Ford Will Market Long-Wheelbase Edge In China

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Our friends at Autos.ca are reporting that China will get a long-wheelbase version of the 2015 Ford Edge.

According to the site, the Edge will get longer rear doors, while retaining much of the same sheetmetal. The Edge will be built in Oakville, Ontario for global markets, but due to China’s restrictive tariffs on imported cars, there will presumably be a Chinese assembly site as well.

Long-wheelbase versions of sedans are highly popular with Chinese consumers, who value rear passenger space as an attribute of luxury vehicles. Being driven by a chauffeur is also a sign of wealth among affluent Chinese consumers, and a long-wheelbase crossover neatly capitalizes on these trends.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Dwford Dwford on Jun 26, 2014

    I know that Ford exports it's US models all over the world, but I can't recall many being exported to Europe like the Edge will. Is Ford the first to export North American built vehicles back to Europe? I mean in a serious way, not like Cadillac.

    • Bball40dtw Bball40dtw on Jun 26, 2014

      The Germans do it with their SUVs. Well, BMW and Mercedes.

  • 28-Cars-Later 28-Cars-Later on Jun 26, 2014

    "but due to China’s restrictive tariffs on imported cars, there will presumably be a Chinese assembly site as well." Tarrifs to protect a country's industry, what are those?

    • See 2 previous
    • CRConrad CRConrad on Jun 27, 2014

      @tuffjuff Wow, doesn't sound familiar at all.

  • VoGo VoGo on Jun 26, 2014

    If Ford engineers a LWB Edge, then it might make the basis for a nice livery vehicle for Lincoln here in the US.

  • Brianyates Brianyates on Jun 26, 2014

    I believe Ford did try to sell the Explorer in Europe and in England in the late 90's, they didn't sell well at all, partly due to their propensity ro roll over, frequently.

    • Drzhivago138 Drzhivago138 on Jun 26, 2014

      Every SUV has a higher propensity for rollover, particularly if driven by those who have no prior experience with one. (as many were in the late 90's). Explorers were no more likely than any other SUV. I have a feeling the Explorer's lack of success in Europe, same as most other American SUVs, was more due to its poor fuel economy compared to its size (wagons were/are much more efficient, particularly when off-road chops are unneccesary) rather than any rollover risk. And the new Explorer is a crossover, essentially a wagon with slightly higher ground clearance. Significantly wider and lower than the 2010 SUV explorer.

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