Ford Rolls Out New SUV for Europe’s Near-Luxury Segment

Ford Motor Co. will reenter Europe's large SUV market in 2015 with a redesigned version of the front-drive Edge crossover it introduced in the U.S. eight years ago.

Ford exited Europe's market for large SUV/crossovers when it stopped importing its big rear-drive Explorer model in 2001. The new Edge will top the company's SUV/crossover lineup, which currently includes the midsize Kuga and Fiesta-based EcoSport mini-SUV.

The Canadian-built Edge will compete with such upscale rivals as the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Volvo XC60.

Ford estimates SUVs captured 21% of Europe's car market last year from 10% in 2008. The company hopes to sell 20,000 Edge models in Europe during the first year. The company aims to triple SUV sales in Europe to about 270,000 units by 2018.