In the greater-Charlotte, NC region? Stop by Hilbish Ford for test drive today! And if you need a tune-up, our service team welcomes all makes and models, and there are always great offers guaranteed to save you time and money!

Ford Tops Ranking of Best Global Green Brands

Ford Motor Company Tops Interbrand's 2014 list of the 50 Best Global Green Brands

Excerpts taken from Ford Motor Company official press release on Ford.com and official Best Global Green Brands List page on Intebrand.com.

Ford Motor Company was recognized for its commitment to sustainability, ranking No. 1 on Interbrand’s 2014 list of the 50 Best Global Green Brands. The automaker beat out last year’s winner – Toyota – along with corporate heavy-weights Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola and Microsoft.

Ford claimed the top spot for its forward-thinking approach to environmentally responsible and sustainable manufacturing, greater transparency about its business operations, and for disclosure of information, particularly in the area of manufacturing.

Ford’s focus on water, highlighted in the company’s recently released 15th annual Sustainability Report, as well as its waste-reduction and green building efforts, contributed to the company’s rise to the top.

• Ford scored high marks for transparency about its business operations and disclosure of performance information, particularly in the area of manufacturing

• 90% of Ford’s vehicles now offer EcoBoost® engines, which use turbocharging and direct injection to deliver up to 20% better fuel economy without sacrificing performance.

• More than 2 million EcoBoost® engines have been built to date.

• In 2013, Ford introduced a new plan to reduce waste sent to landfill by 40% per-vehicle between 2011-2016, globally. The company has already reduced global per-vehicle waste to landfill by 40% from 2007 to 2011. In 2012, Ford facilities sent approximately 50.6 metric tons of waste globally to landfill, a reduction of 17.4% from 2011.

LINKS

• Ford Motor Company's Sustainability Chief Talks Innovation, Progress and a Vision for the Future 
• How Ford Integrates Sustainability into the Company
• Ford Cuts Water Use Two Years Ahead of Schedule; 2013-2014 Sustainability Report Highlights Future Initiatives 
• Ford was recognized in 2014 as one of the world’s most ethical companies by the Ethisphere Institute
• Ford reduces water and oil use in plants globally
• Ford partnerships and collaboration