If you build a "sport" version of a CUV does it then become an SCUV? Or is it a CSUV? Whatever you call it, Bloomberg tells us Ford's planning a sport version of the Edge CUV called, strangely enough, the Edge Sport. Just what constitutes a "sport" version is a matter of some debate. (Well it is now.) To pistonheads, a sport model usually implies more power, better brakes and improved handling. To Ford it means standard 20-inch wheels (optional double dubs) wearing low-profile, 40-series Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires. And an "eight-piece Edge Sport body kit… integrated fog lamps and a lower grille insert… sport badging, polished dual exhaust tips, 'foundry gray' smoked headlamp and taillamp lenses… dark gray leather seats [that] feature unique suede-feel patterned inserts in a combination of light and dark gray." Oh, and "an appealing etched metal effect on the instrument panel center console." After the Blue Oval Boyz introduce the Edge Sport at the Chicago auto show, the not-so-mean machine will go on sale later this year as a 2009 model, aimed at buyers who want their factory rides pre-pimped. Or it that semi-pimped? Semi-pre-pimped? Half caf semi-pre-pimped? Are we there yet?
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I can see this is the proverbial answer to the question no one asked.
I hope they don’t offer that awful color.
No, you can get it in any colour you want, so long as it’s baby poop green.
It’s really embarrassing when manufacturers do this. Sticking heavy wheels and appearance packages on heavily optioned cars and calling it a “Sport” edition/model.
The extra weight (particularly of the wheels) actually makes it slower than the normal version.
Ugh. I’d rather have huge doses of extra horsepower in a conservative package, not vice versa.
Aah, don’t be so harsh on the color. You’re going to make a Park Ranger cry.
Given that Ford had the gall to sell the Ford Explorer Sport…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Explorer_Sport#Explorer_Sport_variation
(Wow! It has only 2 doors! It must be sporty!)
…should we be surprised by anything that they’ll label “Sport”?
Leftlanenews has lots of pics of this.. it’s pretty bad.
tinted taillights and headlights, humongous wheels, polished exhaust, ‘sport’ badging, light gray stitching on seats, brushed metal ‘look’ interior.
and a friggin automatic.
If it’s called sport and has an automatic, end life
Note that they are calling it a “Sport”, not “SVT”. So at least they maintain that consistency. Not like the General who would be more inclined to slap “SS” on something like that.
I first saw photos of this vehicle on Autoblog. I thought it looked pretty nice. Commenting on a vehicle that is mainly an appearance package while running a photo of a different vehicle does no do anybody any good. People should be able to form there own opinions with accurate info.
That being said there is nothing new to adding Sport to a vehicles name as a trim level and not improving its dynamics. For the majority of people it is the appearance of being sporty that sells over the reality of being sporty. Many times people are unwilling to make sacrifices to increase the performance envelope on a vehicle especially if it is not that sporty to begin with. I.E heavy weight and a high center of gravity.
Here’s a link to the Autoblog post with a full high-res gallery. It’s not nearly as bad as the green thing in the article above, but it’s too bad they didn’t add a 3.5L EcoBoost to it to really make it sporty.
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/05/chicago-2008-ford-edge-sport-the-edge-gets-factory-dubs/
They really should call this thing the Edge Hooptie. Pathetic.
There are a lot of cars you’ll see in a picture and think it looks really bad, then you see it in real life, you either like it or it grows on you. For me, the Edge looks better in pictures than real-life. I think it looks nice from the side and the rear, both kinda a mix of x5/earlier range rover. Everytime I see one and look at it, I hate it more and more. At least those wheels look proportional compared to some I see.
The Outlook/Acadia/Enclave looked bad to me in pictures, but look better in real life, and some of ’em, I think the gmc, are growing on me.
I remember when Honda used to do something similar. They had “special edition” Accords which were identical to LX Accords except the little decal on the fender. Then have the Audacity to charge 2k more for it than the LX version. What a joke.
The call this livin’ on the edge….I say push it off the ledge….
I thought a Ford SUV “Sport” package meant making it a two door and putting bigger tires and wheels on it, ala an Explorer XLT. That previous incarnation worked great…people felt really “sporty’ as they rolled over and over interstate medians and embankments.
What Ford really needs is a “Sport Splash Edge” model. It could have a yellow paint job, fender flares, stepside panels, brush guards, peel-and-stick graffics package, Firestone tires, reclining nude mud flaps, and either “Calvin Pissing” or “Angel/Devil Stripper” stickers. Boo-yeah, Boyeee!
This is business as usual at Ford. Take a base model, snaze it up a bit and slap a “Sport” emblem on it (just like my 2000 Contour SE Sport). No news here. However this is just the kind of thing that an outsider like Mulally could put a stop to.
210delray said: “i can see this is the proverbial answer to the question no one asked”
And this is another FoMoCo vehicle that no one will want !!!!!!!!!
To me the term “sport” means performance upgrades to a stock vehicle (especially power) and the items this new Edge includes is just cosmetic and fluff added to a slow selling vehicle Ford can’t move any other way. Ford is DESPERIATE for customers to step on their lots, even the ones DUMB enough to buy a Ford or even consider a Ford. I say caveat emptor: let the buyer beware!!!!!!!!!. You do get what you pay for !!!!!!!!
I’d say the hardest job to have right now is being a Ford sales person !!!!!!! Must be tough seeing all those customers going to other dealerships and buying MUCH better quality, reliability and resale value in their new vehicles!!!!!
Fusion Sport? No no.
Ford Edge Gillette Mach3 Power Nitro Edition. And for the ladies, Ford Edge Venus Vibrance?
More blades for increased airflow!
“And for the ladies, Ford Edge Venus Vibrance?”
Actually, I’d rather see a Ford Edge Brazilian.
Thank you for updating the photo.
red dawg
I thought the Edge was selling pretty well?
I don’t see a major problem with this vehicle unless the steering and suspension had to be upgraded across the entire line to support this low volume setup. I’m sure there is a small audience for a semi-pre-soft-off/on-pimped vehicle from the factory with warranty.
Isn’t the sport moniker basically useless at this point. Dodge/Chrysler have been putting ‘Sport’ on things that were anything but for a long time. Remember the mid 90s 4cyl Dakota ‘Sports’ or Caravan ‘Sports’? Ditto with Ford’s Explorer and Windstar sport models.
Everyone’s acting huffy about this but it’s been going on for 15 years or more.
As proof of the demise of ‘sport’ I’ll point out that some fridges and washing machines are labeled sport.
OK, lets change “sport package” to “apperance package” and call it a day!
Ironic that Ford like a few other automakers went ape-shit over the whole SUV/CUV craze to only turn around and try and now go “sporty” on us with the most unsporty of products.
What Oxymoronic B.S!
Maybe the problem is the American consumer that cant decide which fantasy they actually desire to live out on our roads this year/month/week/day. Ok, is it going to be Big Jim Mountain Man or Speed Boy Drag Racer today?
Dont worry about you can pretend to be both in your new SportscarStationWagonOffRoad Utility Vehicle!
Red Dawg: “To me the term “sport” means performance upgrades to a stock vehicle (especially power) and the items this new Edge includes is just cosmetic and fluff added to a slow selling vehicle Ford can’t move any other way. Ford is DESPERIATE for customers to step on their lots, even the ones DUMB enough to buy a Ford or even consider a Ford. I say caveat emptor: let the buyer beware!!!!!!!!!. You do get what you pay for !!!!!!!!”
WOW—-sorry—I just can’t let this post go by without comment. This is the kind of anti-domestic hyperbole that unfairly paints this site as overly biased against domestics.
The FACT is—whether you agree with this so-call “sport” set-up (or not)the Edge has been a very successful launch moving around 140K vehicles in 2007 (vs. 100K “public” forecast). Consumer Reports and JD Power (and I believe True Delta)have both given the Edge above average quality ratings. Don’t let facts get in the way of good old fashioned hyperbole though
I mean—whats not to like from a Ford perspective—they need MORE launches like the Edge if they are going to survive.
Kinda’ like Toyota’s CorollaS. Maybe Ford should take a lesson from Mazda instead where the “S” sport editions actually offer sportier versions of the base model with a mix and match approach to the exterior appearance. (My Mazda6s looks plainer than most Mazda6 cars on the road, no exterior plastochrome and a rear lip spoiler instead of spoiler that doubles as a car handle for some giant toddler). And, then you would have the Ford SVT version that would (or should) be equivalent to the Mazdaspeed version.
This is nothing that Honda hasn’t done with element SC or the even Saturn did with the Vue redline. I like when a SUV isn’t pretending it spends every weekend rock crawling.So a more urban-style packaged suv makes more sense than all that outback tough swagger.
I’ve always thought that a car with “Sport” in its name means:
(1) 2 doors instead of 4
(2) A roof rack for your toys
(3) More bling
(4) Optionally, and rare, a slightly better drive train.
I think the old school “sport” meant more power and better drive train and braking components.
So it appears that somewhere along the line the “Sport” adjective went from describing the inside to the outside of the car.
Flipper :
February 6th, 2008 at 12:30 am
This is nothing that Honda hasn’t done with element SC or the even Saturn did with the Vue redline.
The Vue Redline had a more powerful engine in addition to the exterior styling changes. I’m not dure about suspension changes, but I believe it sat a couple of inches closer to the ground.