Ford gets Euro with Edge ST as it prepares to phase out cars
The first Ford to wear the high-performance ST badge appeared in Europe more than two decades ago, when the company wanted to offer a car with everyday practicality, but packaged with an elevated level of performance and handling. The Mondeo ST24 debuted in 1997, and it was powered by a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 that developed 168 horsepower — which, by today’s standards, doesn’t seem all that powerful. About a dozen ST models followed the Mondeo (known as the Contour in standard form in North America), with more power, improved suspension and stronger brakes. Output ranged from 148 hp in the 2004 Fiesta ST, to 252 in the latest Focus ST.
However, most of those cars were available only in Europe. North American drivers got their first taste of ST performance with the Focus ST in 2012. That was followed in 2014 by the Fiesta ST, which boasted 197 hp, a significant boost from the base Fiesta’s 120. Both of those cars are still in Ford’s lineup, though with the announcement that the company will keep only the Mustang and discontinue all other conventional cars to focus on trucks, crossovers and SUVs, they won’t be there for much longer.
The latest model to wear the ST emblem is the 2019 Ford Edge ST, which sees a boost in performance and handling compared to the standard model. And unlike all previous ST cars, which were either hatches, coupes or sedans, the Edge is the first SUV to brandish the Sport Technologies acronym.
The Edge ST, which replaces the Edge Sport, uses the same 2.7-L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 as the Sport, but it is tuned to produce 335 hp and 380 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 20 hp and 30 lb-ft, making it the most powerful ST produced to date. Another unique claim is that it is the first ST model produced exclusively for North America, unlike previous STs that were available either solely in Europe, or in North America and Europe.
The Edge ST is available only with all-wheel drive, and has a new eight-speed automatic. Replacing the Edge Sport’s sixspeed unit, the eight-speed has a shorter overall gear ratio for quicker acceleration, going from 3.39 to 3.60. A standard automatic start/stop function and the new transmission have helped reduce fuel consumption to 11 L/100 km combined.
The suspension gets some sporty upgrades: Springs are 10 per cent stiffer up front and 20 per cent stiffer in the rear compared to the standard Edge; anti-sway bars are firmer front and rear, and monotube shocks replace twin-tube units in the rear. Brake upgrades are limited to installing larger, 345-millimetre discs in the rear (up from 316), though an optional ST performance brake package can be added, which includes front calipers with larger 48-mm pistons (up from 44) and vented discs front and rear. These optional brakes are distinguishable by their red calipers.
The interior is mostly Edge, though the ST has unique seats with more side bolstering, and you can get any interior colour as long as it’s black with contrasting stitching. The newest item inside is the centre console, which now has a dial shifter instead of the previous Edge’s lever. In the centre of the dial is a Sport mode button; when engaged, it sharpens throttle response and modifies the transmission mapping to hold gears longer. It also enhances engine sound and incorporates rev-matched downshifts, which is kind of moot on an automatic. You also can shift manually by using steering wheel-mounted paddles.
Ford’s Co-Pilot360 driver assist package is standard, and includes pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection and automatic braking, forward-collision warning and dynamic braking support, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert, active lanedeparture assist, automatic high beams, and a rear-view camera that comes with a lens washer.
Other standard driver assists include post-collision braking and hill-start assist. Available driver assists include evasive steering assist, which helps avoid a collision by enhancing steering when evasive manoeuvres are taken, and stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, which is combined with active lane centring. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.
Driving the Edge ST is a much more engaging experience than driving the standard Edge, with a more robust engine sound and firmer steering with better feedback, though it’s still it’s a bit vague when centred. In Sport mode, the transmission shifts with more urgency, with solid gear changes and a pleasant rush of acceleration that doesn’t let up as the tachometer reaches its upper range. Shifting manually is a bit of a letdown, since there’s a delay between finger commands and gear changes, and there’s also considerable lag when accelerating hard from lower speeds.