Ford continues to make occupant safety a top priority for its vehicles, and not just its human ones: In fact, the Ford Edge was recently named the “TOP DOG” Pet Safe Vehicle of Choice at the New York International Auto Show.
“We recommend the edge to anyone we know who owns a pet,” said one manager at Denver Ford.
The Edge received the nod here for a wide variety of reasons: First, the vehicle’s wide door openings and relatively low step-in height make it easy for pets of different sizes to enter and exit, and the Edge’s roomy interior offers plenty of space once they get in. Yet the ergonomically designed interior also makes it easy for occupants to interact with pet passengers when necessary.
In addition, the Edge was noted for its good rear-seat/cargo-area ventilation, along with its “pet friendly” interior surfaces and the ease in which it can be outfitted with Ford and third-party pet-safety accessories.
Of course, Ford’s crossover is a pretty nice place for people, too. The Edge received a significant updating for the 2011 model year, with fresh sheet metal for its hood, front fenders and front fascia, along with a revised grille and new headlamp/taillamp treatments. The look is much more dynamic, especially in the new Ford Edge Sport edition, which now rocks the segment’s only available 22-inch wheels.
All models get new powertrain choices, with the base Edge soon to be available with one of Ford’s new EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engines, designed for an optimum blend of performance and fuel efficiency. Customers can move up to a 3.5-liter V6 or, in the Edge Sport, a 3.7-liter V6, with both these engines benefiting from Ford’s advanced valve-train technology. The result is best-in-class horsepower, torque and fuel efficiency compared to similarly equipped competitors.
On the inside, the big news for 2011 is that the Edge will boast the latest MyFord Touch system, which “provides a smarter, safer, simpler way to connect drivers with in-car technologies and their digital lives.” It leverages enhanced voice-recognition functionality, two 4.2-inch color LCD screens and a bigger, 8-inch touchscreen LCD, along with mobile-phone-style five-way switchgear, to take Ford’s revolutionary Sync setup to the next level.
Combined with its new Pet Safe recognition, this combination of features truly makes the Ford Edge a breed apart in the midsize crossover segment.
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