2007 Ford Edge Photos

Fearless prediction: the Edge will do for Ford's sport/utility business what the successful Fusion has done for its midsize sedan business. Now, Ford calls this a "crossover utility vehicle" in the hopes it won't steal sales from its own Explorer. But a successful Edge could be bad news for the Explorer, even though the Edge CUV doesn't have a third-row seat. The all-wheel-drive Edge is a poor man's Lexus RX330 and shares its CD3 (Mazda6) front-drive-based unibody platform with the Mazda CX-7 and Lincoln MKX (which until showtime, was known as the new Aviator). Incidentally, Mazda's CX-7 ute, which made has been making the auto show rounds as well, is also based on the same platfom, but it shares very few parts with its North American counterparts.

As with the Fusion and Ford's Reflex (aka Refl3x) concept, the Edge begins with a three-horizontal-bar grille first seen on the 427 concept. The Edge eschews Ford's sluggish 3.0-liter V-6 in favor of the new 250-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6, hooked to a six-speed automatic. Ford claims the combo will produce best-in-class 0-60 times and fuel economy when it reaches the market in the fall.

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