3 Views
Ford Will Market Long-Wheelbase Edge In China
by
Derek Kreindler
(IC: employee)
Published: June 26th, 2014
Share
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
More by Derek Kreindler
Published June 26th, 2014 9:34 AM
Comments
Join the conversation
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.
"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?
If Ford engineers a LWB Edge, then it might make the basis for a nice livery vehicle for Lincoln here in the US.
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.