(continued from above)
"The 2011 Ford Edge Sport is bolder, more powerful and has more
customer-focused technology than ever before," said Elaine Bannon, chief
engineer. "Edge customers value style and technology. The 2011 Edge Sport
delivers the ultimate in both, now with class-leading performance."
Bannon has been the chief engineer for Edge, which debuted in December of 2006
as a 2007 model year product, from the start. Edge Sport joined the lineup two
years later, and the new version best expresses the vision of combining the
signature elements of Edge with even greater engineering know-how.
More Power and Better Fuel Economy
Class-leading power is delivered
by a new 3.7-liter Ti-VCT V6 engine that produces 305 horsepower at 6,500 rpm
and 280 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. This improved power - 40 more horsepower
over the outgoing Edge Sport - is not at the expense of fuel economy, either.
The 2011 Edge Sport fuel economy remains 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.
Advanced technology and clever control strategies help the 2011 Edge Sport
produce power efficiently. Ti-VCT, for example, enables precise and variable
control of the intake and exhaust camshafts to optimize performance and fuel
economy.
The new engine is mated to a six-speed SelectShift Automatic
transmission with upgraded, class-exclusive paddle shift activation inspired by
sports cars.
"For 2011, the paddle shift activation for the Edge Sport is
'live in drive,' which means the customer doesn't have to shift to 'M' or manual
mode," said Rich Kreder, vehicle engineering manager. "Instead, while in Drive,
the driver can pull the '+' paddle on the right side of the steering wheel or
'-' paddle on the left side of the steering wheel to shift up or down gears.
It's a much more engaging and intuitive experience."
This execution,
available on the 2011 Edge Sport only, allows the driver to shift gears quickly
while keeping both hands on the steering wheel. The transmission reverts to
automatic mode and upshifts or downshifts as needed when driven at a steady
speed.
Ford Edge Sport: Review (2/2)
