| Ford Motor Co. intends to put personalization | | | | |
| a topmost priority. As such, it will be | | | | The Dearborn automaker also offered perky |
| giving customers a say in what they want on | | | | details such as the custom Sport badging, |
| their vehicles. At the Chicago Auto Show, the | | | | "foundry gray", smoked headlamp and tail lamp |
| Dearborn-based automaker launched its very | | | | lenses, and polished dual exhaust tips |
| first factory-customized model - the Edge | | | | emerging from openings in the rear skirt. |
| Sport. | | | | |
| | | | "While custom-made to appeal to customers, |
| The launch of the Edge Sport aims to appeal | | | | Edge Sport is smart business," said Mark |
| to the escalating personalization trend in | | | | Fields, president for The Americas. "The |
| the auto industry. The vehicle enhances the | | | | aftermarket industry has grown to a $40 |
| already outstanding sales record in the | | | | billion annual business, and crossovers are |
| automaker's crossover sport utility segment | | | | the fastest-growing vehicle segment in the |
| in the previous year. | | | | U.S. We want customers who crave something |
| | | | special to know that Ford can 'customize' |
| Aside from keeping up with customers' | | | | their Edge - right at the factory." |
| personalization needs, the new trim is also | | | | |
| aimed at industry shows such as the Specialty | | | | The Sport trim, which joins the SE, SEL and |
| Equipment Market Association Show in Las | | | | Limited models in the Edge range, makes it |
| Vegas. | | | | the very first vehicle in the crossover |
| | | | segment to offer customization. |
| The turbocharged Sport trim features 22-inch | | | | |
| polished aluminum wheels, the first size on a | | | | Edge Sport will be available in Sport Blue, |
| crossover, or 20-inch premium painted wheels | | | | Brilliant Silver, Ebony and Redfire. Inside, |
| with Sport-branded black center hubs. To | | | | dark gray leather seats feature unique |
| complete the rugged and aggressive appearance | | | | suede-feel patterned inserts in a combination |
| of the vehicle, engineers at Ford give it | | | | of light and dark gray, with contrasting |
| low-profile tires. | | | | stitching for premium appeal. The vehicle is |
| | | | scheduled to roll out into dealerships this |
| What's more, the vehicle's design and | | | | fall. |
| features like VistaRoofâ„¢ and SYNC | | | | |
| helped make Ford Edge the best-selling | | | | Furthermore, Ford Canada was earlier quoted |
| crossover in the nation. | | | | as saying that a hybrid version of the Edge |
| | | | will be introduced for the model year 2010. |
| According to the automaker, the eight-piece | | | | The said version will feature a new hybrid |
| Edge Sport body kit includes a unique front | | | | system mated to a V6 engine. |
| air dam, side skirts, lower door caps and a | | | | |
| rear skirt, all finished in body color, | | | | Truly, the Edge Sport is a solid proof that |
| instead of the dark lower on other Edge | | | | the automaker's vehicles are evolving with |
| models. Additionally, the front air dam | | | | time; they are far from the likes of Ford |
| features and integrated fog lamps. | | | | Bronco and other previous models. |