Ford is expecting to sell 139,000 all-wheel drive models in Europe in 2016, representing a stunning 120 per cent increase compared to 2014.
With eight out of the 17 models available in the European market to be offered with all-wheel drive next year, Ford is getting ready to face the increased demand by covering a wide range of segments, from the Edge and Kuga SUVs to the Galaxy and S-MAX MPVs, the Mondeo and, of course, the mighty Focus RS.
Ford also expects to sell 200,000 SUVs in the next year, a 200 per cent increase compared to 2013, thanks to the addition of the premium Edge SUV that will join the Kuga and the compact EcoSport. The latter will also offer the 140PS turbocharged 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine from 2016.
“With our range of sophisticated all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive systems, Ford is able to offer customers the right technology for their vehicles and their lives,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford. “Consumer appetites for SUV and all-wheel drive equipped vehicles are so strong that we plan to introduce five new vehicles in the next three years that will compete in the SUV and crossover space.”
Performance-wise, Ford will push the AWD envelope thanks to the new Focus RS and its advanced system with Dynamic Torque Vectoring. Two electronically-controlled clutch packs mounted on the rear axle manage the front/rear torque split and the side-to-side torque distribution in order to deliver on their ‘torque vectoring’ promise. The system will be able to send up to 70 per cent of the torque to the rear axle.
The new Ford Edge will be offered with a choice of two diesel engines, a 180PS 2.0-liltre TDCi with a six-speed manual and a biturbo 210PS 2.0-litre TDCi with a six-speed Powershift automatic transmission.
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