Ford Motor Co. presented a redesigned version of its Edge mid-sized SUV, which is going to be provided for sale in more than 100 countries worldwide. According to the companys statement yesterday, the upgraded 2015 Edge will be built on the same mechanical basis as the Fusion sedan model, but will have a new design combined with improved technology.
The model is considered to be the first crossover vehicle that is presented worldwide. Edge was released in North America in late 2006. It has been sold in Brazil since 2008 and was launched on the Chinese market in 2011.
As reported by the Wall Street Journal, the Global Marketing Chief of the company – Mr. Jim Farley said in the statement: “Edge will enter the market as our flagship utility. Edge will compete with luxury brands in Europe.”
Ford Motor Co., which announced that the renewed Edge model is planned to be released for sale in early 2015 and will be aimed at beating the competition of companies such as Daimler AG, BMW AG and Volkswagen AG, which are also focused on the growing market for luxury SUVs, which now accounts for about 19% of the passenger vehicle market.
The company also hopes that the renewed model will be beneficial to consolidating and boosting the sales not only on the European market, but also on the ones of the Americas and China. However, the units that are to be presented in Europe will offer some electronics features that wont be available in the vehicles launched on the U.S. market, due to the fact that the company is trying to prove the differences between Ford and Lincoln models.
Mr. Joe Hinrich, who is the companys president of Ford American unit commented for Reuters: “The all-new Edge is a showcase of Ford’s smartest technologies, the best of everything we have brought to market to date.”
Ford Motor Co. was 0.53% up to close at 16.97 dollars per share yesterday, marking a one-year change of +15.68%. According to the information published on CNN Money, the 15 analysts offering 12-month price forecasts for Ford Motor Co. have a median target of 19.00, with a high estimate of 23.00 and a low estimate of 12.00. The median estimate represents a +11.96% increase from the last price of 16.97.