Compared to the other debutantes on the first day of the Los Angeles Auto Show, the Ford Edge Concept seems pretty tame–it’s a smoothed out version of the familiar Edge crossover-utility vehicle. Looking closer, however, the Edge Concept is one of the more exciting cars from a consumer standpoint, because it’s hiding a lot of features that will almost certainly be available on the next-generation Edge.
The styling provides a glimpse of the future as well. The revised, bright chrome grille takes on the shape of the Taurus and Mustang’s faces, and features active grille shutters that improve aerodynamics at freeway speeds. LED lights are used front and rear, and the body gets broader “shoulders” and a strong character line similar to that of the Taurus SHO.
The interior is rich with concept-car trappings like bright blue ambient lighting, a “floating” binnacle top, fancy shifter and a big ten-inch touch screen. But wait–most of these are also production-ready items, so the Edge Concept’s cabin might not be as far-out as it seems. The sculpted seats, which resemble motorcyclists’ padded jackets, may be a bit too extreme for prime time, though.
Most significant are the Edge Concept’s semi-autonomous features. Autonomous cars are likely to be the next serious wave in vehicular technology and Ford, like Mercedes and Toyota, is preparing for a sudden sea change in the way we drive. The Edge Concept features a full parking assist that can park in a perpendicular space with a single button. Ultrasonic sensors measure the space and detect obstacles. The system can even be operated remotely, allowing the driver to exit before putting the car into a tight space. Ford’s active parallel-parking assist is also included.
The Edge Concept also features updated adaptive steering, a lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, a blind spot warning system and a collision warning system. Most of these features are currently available on other Ford products, but they also constitute the building blocks for creating a car with the ability to drive itself. Considering this, there’s a good chance that the next Ford Edge really will be on the cutting edge of automotive technology.
