2018 Ford Edge receives the SEL Sport Appearance Package

Want to go for a sportier look, but don’t have enough cash to burn? Good news for future Ford Edge buyers, as the 2018 model year will have an optional upgrade called the SEL Sport Appearance Package - that comes with visual add-ons and extra equipment for a sportier ride. Basically, you don’t need to go all the way to the Edge Sport trim level.

By getting the Sport Appearance package, your Ford Edge will go through a makeover. The grille surround, mirrors, skid plates, and spoilers will all be painted in a Magnetic Metallic finish, and for some contrast, pitch black will be applied on the side-window trim and headlights. Unlike other sports cars out there, Ford opted for cloth seats instead of the typical leather that other cars would usually be dressed in. Why? For customers who live in hotter climates, leather seats will be too hot to sit on, especially in summer. So in the cabin, expect a gray and umber colour combo in cloth upholstery. Also, the package comes with a set of 10-spoke 19-inch wheels, which is just an inch smaller than those on an Edge Sport, and an inch bigger than the standard wheels.

Going with the Sport Appearance package is a pretty solid deal too. Consumers will get not only the Sync 3 infotainment system, but their ride will also get a panoramic sunroof, black roof rails, and a power liftgate. These are not included on the Edge SEL, but are optional (for an added cost of course).

The 2018 Ford Edge SEL offers both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models with a six-speed auto transmission. The standard engine that comes with it is a 2.0 liter EcoBoost inline-four with 245 horsepower (183kW) and 275 pound-feet (372 Newton-meters) of torque. But if the customer prefers a more powerful engine, they can choose the optional 3.5-liter V6 packs producing 280 horsepower and 250 pound feet (334 Newton-meters)

This fall, Ford will be offering the SEL Sport Appearance package for a pretty affordable rate of $1,295. According to some reports, the entry-level 2018 Ford Edge will more or less be priced at $30,000 and is scheduled to be released by the end of the year or in early 2018.

Since we don’t have a lot of details regarding the upcoming 2018 Ford Edge Sport model, and there isn’t a price tag for it yet, it may not be the right time to compare that model with a standard 2018 Ford Edge integrated with the SEL Sport Appearance package yet.

PRESS RELEASE

FORD EXPANDS EDGE LINEUP WITH STYLISH NEW SEL SPORT APPEARANCE PACKAGE

Ford today introduces the 2018 Edge SEL Sport Appearance Package at the Dallas Fort Worth Auto Show – giving customers a stylish new way to personalize their Edge.

This new addition to the SEL series offers a sportier look inside and out, and boasts features like a cloth interior and high-tech capabilities. It offers more choice in the Edge lineup, which includes SE, SEL, Titanium and Sport series.

“Our SEL Sport Appearance Package on Edge is an opportunity to provide customers with a vehicle that meets their high expectations while giving them more choice,” said Edge brand marketing manager Angela Canales. “Being thoughtful about design and feature combinations means we’re giving them the look and the technology they’re after at an affordable price.”

Beyond new looks, the SEL Sport Appearance Package also is functional. The decision to offer a cloth interior on a higher series model that features more standard equipment and technology comes at the request of customers who reside in markets with more extreme weather conditions. Dallas averages more than 230 sunny days a year, and because cloth seating materials tend to be more comfortable in the heat, Edge sells about 5 percent more non-leather seats in Dallas than the national average. With the Edge SEL Sport Appearance Package, customers no longer have to choose between leather-bound comfort and technology.

The new Edge SEL Sport Appearance Package combines premium interior materials with available SEL features including SYNC® 3 with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, premium audio, rear camera and reverse sensing system. Additional available features include a panoramic vista roof, black roof rack side rails, navigation, blind spot monitoring system and hands-free power liftgate.

Powerful exterior styling on Edge SEL Sport Appearance Package can be combined with a standard twin-scroll 2.0-liter EcoBoost® or optional 3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6 engine. The package includes:

Unique 10-spoke 19-inch Magnetic Metallic-painted wheels

Magnetic Metallic-painted grille surround

Magnetic Metallic-painted mirror caps

Magnetic Metallic-painted rear spoiler

Magnetic Metallic-painted front and rear skid plates

Blacked-out headlamp bezels

Blacked-out side window trim

The new polished look creates a unique passenger experience by featuring Mayan Gray fabric seat coverings with Umber-colored Miko® sueded cloth perforated inserts, complemented by Umber contrast stitching. Adding to the bold interior styling, a handsome custom Copper Sands textured appliqué carries the color theme to the dash, while carpets are custom-embroidered with an Umber “Edge” logo.

Another eye-catching feature of the package – the unique front seat head restraint backing – is finished in Umber-colored Miko sueded cloth.

“We decided to bring some color up to eye level for visual excitement,” said Mark Conforzi, Ford design chief for vehicle personalization.

Edge continues to help drive the midsize crossover utility segment, shattering a sales record last year with 134,588 vehicles sold – an 8 percent increase over 2015.

The 2018 Edge SEL Sport Appearance Package carries a suggested option price of $1,295 and will be available this fall.