Looking to start the year off to a great start, Ford has produced the new 2011 Ford Edge. Equipped with a unique set of innovative safety features, the 2011 Ford Edge is gaining popularity by winning the “Top Safety Pick” award from the Insurance Institute for Highway. Safety.

To earn this award, a vehicle must receive the maximum rating of Good in frontal, side, rear, and rollover crash tests. In addition, to pass the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety roof strength test, the roof of a vehicle must be able to withstand the force of four times the weight of the vehicle. The Edge withstood a staggering 4.7 times its own weight.

“With class-exclusive safety technology and solid unibody construction, the 2011 Ford Edge will continue to be a leader in safety,” said Elaine Bannon, Edge’s chief engineer. “For families who prioritize safety, the new Edge introduces several new technologies available that can help prevent an accident.”

This unibody construction feature provides an energy absorbing structure to help protect occupants. The bumper-to-bumper flow through the side rails, structural design, and A-pillars are designed to direct crash energy away from occupants. Almost half of the carcass is made of high-strength steels that increase strength and reduce weight.

The new Edge also provides technologies to help prevent crashes as small as parking lot fender crashes to high-speed crashes by warning drivers of the possibility of a crash. These driver assistance and safety technologies include options such as:

• Adaptive Cruise Control, which allows the driver to set a cruise speed and then uses advanced radar technology to monitor traffic ahead and search for slower vehicles. This system will automatically reduce the speed of the vehicle to adapt to traffic conditions.

• Collision Warning with Brake Support helps reduce speed automatically with pre-charged brakes. Electronic brake assist systems help drivers to stop more quickly when the system detects that a collision is imminent.

• Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert is a feature that helps detect vehicles in blind spots during normal driving, as well as oncoming traffic from the sides when reversing out of parking spaces.

• MyKey is a special feature that allows parents to encourage teens to drive safely and more fuel efficiently. MyKey can allow parents to designate a maximum vehicle speed limit, audio volume, and other features.

• The rear view camera is automatically activated when the Edge is placed in reverse. Located on the tailgate above the license plate, a video is displayed on the 8-inch center console touchscreen.

• Hill Start Assist assists drivers on those tough hills. This feature prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards, making it easier to drive when on a slope or hill. The sensors will automatically detect that the vehicle is on a slope and initiate the function.

With a host of safety features, Ford continually strives to improve the safety of all of its drivers. The new 2011 Ford Edge will provide safety unmatched by any other midsize SUV that offers a top-of-the-line product for drivers around the world.