Ford NZ grows its SUV family
ENDURA WILL BE A ‘STANDOUT’ IN COMPETITIVE MARKET
Ford New Zealand is expanding its SUV range with the Canadian-built Endura ST-Line five-seater, available from May next year.
The Endura, known as the Ford Edge in other markets, will be available in the premium sportsoriented ST-Line variant only, and is powered by a 2-litre diesel engine.
The model has a six-speed automatic gearbox and Ford’s allwheel-drive system, and will sell for $73,990.
In addition to its performanceoriented powertrain, the new model will include premium features such as active noise control, active park assist and advanced safety features.
“The Endura ST-Line will be a real standout offering in what is a fiercely competitive market,” said Simon Rutherford, managing director Ford New Zealand.
“While SUVs continue to grow in popularity, the capability, design and technology that comes with the ST-Line gives the Endura an edge over its competitors and is a fantastic way for Ford to introduce the new nameplate to New Zealand.”
The Ford Endura ST-Line is a prime example of the One Ford global product portfolio and joins Ford New Zealand’s expanding SUV range alongside the Ford Everest large 4WD SUV, the Escape medium SUV and the Eco Sport small SUV.
It will be the second ST-Line vehicle here, joining the Mondeo ST-Line introduced this year.
The Endura ST-Line includes as standard Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection; a cameraand radar-based system that can detect vehicles and people in the road ahead. The system can automatically apply the brakes if a potential collision is detected
and the driver does not respond to warnings.
The Endura ST-Line features Ford’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD) technology as standard, which Ford says delivers a seamless transition between frontwheel drive and all-wheel drive performance to provide a more secure footing on the road, especially in slippery conditions. Measuring how the car’s wheels are gripping the road surface every 16 milliseconds — 20 times quicker than it takes to blink — the system can send up to 100 per cent of engine torque to the front or rear wheels. By delivering torque where and when it is needed, Intelligent AWD has minimal impact on fuel-efficiency and CO2 emissions compared with permanent 4WD systems. The company says a number of noise control devices and designs work together to provide tranquillity when driving the Endura. Ford’s Active Noise Control silences unwanted cabin noise.
Microphones detect and measure specific sound waves. And a control unit can separate sounds people want to hear, like conversation and the audio, from those they do not. The system then creates inaudible “white noise” to cancel out any unwelcome noises. Acoustic windscreen glass and laminated glass for both front door windows further reduce wind noise as underbody panels and wheelarch liners further cut road noise.
The Endura ST Line has an advanced 2.0 TDCi engine upgraded with a 154kW bi-turbo to maximise performance, torque and economy, while lowering emissions. The Bi-Turbo engine has two turbochargers and offers enhanced performance.
The primary turbo works at lower speeds, giving an extra boost when needed, such as when turning from a junction into moving traffic. Meanwhile, the secondary turbo works at higher speeds, such as when overtaking a slow-moving vehicle.
The two rear outer seats are fitted with inflatable seat belts. In the event of an impact, they inflate and spread the crash forces over a five times larger area of the body than conventional belts.