All-new Ford Edge upscale sport utility vehicle (SUV) has arrived in Ireland

Gardaí to tackle drink driving as number of deaths escalates

The all-new Ford Edge upscale sport utility vehicle (SUV) has arrived in Ireland. Delivering premium levels of comfort, sophisticated driver assistance features and class-leading driving dynamics, the Edge is Ford’s latest offering in Europe’s best-selling vehicle segment.

‘ The all new Edge joins our Kuga and EcoSport to complete Ford’s SUV line-up in a segment which even in Ireland is seeing huge growth,’ said Ciarán McMahon, Chairman and Managing Director, Ford Ireland.

‘Offering cutting-edge style with commanding presence and high specification including Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive, the Edge will tick all the boxes for Ireland’s growing number of SUV owners.’

Ford’s refined and boldly styled new flagship SUV for Europe offers technologies including:

•Active Noise Control, which works like noise-cancelling headphones to counteract unwanted noises in the cabin

•Pre- Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, which can apply the brakes to avoid collisions with other vehicles or even pedestrians

•Ford Adaptive Steering, which automatically adjusts the steering ratio according to speed to optimise manoeuvrability and precision

The all-new Ford Edge sets new standards in its class for interior space; features high quality materials throughout the finely crafted interior; and offers comfort and convenience features including heated and cooled front seats and a panoramic roof.

Ford has developed the Edge to take the stress out of driving in town or country with sophisticated parking technologies that can locate and steer into or out of spaces hands-free; Front Wide-View Camera technology that can see around corners even when drivers cannot – reducing stress and potentially helping avert collisions; and standard Intelligent All Wheel Drive technology for optimised traction in slippery conditions.

Powerful and fuel efficient diesel engines that deliver 5.8 l/100 km (48.7 mpg), 149 g/km CO2* and up to 210 PS make owning a large, upscale SUV more affordable than ever.

Ford plans to sell more than 200,000 SUVs in Europe this year – a 200 per cent increase compared to 2013. Consumer demand for SUVs is growing; last year the SUV segment became the best-selling segment in Europe for the first time with a 24 per cent increase year-on-year. Registrations of vehicles in the Edge’s mid-size SUV segment grew 42 per cent year-on-year.**

The Edge is offered with a choice of two sophisticated 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engines; offering 180 PS with 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph), or a 210 PS Bi-turbo version that achieves 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in 9.4 seconds and reaches 211 km/h (131 mph). Both versions deliver 5.8 l/100 km (48.7 mpg) and 149 g/km CO2.

Innovative aerodynamic features include Front Aero Curtains that channel air through vertical slots in the front bumper and out across the outer edge of the front wheel, creating a wall of high speed air that reduces aerodynamic drag caused by the rotation of wheels.

Edge 2.0-litre TDCi 180 PS models are equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox, and 210 PS models with a six-speed PowerShift automatic option that can be operated via steering standard wheel-mounted paddles. All powertrains feature Ford’s Intelligent All Wheel Drive system that delivers a seamless transition of torque between all four wheels to provide a more secure footing on the road especially in slippery conditions. The system gathers data from 25 different sensors to measure how the car’s wheels are gripping the road surface and can adjust torque delivery up to 50/50 between the front and rear wheels in under 20 milliseconds – twenty times quicker than it takes to blink.

Intelligent All Wheel Drive can pre-emptively adjust torque distribution to avoid wheel spin, reducing the workload for drivers and delivering smoother journeys for passengers. By only delivering torque where and when it is needed, the system has minimal impact on fuel-efficiency, CO2 emissions and tyre wear compared with permanent four-wheel drive systems.

Ford Edge is available in two series (both 5-door): Titanium and Sport.

Key features for the Edge Titanium series include:19” alloys; front and rear parking sensors; Handsfree Power Tailgate and Keyfree system; Ford DAB navigation system; Active Noise Cancellation; Rear View Camera; Illuminated Scuff Plates.

In addition, key features for the Edge Sport series include: 20” alloys; Adaptive Steering system; SONY DAB Navigation system with 12 speakers; unique front, rear and side sports bodystyling with dark exterior detailing; alloy pedals.

Prices start at €55,700 for the Titanium variant. the Gardai and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) are implementing a major enforcement and education offensive targeting drink driving behaviour.

The road safety push is being mounted as casualty figures show that road deaths have risen by 15% in 2016. Of concern too is the fact that July and August (19 and 14 deaths respectively in 2015) are among the most dangerous months of the year and is a high risk period for drink driving.

The campaign comes as preliminary findings from a new report from the National Drug Related Death Index (NDRDI), part of the Health Research Board reveals that 32% of drivers who died in 2013 were drink driving.

The NDRDI report confirms the findings of the RSA’s recent Pre- Crash Report on Alcohol, which was published in early June and found that alcohol was a factor in 38% of all fatal crashes. Of this 38%, a drink driver accounted for 29% of these crashes between 2008 and 2012.

Speaking about the rise in deaths and enforcement campaign, Superintendent Con O’Donohue, Garda National Traffic Bureau said everyone, including the authorities must take all necessary and urgent steps to reverse the upward trend in road deaths.

‘For our part An Garda Síochána is increasing its day to day enforcement activity. Specifically we have added 7 national 24 hour drink driving operations to our operations plan for these months. We are placing a particular emphasis on targeting drink driving late at night over weekends. My colleagues around the country will put additional effort into targeting those counties that have a track record of drink driving related fatalities.’

The worst counties in the country for drink driving related fatalities include Cork (10.6%), Galway (9.7%), Dublin (7.9%), Donegal (7.6%) and Cavan (5.5%). County Cork also accounts for nearly a fifth all road deaths in the country this year (16 deaths).