Ford has just announced that its top-selling Edge crossover has amassed its 400,000th sale since its late-2006 introduction, making it the most popular CUV in that time frame.
No sooner did Ford record its historic 400,000th sale of the Edge did the second-generation of the Edge, the 2011 model year vehicle, begin to ship from the Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada.
When the Edge was introduced the midsize crossover segment consisted of 4.3 percent of the retail market in the U.S., today that segment has grown to 9.5 percent of the market. The segment’s growth of 220 percent since the introduction of the Edge shows the vehicles of this nature – with another 20 percent growth expected by the end of 2010.
“Edge competes in one of the fastest-growing and most fiercely competitive segments in the industry,” said Amy Marentic, Ford’s crossover group marketing manager. “Still, Edge is growing sales at an incredible rate.”
Load it up, please!
Not only has Ford enjoyed the lion’s share of the midsize crossover segment with the Edge’s sales, but the automaker also says that 80 percent of its vehicle sales consist of upper-level SEL and Limited trim models – a product mix that equates to greater profits for Ford.
2011 ushers in big changes
The 2011 Edge arrives at a time when the 2010 Edge has enjoyed a 30 percent increase in sales year-to-date, and arrives with an improved base engine that enjoys 20 additional horsepower over the outgoing model, while gaining one city and two highway miles per gallon for EPA ratings of 19 city, 27 highway.
The second-generation Edge also debuts Ford’s second generation Sync infotainment system known as MyFord Touch, which makes use of a combination of touch-screen controls, voice command and customizable LCD screens.
