- Ford has introduced a new Edge L for the Chinese market, but the new crossover is not expected to replace the aging Edge in America.
- The Edge L is powered by either a 248-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four or a hybrid setup that pumps out a combined 271 horsepower.
- The interior features screens galore, with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster sitting to one side with a 27.0-inch central screen.
Reports have suggested that the Ford Edge will be discontinued in the United States after the 2023 model year, ending a 15-year run for the nameplate. But in China, the midsize crossover is still going strong and a new Edge L was launched yesterday, bringing sharp styling, three rows of seats and an available hybrid powertrain.
The new Edge L looks nothing like the Edge sold stateside, which has been languishing since 2015 with only a mild facelift in 2019. The Edge L has a fresh look dominated by horizontal lines, with a wide grille with An L shape. LED headlights. The blacked-out roof is a trendy look, as is the fin in the bodywork that rises up from the C-pillar to give the bulky crossover a little oomph. The Edge L stretches 196.9 inches from nose to tail, about 8.0 inches longer than the U.S. market Edge and just a few inches shy of an Explorer.
The all-wheel-drive, seven-seat Edge L has two powertrain options, starting with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that makes 248 hp and 279 pound-feet of torque. Ford also offers hybrid setup good for a combined 271 horsepower and 299 pound-feet of torque, and Ford claims this powerplant will be good for about 37 mpg.
The cabin is adorned with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a gigantic 27.0-inch touchscreen that spans most of the dashboard, a feature we expect to migrate to Fords in the near future. the US market. The interior design is clean and modern, and many amenities are offered, including a head-up display and ambient lighting. The China-built Edge L will go on sale in that market this spring, and we hope Ford decides to offer it in the U.S. to bridge the gap between the Escape and Explorer and continue the Edge’s lineage.
Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at the age of 13, and he realized his dream of writing for an automotive magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and attending the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure cars, aiming to one day own something outlandish like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsport fan.
