DETROIT — In 2017, Ford Motor Company had record SUV sales. The automaker announced that its performance “ST” brand will be added to its SUV portfolio by way of the all-new 2019 Ford Edge ST later this summer. The official unveiling happened last Sunday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
I spoke with Jesyka Faison, SUV Communications, about the 2019 Ford Edge ST which has a powerful V6 engine producing 335 horsepower and 380 pounds of torque.
Standard features include a 2-liter engine with All Wheel Drive (AWD) and an option for a 2.7-liter engine. “It’s the first performance SUV built for performance and there is a sport mode for more spirited driving,” says Faison. Also there is more driver-assisted technology on the ST model such as:
- Evasive steering assist which gives you a little nudge if not steering properly.
- Lane centering which keeps you in your lane.
- Post-collision braking; if you are in an accident, the air bag goes off and slows the vehicle down.
There’s several cool features on the inside as well. Those include wireless charging for your smartphone, HD Radio™ and a 12-speaker B&O PLAY™ Premium Audio System by HARMAN specially tuned for Edge. Standard on all Edge models is FordPass® Connect, with a Wi-Fi hotspot that gives internet access to up to 10 devices.
Vehicle Engineering Manager, Jonathan Crocker, stated on the new Edge ST there is a 345 vented rear rotor which gives you a lot of thermal capacity. Also an additional brake system for off-road track driving for super-aggressive people. The sport mode automatically displays the tachometer. The throttle becomes more responsive. “This system preselects downshift events as you brake for the turn, so when you accelerate into the corner, it’s already in a lower gear,” added Crocker.
The Edge ST will be available in dealer showrooms in the summer. They are not announcing hybrid or pricing at this time.
