Ford Edge going to Europe and getting RHD

mcnamg · 07-09-2012, 10:31 AM

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/06/f...d-by-ecosport/

Quote:

As part of Ford's a big European product rollout, the automaker announced that the Edge crossover will make its way across The Pond in the near future.

Hot on the heels of the Mustang announcement, Ford has stated that the Edge and all-new EcoSport crossovers will make their way to Europe. While you may be quite familiar with the Edge, the EcoSport is a compact crossover, first sold in Latin America. It has already been announced that the Fiesta-based SUV would be sold in India, and now it appears that it will come to Europe as well.

The EcoSport will slot in below the B-platform Ford Kuga (sister crossover to the Escape), which will enter the market first. The EcoSport will come within 18 months, and finally, the Edge will arrive as a "larger, more premium crossover."

According to Jim Farely, VP of global marketing at Ford, "The expanding European SUV market is a unique opportunity for Ford and lands right in our sweet spot." He went on to boast that "No other company can touch Ford's expertise, global portfolio and credibility when it comes to SUVs."

For more on the new European onslaught of Ford products, check out the press release below.

If ford decides not to continue Territory and Falcon production post 2016 I wonder if this would be what Ford is considering to replace the Territory

a_misfit · 07-09-2012, 10:44 AM

The edge is good looking car, and everytime I see one over here I wish they had it in Aus. I'd get one as soon as I get back. I reckon there is enough differentiation as well to maintain Tezza, edge, escape/kuga. Be similar to Prado, Kluga, Rav4 mix for toyota.

Price point would be interesting though. At 28K starting price in the states, it would be a little scary to see what it would land in Australia at.

Road_Warrior · 07-09-2012, 11:14 AM

The Edge is a great looking car, but I don't think it could replace Territory for 2 simple reasons:

1) no diesel
2) no third row seating.

That said, I can see the demand for it in our region.

jpd80 · 07-09-2012, 03:52 PM

Being part of one Ford should enable Ford Australia to have access to Kuga, Edge, Everest and either Territory or Explorer

SpoolMan · 07-09-2012, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

Being part of one Ford should enable Ford Australia to have access to Kuga, Edge, Everest and either Territory or Explorer

My cash will be on the Explorer coming back to Oz.

jpd80 · 07-09-2012, 05:16 PM

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Originally Posted by SpoolMan

My cash will be on the Explorer coming back to Oz.

And hopefully, global markets as well with that beautiful 3.0 V6 TCDI.

outback_ute · 07-09-2012, 03:55 PM

Surely the next Edge (too late in the cycle to do the current one) will be based on the Mondeo/Fusion, so it makes sense that it would be sold in Europe. It could be built in the same plant, but if SUV sales numbers stay low importing from the US is probably a reasonable option.

They would want to lose a bit of weight from the current model however! I agree with Road Warrior about the 3rd row - surely anyone looking at a bigger SUV than the Escape/Kuga wants that. Many of the same size SUV's offer that in other markets, eg Rav4, while the US demands a near full-size 3rd row. The overlap between the Edge and Explorer works in the US due to the size of the market.

JPFS1 · 07-09-2012, 04:20 PM

The next platform that Edge will be based (CD4.2) will be able to cater for 3rd row seating, it will be a marketing decision as to whether the next Edge has a 3rd row though.

Road_Warrior · 07-09-2012, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPFS1

The next platform that Edge will be based (CD4.2) will be able to cater for 3rd row seating, it will be a marketing decision as to whether the next Edge has a 3rd row though.

It would seem it is then getting dangerously close to Explorer size...could be a bit of product overlap issues there unless the next gen Exploder is going to increase in size again (or Ford get clever and simply call the 3rd-row seating variant of CD4.2 the Explorer and restrict the 2-row seater as the Edge)

jpd80 · 07-09-2012, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

It would seem it is then getting dangerously close to Explorer size...could be a bit of product overlap issues there unless the next gen Exploder is going to increase in size again (or Ford get clever and simply call the 3rd-row seating variant of CD4.2 the Explorer and restrict the 2-row seater as the Edge)

C-Max is basically same length/width as Territory, so if a three row version of Edge was contemplated,
maybe it would work but maybe an SUV version with different roof line like Galaxy as an SUV would suit better..

That would make Edge crosover, Territory replacement based on Galaxy, and possibly new Mondeo...three CD4 products.

Buntz · 07-09-2012, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPFS1

The next platform that Edge will be based (CD4.2) will be able to cater for 3rd row seating, it will be a marketing decision as to whether the next Edge has a 3rd row though.

Then that would basically be also the platform that the Explorer would be built off of.

It's seems One Ford doesn't apply to the home market.

In other news, look what these cretins are saying in the comments section about this very subject: http://www.caradvice.com.au/190018/f...ord-territory/

JPFS1 · 08-09-2012, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPFS1

The next platform that Edge will be based (CD4.2) will be able to cater for 3rd row seating, it will be a marketing decision as to whether the next Edge has a 3rd row though.

Actually I had a brain aneurism, can only see evidence of 2nd row for 4.2

Sorry

SpoolMan · 07-09-2012, 06:04 PM

When it comes to SUV's it appears people in this market like them the bigger the better..

Joe5619 · 07-09-2012, 08:41 PM

That now makes 2 USA only models that Ford has announced will now be RHD & Europe bound. Have they said where these cars will be made? Surly the USA can't build for the USA & Europe? I’m not suggesting Australia could build for Europe, but Australia has got to figure in all this somehow? Hopefully in a positive way?

Bossxr8 · 07-09-2012, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619

That now makes 2 USA only models that Ford has announced will now be RHD & Europe bound. Have they said where these cars will be made? Surly the USA can't build for the USA & Europe? I’m not suggesting Australia could build for Europe, but Australia has got to figure in all this somehow? Hopefully in a positive way?

I think they have the capacity in the US for this, and they will happily slit the throat of Falcon and Territory to boost US jobs and keep their plants humming along.

They couldn't care less about Australian production. All these new RHD products are just one way of being able to supply similar products to what we build here.

JPFS1 · 07-09-2012, 11:40 PM

Buntz, if ford continue with their current idea of keeping the Taurus/explorer on the same platform, then the next explorer will be on CD4.3, along with some Lincoln sedans (MKS) and SUV.

Buntz · 07-09-2012, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPFS1

Buntz, if ford continue with their current idea of keeping the Taurus/explorer on the same platform, then the next explorer will be on CD4.3, along with some Lincoln sedans (MKS) and SUV.

I thought those platforms were getting shelved in favour of a stretched Fusion/Mondeo platform and crossover/suv variants?

JPFS1 · 07-09-2012, 11:54 PM

Well that what they are, CD4.2 and CD4.3 are variations of fusion/Mondeo (CD4.1)

jpd80 · 08-09-2012, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPFS1

Well that what they are, CD4.2 and CD4.3 are variations of fusion/Mondeo (CD4.1)

So, Edge is the crossover and Explorer would be the SUV. If Ford NA is going ahead with this,
then obviously, there is enough differentiation between Edge and Explorer to exist side by side.
Funny how FoA sees Edge as too close to Territory, that's like comparing a CX-7 to an SUV...

Buntz · 08-09-2012, 12:01 AM

Wow. I prefer our simpler platforms. At the very least in name.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

So, Edge is the crossover and Explorer would be the SUV. If Ford NA is going ahead with this,
then obviously, there is enough differentiation between Edge and Explorer to exist side by side.
Funny how FoA sees Edge as too close to Territory, that's like comparing a CX-7 to an SUV...

Territory would be far more accepted by European customers. But it's far simpler, and cheaper I suppose to ship across the Atlantic, than from the Indian, and up both Atlantic's.

Even Falcon lives, Territory probably won't.

jpd80 · 08-09-2012, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

Wow. I prefer our simpler platforms. At the very least in name.

Have you even driven any of their vehicles?
I got about 5,000 km seat time in an Edge a few years back, impresive performance and economy,
It gave better consumption than my wife's CX-7 2.5, i wish I could have bought one here.

Buntz · 08-09-2012, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

Have you even driven any of their vehicles?
I got about 5,000 km seat time in an Edge a few years back, impresive performance and economy,
It gave better consumption than my wife's CX-7 2.5, i wish I could have bought one here.

I only meant for the lack of complexity.

jpd80 · 08-09-2012, 12:20 AM

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Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

I only meant for the lack of complexity.

Every vehicle is complex, Territory and Falcon deceptively so...

jpd80 · 08-09-2012, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

Wow. I prefer our simpler platforms. At the very least in name.

Territory would be far more accepted by European customers. But it's far simpler, and cheaper I suppose to ship across the Atlantic, than from the Indian, and up both Atlantic's.

Even Falcon lives, Territory probably won't.

They will build Edge at Genk alongside its CD4 brothers, Mondeo, S-max and Galaxy.

Falcon cannot survive without Territory, they are joined at the hip.

Buntz · 08-09-2012, 12:21 AM

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Originally Posted by jpd80

They will build Edge at Genk alongside its CD4 brothers, Mondeo, S-max and Galaxy.

Somehow got the impression they'd be shipping it over. hmmm

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

Falcon cannot survive without Territory, they are joined at the hip.

Maybe... or they could invest in it becoming a shared product with another RWD car with 4's 6's and 8's. But we will leave it there.