Nip/Tuck Ford Edge Now Shipping

Midcycle refresh for 2011 Ford Edge

2011 Ford Edge

The most popular midsize crossover utility vehicle (CUV) is the Ford Edge, a vehicle introduced in late 2006 for the 2007 model year. To date, more than 400,000 sales have been recorded, but the Ford Motor Company is not resting on its laurels.

Edge Shipped

This past weekend, the first of the 2011 models left the Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario and are heading to dealerships across the United States and Canada. Though some have mistakenly called the 2011 Ford Edge a second generation model, she isn’t.

Instead, the new Edge has received a significant nip/tuck inside and out, a mid-cycle refreshening designed to breath fresh life into this CUV. A new fascia, front fender, hood, headlamps and tail lamps help give the Ford Edge its updated look.

Strong Sales

Not that the 2010 Edge was flagging in customer interest. Year to date, sales are up 33 percent over 2009. Importantly, the midsize CUV segment has expanded going from 4.3 percent of sales when the Edge was introduced to 9.5 percent today.

And it is a crowded category at that with competition coming from the Dodge Journey, Nissan Murano, Volkswagen Touareg, Chevrolet Equinox, Honda Accord Crosstour, Toyota Venza and others. Ford data shows that the segment will continue to grow, with a 20 percent rise forecast for this year alone.

New Edge

The 2011 model features a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower, up from 265 last year. Notably, the base front-wheel drive Ford Edge will get 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway delivering best in class fuel economy. Optionally, the Edge will offer the first application of Ford’s 2.0-liter Ecoboost engine or a 3.7-liter V6.

Inside, the changes are notable too and include MyFord Touch driver connect technology, Blind Spot Information System, MyKey and adaptive cruise control.

Getting Technical

MyFord Touch, standard on the Limited and Sport packages, features two 4.2-inch configurable LCD screens placed in the instrument cluster and an 8-inch LCD touch screen in the center stack. Driver can access five-way controls on the steering wheel – in addition to a new Media Hub with two USB 2.0 ports, video input jacks and an SD card slot.

Ford has taken the midcycle refresh to a level not usually seen in the industry. The Mustang and Fusion are recent nip/tuck beneficiaries, showing that automakers can get much more mileage out of a generational model when the facelift isn’t just skin deep.

See Also — Autoweek: Ford Edge Gets $200 Price Cut

Source: Ford Motor Company

GM Will Shift Buick Regal Production To Oshawa

Last week, General Motors officially announced that the 2011 Buick Regal would be added to the Buick line up next Spring, a four cylinder model based on the Opel Insignia. Slotting below the Buick LaCrosse, the all new Regal will be built initially in Germany for export to the United States and Canada.

2011 Buick Regal

Weak Dollar

On Wednesday, GM announced that starting in the first quarter of 2011 North American production of the Buick Regal would commence, as the automaker will tap its Oshawa, Ontario facility in Canada to build the car. That quickly answers a concern raised soon after the Regal announcement – export costs and a weak US dollar would drive up the cost of the sedan.

“The new Regal gives Buick a modern performance sedan and its production here in Oshawa is terrific news for our employees, the CAW, dealers and suppliers,” says Arturo Elias, president, General Motors of Canada. “Combining Buick’s top position in the industry in terms of brand quality with the Oshawa Car Plant’s long-standing reputation for top quality assembly means customers’ highest expectations will be met with this midsize sport sedan.”

Expanding Production

Word that the Regal will be built in Oshawa is welcome news to the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and its union as Oshawa currently builds the popular Chevy Camaro sport coupe there as well as the GMC Terrain and Chevy Equinox compact crossover models.

Beginning about the same time as when Regal production starts, GM will also launch production of the long awaited Chevy Camaro convertible.

When GM received Canadian and Ontario government financial assistance this past summer, one of the requirements that these entities made in exchange for loans was for GM to build five different models in Oshawa. The Buick Regal is the fourth model that will be built there with a fifth model to be named at a later date.

GM employs 9,000 people directly in Canada with tens of thousands of additional jobs from suppliers and area businesses also dependent on the automaker’s success.

Source: General Motors

Saturn Brand To Exit Canada

General Motors still hasn’t finalized the sale of its Saturn brand to the Penske Group, but before 2009 comes to an end, Saturn’s presence in Canada will end before the calendar flips over to 2010. According to Automotive News, which reported this news this past Monday, Canada is being dropped as a Saturn market because there isn’t enough viable business north of the border to justify the expense of maintaining a presence in that market.

Good-bye To Canada

Affected by the move will be 46 Saturn dealerships across Canada. Canadian customers will still be able to get their cars serviced, but that responsibility will be transferred to other GM makes, including Chevrolet. Customer service, parts and warranty service will remain in effect, but under other GM dealers.

The Penske Group signed a deal with GM in June, while the company was under bankruptcy protection, to purchase Saturn from GM. That deal is expected to conclude by the end of the third quarter which would be no later than September 30th. GM is currently paring back its eight US brands to four, selling Hummer to a Chinese company, finalizing a deal to sell Saab to a Scandinavian-led consortium while shutting down Pontiac.

The Penske Retail Network

Initially, GM will supply several models to the new Saturn company, but long term Penske will likely source additional cars from others manufacturers. Renault, working with Nissan, may send cars from its South Korean operation to the US to be sold through Saturn. In addition, reports have surfaced that Penske is in discussion with at least one Chinese automaker to sell its cars stateside. Finally, Peugeot may be interested in the Saturn retail network and could tap dealers to sell its cars as well.

Regardless, it appears that the Saturn retail network will eventually become a “Best Buy” type business selling a variety of models from a number of different brands through retail stores scattered across the United States. That would be a dramatic change for the business once known as “a different kind of car company” with quirky S-models built in the hills of Tennessee.

See Also — The Saturn Flextreme: Now That’s Unusual!