After some snafus in the supply chain forced a few weeks of delay, Ford has finally begun shipping the Edge, a vehicle that's been built up in the press as the automotive equivalent of a Hail Mary Pass. While we don't think Ford's in that dire a situation, the Edge is certainly a significant launch and the delays were warranted to ensure the first batch of Edge CUVs would be in tip top shape when delivered to dealers. Apparently all stations on the assembly line at Ford's Oakville, Ontario plant where the Edge and its platform mate, the Lincoln MKX, are produced are operating up to spec, and Ford is comfortable now with its suppliers' ability to keep up with demand for the vehicles. With a fourth of December already in the books, however, it appears that any units sold through the end of 2006 won't have much of an impact on the company's sales figures this month. That's the price you pay for quality assurance, though.[Source: Business Week]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mark f @ Dec 8th 2006 8:06AM
Not certain about the accuracy of the Business Week story on the vehicle finally being released, as there was an Edge in the parking lot of a supermarket in Shrewsbury PA on 12/2/06 and I saw one driving in Bel Air MD during the last week of Nov.
J Ray @ Dec 8th 2006 8:18AM
So ford comes out with a new grille design for the fusion, and now it gets plastered on every new ford. Quite a lack of imagination... boring!
Tina @ Dec 8th 2006 8:30AM
Do your homework #1 and #3, your'e both wrong!!!!!!!!!!!
poxtomod @ Dec 8th 2006 8:54AM
The 3 bar grill was actually on the 427 concept vehicle first and production Fusion second. I would also like to state that the Edge is more akin to a minivan with a smaller footprint. It gets good mileage for its size as a matter of fact as well.
I have seen one of these around probably a test car and think it is a great looking vehicle that I would love to own. I think that when people say they hate it they attribute Fords "ugly vehicle reputation" and fail to see it for how attractive the lines are.
I am not a Ford fan boy but a layed off autoworker and Usually bash the bland styling in Ford production vehicles myself, but I think Ford gets it now. I think threy will be listening more to design then finance departments in the future. And as these new vehicles begin hitting the road in the next couple of years the will gain back market share.
jon @ Dec 8th 2006 9:46AM
#2 The Ford field reps have been driving them around for a couple of months
cl2 @ Dec 8th 2006 9:56AM
Truly amazing. Chrysler & Dodge can put their snouts on every vehicle they make and receive very little criticism from the bloggers and enthusiast mags. Let Ford or GM do it and they are endlessly criticized.
Hamud @ Dec 8th 2006 10:17AM
Chrysler has put their Dodge Ram gille on almost every car and a few say something about it, Ford put the same grille on two cars and people start to bash, very nice.
I find this car very atractive, lets see how it handles on the streets.
sk @ Dec 8th 2006 10:20AM
Who exactly Ford thinks will buy this car?
smokeydog @ Dec 8th 2006 10:20AM
The world desperately needs another SUV.
mr.ed @ Dec 8th 2006 10:33AM
It's another Mazda6 spinoff, including the huge turning circle I have grown to hate.
cFoo @ Dec 8th 2006 10:38AM
#6 Chrysler & Dodge create good looking cars. Ford and GM are just spreading their ugliness across the line up.
not2bad @ Dec 8th 2006 10:45AM
"...So ford comes out with a new grille design for the fusion, and now it gets plastered on every new ford. Quite a lack of imagination... boring!"
So, BMW puts the "kidney bean" grille on ALL of their vehicles and that's ok? What mass-market automaker today puts a completely different grille on each vehicle?
Mr. N. Disguise @ Dec 8th 2006 12:43PM
Ho-hum.
Well, at least by holding it back Ford is recognizing that consumers do care about quality. I doubt at Ford is was ever job 1 however.
I drove this vehicle several months ago, it was a preproduction vehicle. I like the exterior Ford has done a good job there.
The interior remains painfully low rent and surprisingly disappointing. The quality of materials is far below what should be in a vehicle of this type. The trim looked cheezy and the power window switches had sharp rough edges on them. Part of the dash reflects like a beacon in the windsheild (did you field test this at all guys?)
Ford has many miles to go before they make a vehicle that an informed consumer would buy.
Eric L. @ Dec 8th 2006 12:45PM
Unless they upgraded the awful brakes on the Edge, its not a contender except for those who do not compare vehicles in respected publications/websites.
Matt W. @ Dec 8th 2006 12:56PM
#7: It's not a "Dodge Ram" grille. The Viper was the first Dodge to sport that style.
Mr. N. Disguise @ Dec 8th 2006 1:04PM
Oh...and it drove badly as well.
The Mazda CX-7 was not quite as quiet but way more fun.
cl2 @ Dec 8th 2006 1:20PM
Yeah, like the new Sebring is good looking. Every manufacturer that I know has designed some good looking cars, and some really ugly ones. Problem still is that some manufacturers still get a pass and others don't. It came home to me when my young son told a friend that a Porsche 911 just looked like a flattened VW Bug. Our friend was incredulous at this observation, but our son was right. There's another car that always gets a pass. Most other car manufacturers would be accused of their design being long in the tooth. Not Porsche. Same goes for Chrysler products. Viper & Firepower are great looking vehicles. Same goes for the PT. That doesn't mean they are all good looking despite what you may think.
mark f @ Dec 8th 2006 1:28PM
3. Do your homework #1 and #3, your'e both wrong!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted at 8:29AM on Dec 8th 2006 by Tina
#3, this is #1 - you absolutely are correct when you say #3 is wrong. I've seen a small number of Edges on the road for the past week and a half or so, not jut in MD & PA but also in OH when I drove through Akron on my way to Cleveland last weekend. Here's the Edge I saw at the lot of the Ford dealer there. Sorry you are not good a doing YOUR homework, but I'm sure if you keep at it rather than providing misinformation on Autoblog you'll get your GED prior to retirement.
http://www.dirksmotor.com/new.aspx?make=FORD
Steven @ Dec 8th 2006 2:04PM
The problem with this vehicle is that it's overweight and underpowered. Geez...over 4500 lbs. C/D magazine is predicting about 15 mpg with this thing...Wrong vehicle for the times, I think. Good luck, Ford. You're gonna need it.
Brandon @ Dec 8th 2006 2:09PM
#1/#18: The Edge has just started shipping to dealerships yesterday. Where I work in Maine, we're expecting our first Edge/MKX's to arrive middle of next week. Dealers closer to manufacturing points have been getting them first. Yes, there have been a few out and about in the last few weeks, but none of those were retail sold vehicles. Those are mostly media vehicles, handed out for reviews.