Ford has previewed its new Edge concept SUV., which includes a push-button and remote-operated parking feature which customers can use from inside or outside the vehicle.

Already popular in the U.S. and other markets, the Edge will be Ford's first large SUV developed for Europe, one of 25 global vehicles that Ford confirmed last year will go on sale in Europe by 2017.  With the Edge, new Kuga and new EcoSport, Ford will offer a comprehensive line-up of redesigned SUVs.

"The original Ford Edge offered customers in North America a fresh, compelling choice for an accommodating, efficient and safe utility vehicle," said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas. "The next-generation Ford Edge previewed here will build on these cornerstones to create a global vehicle with technology to make life easier, and design and craftsmanship to appeal to customers around the globe."

Key attributes of the Ford Edge Concept - a sleek and sporty appearance, capability, fuel efficiency and technology that assist the driver - are in line with what customers value around the world, which is driving global growth in the SUV segment.

In Europe, where higher specification models currently account for 70 per cent of all Ford S-MAX sales, the Edge will meet demand for upmarket, technologically advanced SUVs with great road presence and driving dynamics. SUVs in the region grew from 6.5 per cent to almost 12 per cent of vehicle sales between 2005 and 2012, and Ford projects that between 2013 and 2018 sales of all SUVs in Europe will increase by 22 per cent.

Driver-assist technologies and semi-automated features on the Ford Edge Concept hint at a future offering even more intelligent and capable vehicles from Ford. These sensor-based technologies form the building blocks for the future of automated driving, and will help make driving safer and more efficient.

Fully Assisted Parking Aid, a prototype technology which builds on Ford's Active Park Assist feature to let customers park their vehicles at the touch of a button, or even by remote control. The system can find a perpendicular parking space using ultrasonic sensors and allows customers to wait until the vehicle has pulled out of a tight parking spot before entering.

"The Ford Edge Concept is the latest example of a utility vehicle that delivers the attributes global customers value most - design; fuel efficiency, driving dynamics, and customer-focused technology to help the driver feel more confident," Hinrichs said.

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