2007 Detroit Auto Show : Ford Edge, Urban Truck of The Year

SEE ALSO: Compare Edge Models in Ford Buyers Guide.

DETROIT Auto Show, Jan. 9, 2007 – The new Ford Edge – the symbol of Ford’s leadership in the fast-growing market for crossovers – has been named “Urban Truck of the Year.”

Edge received the award this evening at the 2007 Urban Wheel Awards from On Wheels, Inc., publisher of African Americans On Wheels, Latinos On Wheels and Asians On Wheels magazines in Detroit. The award winner is determined by a panel of automotive journalists from the United States. Grammy nominated singer Kelis, star of the Ford Edge urban marketing campaign and Ford Edge marketing manager Tracy Magee were on hand to receive the award.

“The Ford Edge is connecting with multicultural buyers and the Urban Truck of the Year award confirms it,” said Francisco Codina, Ford’s group vice president, North American Marketing, Sales and Service. “The Edge delivers exactly what customers shopping in the red-hot crossover market want: great design, dynamic performance, a high standard of quality and outstanding value.”

Already the fastest-growing vehicle segment in the U.S., crossovers could become the largest segment in the industry with sales of 3 million units by the end of the decade.

The Edge is arriving just as Ford reported sales leadership in several other key segments, including the Ford F-Series pickup trucks, Ford Mustang for sports cars, Ford Explorer for SUVs and Ford Econoline for full-size vans.

Ford’s latest product hit, the Fusion, also helped the company achieve higher car sales and market share for the second year in a row.

The Right Product at the Right Time

Now arriving in Ford dealer showrooms, Edge has been building buzz among consumers since its was unveiled at last year’s auto show. More than 40,000 dealer orders have been placed. During the recent holiday season, the Edge marketing campaign – including Ford’s largest ever digital media push – achieved more than 500 million consumer impressions.

The five-passenger Edge features a bold design with a stylish, functional and clever interior. It is powered by Ford’s new 265-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Edge also features standard safety equipment including side air bags, side curtain air bags and AdvanceTracŪ with Roll Stability Control (RSCŪ). Other standard convenience features include a laptop-friendly center console and auxiliary audio input jack for MP3-players.

In addition to optional all-wheel drive, the Edge is available with such innovative features as a class-exclusive, all-glass available panoramic VistaRoof™ giving a view of the sky for front and rear passengers.