2011 Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Edge named Canadian Car and Utility of the Year

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Crossover, Chevrolet, Ford, Canada

2011 Chevrolet Cruze

2011 Chevrolet Cruze – Click above for high-res image gallery

Both Chevrolet and Ford have something to brag about at the 2011 Canadian International Auto Show. The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada named the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze the Canadian Car of the Year; the 2011 Ford Edge took Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year honors. According to General Motors, AJAC members cited the compact sedan’s efficiency, refinement, and price as the key factors, and that added bonuses like 10 standard air bags helped seal the award for the Cruze.

The 2011 Ford Edge crossover, won over journos with its extensive redesign and came out ahead following both road and track tests. Additionally, the Edge’s onboard technology features helped drive home the win. Hit the jump for both press releases.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT: Review

2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT

Gallery: Review: 2011 Ford Edge

Photos copyright (C)2011 Steven J. Ewing / Chris Shunk / AOL

[Sources: General Motors, Ford]

Continue reading 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Edge named Canadian Car and Utility of the Year

2011 Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Edge named Canadian Car and Utility of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Feb 2011 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Ford Edge Limited

Filed under: Crossover, Ford, Reviews

Ford Masters The Mid-Cycle Refresh

2011 Ford Edge

2011 Ford Edge – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s one thing for an automaker to develop a single great vehicle. After all, even a blind squirrel can score the occasional nut. But to gain a loyal customer base, automakers must string together a consistent cadence of winners. When CEO Alan Mulally joined Ford Motor Company in 2006, he inherited a product lineup with only two true champions: the F-Series pickup and the iconic Mustang. Over the next four years, Mulally and his team concentrated on getting the company leaner and meaner while improving quality and streamlining its product offerings.

At the same time that Ford was trimming costs and eliminating waste, it was also producing more competitive products. The 2010 Taurus was a step in the right direction. The 2010 Fusion won Motor Trend Car of the Year. The 2011 Mustang GT got the engines it needed to beat up on the pony car competition. And buyers are spending top dollar to get optioned-up 2011 Fiesta hatchbacks and sedans. The Blue Oval has been firing on all cylinders, and the company’s newest offering, the 2011 Edge, is supposed to extend Ford’s seemingly unbreakable streak. Will updated looks, new engines and a completely overhauled interior get the Edge on buyers’ short lists? We spent a week in a loaded 2011 Edge Limited to see for ourselves.

Continue reading…

Gallery: Review: 2011 Ford Edge

Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Shunk / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2011 Ford Edge Limited

Review: 2011 Ford Edge Limited originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #192 – Slow Edge Sports, GM High Performance, BMW Megacity

Filed under: Concept Cars, Podcasts, Etc., Ford, GM, Hyundai, Jaguar, Toyota, Electric

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Chris, Sam and Dan return for Episode #192 of the Autoblog Podcast. We cover the reinstatement of GM’s high performance division and its new focus on small cars, the Ford Edge Sport being out-dragged by its lesser SEL sibling, and the BMW Megacity electric car. It’s an hour and eleven minutes, bookended by what’s in our respective garages and your questions/comments. See you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #192 – Slow Edge Sports, GM High Performance, BMW Megacity

In the Autoblog Garage:

Toyota Sienna LE
Jaguar XFR
Hyundai Azera

Hosts:
Dan Roth, Sam Abuelsamid, Chris Shunk

Runtime: 71:11


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Autoblog Podcast #192 – Slow Edge Sports, GM High Performance, BMW Megacity originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Whoops! MT discovers Ford Edge Sport slower than less powerful SEL model

Filed under: Crossover, Ford

2011 Ford Edge – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to popular American folklore, you should always buy the biggest engine available. Such thinking likely became prevalent in the 1950s, when the American automotive industry was busy building new V8 engines, experimenting with multiple carburetors and high compression, and generally discovering the art of hot-rodding. Gas prices? Fuel economy? Pfft. It was a great time to be an American.

These days, life isn’t quite so simple. There are countless reasons to consider a downsized powerplant. First off, we all care about fuel mileage and many of us care about emissions. Then there’s the cost consideration, and, finally, the biggest engine isn’t always the best performer. Proof of such can be seen in the new 2011 Ford Edge, that we just drove ourselves and that was recently put through the full testing regime by the boys at Motor Trend.

There are currently two V6 engines available in the Edge (a 2.0-liter EcoBoost is on the way in a few months), a 3.5-liter and a 3.7, which comes straight from the Mustang. Power for the smaller engine comes in at 280 horses and 253 pound-feet of torque. The larger 3.7 puts out 305 horses and 280 lb-ft and is available only in the Edge Sport. So, the Sport is the fastest, right?

Not so fast… literally. MT clocked a 7.1-second run to 60 in the base Edge, but only managed a disappointing 7.6 seconds in the 3.7-powered Edge Sport. Apparently, the problem is weight. The base Edge tipped MT’s scales at 4075 pounds while the Sport came in at an obese 4405, part of which can be explained by the addition of all-wheel drive. In any case, the Edge Sport, with its massive 22-inch wheels and wide tires, can’t keep up with the base Edge in a straight line.

On the flip side, the AWD Edge Sport (with those aforementioned oversize wheels and tires) handily out-handled its base model sibling. In other words, this is a case where you need to pick your poison, either handling or straight-line acceleration. And of course the upcoming EcoBoost will add another interesting option to consider in a few short months.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Edge: First Drive

[Source: Motor Trend]

Whoops! MT discovers Ford Edge Sport slower than less powerful SEL model originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 Ford Edge

Filed under: Budget, Technology, Crossover, Ford, First Drive

Sharpened Tech Claws More Than Scratch The Surface

2011 Ford Edge – Click above for high-res image gallery

If you checked Ford’s bloodstream right now, you’d probably find trace amounts of Ritalin floating along with the 5w30. The company is an absolute blur of product development – churning out new models (Fiesta), entirely reworking staples (Focus) and honing beloved and established products (Mustang), into cars that can swing well above their intended weight class. The Blue Oval isn’t sitting around waiting for the competition to guilt it into making its vehicles better. Instead, the company is constantly improving what needs attention, even in the case of the Edge – a crossover that’s had no problem establishing itself as a market force to be reckoned with.

Just recently, Ford announced that 400,000 Edge crossovers have found homes in the U.S. since late 2006, making it king of the high-riding crowd in the process. Ford credits much of that success on the Edge’s styling, which the rest of this crowd just can’t seem to match. There’s no mistaking this five-door with anything in its segment (MKX aside), and that won’t change anytime soon. For 2011, Ford has given the Edge a detailed once over, plopped a few new engine options under the hood and given the interior the kind of remake that doesn’t typically pop up mid-cycle. If the rest of the segment was hoping to catch up, it can keep dreaming.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Edge: First Drive

Photos Copyright (C)2010 Zach Bowman / AOL

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Ford Edge

First Drive: 2011 Ford Edge originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Ford Edge begins shipping to dealers as model hits 400,000 units

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Ford

2011 Ford Edge Sport – Click above for high-res image gallery

It goes without saying, but we’re going to go ahead and say it anyway: Crossovers are so hot right now. According to data compiled by Ford, the CUV industry has expanded 220 percent since 2006, which is the year the Blue Oval introduced the world to the Edge, its main player in the hotly contested market.

Ford also contends that the over 400,000 Edge CUVs have sold since late 2006, making it the best-selling mid-size crossover over that period of time. Don’t expect that growth to slow down any time soon, either, as Ford projects the CUV segment will increase another few percentage points in 2011. In fact, the market for CUVs will grow to be as large as that of full-size pickup trucks.

In order to meet the increased demand it expects for CUVs, Ford has sharpened its Edge (sorry, couldn’t resist) for the 2011 model year. Of special note are the two new drivetrain choices that join the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 2.0-liter EcoBoost with 285 horsepower and a 3.5-horsepower 3.7 Ti-VCT V6 in the newly beefed-up Edge Sport.

The House that Henry Built is also quick to point out that its next-gen Edge will come with a full suite of technology options, including Sync and MyFord Touch. So, will all of this added goodness equal a worthwhile improvement to the hot-selling previous-generation Edge? Stay tuned for a First Ride report, and feel free to click past the break for Ford’s official press release.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Edge Sport

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading 2011 Ford Edge begins shipping to dealers as model hits 400,000 units

2011 Ford Edge begins shipping to dealers as model hits 400,000 units originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX configurators up and running

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Ford, Lincoln, Luxury

The 2011 Ford Edge and 2011 Lincoln MKX configurators have gone live for your shopping – or time-wasting – enjoyment. The Edge SE starts at $27,220 for the 3.5-liter V6, but you can hit it out of the park before even leaving the first page by selecting the Edge Sport all-wheel drive for $38,070. That’ll get you a 305-horsepower, 3.7-liter V6 canvas to play with. There isn’t much more you can add to it, but after stuffing it like a turkey we got it up to $45,171. For those with a mind to be a kinder on wallets and Mother Earth, there are SEL and Limited trims on offer, as well as the 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine (…eventually).

The Lincoln MKX puts less on the table when it comes to varieties: the front-wheel drive starts at $39,145, the AWD at $40,995. Both get that 3.7-liter V6, six-speed SelectShift transmission and SYNC as standard fit. If you go the package route, your work is just about finished, because they cement quite a few exterior and interior choices. But don’t take our words for it – click the links and get to configuratin’. Hot tips, Drew and Tony!

Gallery: First Ride: 2011 Ford Edge Sport

Gallery: 2011 Lincoln MKX at Detroit Auto Show

[Source: Ford, Lincoln]

2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX configurators up and running originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX configurators up and running

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Ford, Lincoln, Luxury

The 2011 Ford Edge and 2011 Lincoln MKX configurators have gone live for your shopping – or time-wasting – enjoyment. The Edge SE starts at $27,220 for the 3.5-liter V6, but you can hit it out of the park before even leaving the first page by selecting the Edge Sport all-wheel drive for $38,070. That’ll get you a 305-horsepower, 3.7-liter V6 canvas to play with. There isn’t much more you can add to it, but after stuffing it like a turkey we got it up to $45,171. For those with a mind to be a kinder on wallets and Mother Earth, there are SEL and Limited trims on offer, as well as the 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine (…eventually).

The Lincoln MKX puts less on the table when it comes to varieties: the front-wheel drive starts at $39,145, the AWD at $40,995. Both get that 3.7-liter V6, six-speed SelectShift transmission and SYNC as standard fit. If you go the package route, your work is just about finished, because they cement quite a few exterior and interior choices. But don’t take our words for it – click the links and get to configuratin’. Hot tips, Drew and Tony!

Gallery: First Ride: 2011 Ford Edge Sport

Gallery: 2011 Lincoln MKX at Detroit Auto Show

[Source: Ford, Lincoln]

2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX configurators up and running originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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