Ford Edge Concept Parks Itself

Ford at the L.A. auto show unwraps the Ford Edge Concept CUV, a vehicle showcasing advanced automated driving technologies and potential future styling direction.

The automaker says the next-generation Edge, of which the concept provides a glimpse, will feature a sleek, sporty appearance, improved fuel economy and technology that assists the driver.

Included on the list is an assisted-parking aid, which lets customers park their vehicles at a touch of a button or by remote control.

Building on Ford’s current active-park assist feature, the prototype technology can find a perpendicular parking space using ultrasonic sensors. From inside the vehicle, the driver pushes a button to activate the system. From outside the vehicle the technology can be remotely activated, allowing customers to wait until the vehicle has pulled from a tight parking spot before entering.

“The rate of change in vehicle technology right now is unprecedented,” Raj Nair, Ford group vice president-global product development, says in a statement. “Our engineers around the world are advancing the systems that will ultimately help make drivers smarter, safer and more efficient.”

Adaptive steering, another new technology featured on the Edge Concept, makes steering at low speeds easier by controlling the relationship between steering input and how much the road wheels turn. Ford says the system will make it easier to handle the vehicle in parking-lot situations and at high speeds.

The Edge Concept’s exterior has a more sculpted, fluid look than the current model, with a D-pillar line that comes down the rail, turns and returns.

The CUV has strong shoulders, giving it a muscular appearance, while a rearward-sloping grille makes the hood look more compact. Ford’s signature 3-bar grille is connected to LED headlamps, which the automaker says lends a premium feel.

Inside the concept gets a hand-stitched, leather-wrapped instrument panel; 10-in. MyFord Touch infotainment system; a new unique gear shifter; brightwork on the armrest, door-release bezel and air registers; and a scuff plate with bright silver finish, matte black paint and LEDs spelling out Edge.

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