This May we had the chance to follow the path of Lawrence of Arabia and the Arab army, marching to Aqaba through the picturesque Wadi Rum and passing the famous seven pillars of wisdom.
Wadi Rum, 1916 – Emir Faisal and T.E. Lawrence in a Model T
One hundred years ago in today’s Jordan, T.E. Lawrence led a grueling, two-month march through a desert many believed to be impassable to capture the Red Sea city of Aqaba. Even then, Ford vehicles navigated the desert terrain. Archive footage shows Lawrence driving a Ford Model T throughout the region.
Fast forward one century, and we are retracing the steps of the march of Aqaba with the all new Ford Edge, to establish whether Ford’s slogan – “Build Tough” – applies also in today’s age and to a cross-over SUV.
The original crossover utility vehicle from Ford is loaded with more technology, higher levels of craftsmanship and greatly improved vehicle dynamics. The 2016 Ford Edge is a better vehicle by every measure.
Central to the improved driving dynamics is an entirely new body structure and redesigned suspension – front and rear – developed specifically to better isolate road imperfections and to absorb noise without compromising handling.On the long stretch of highway with many bumps and humps, we had a smooth ride with no rattling noises. Even off-road, the suspension proved to be capable of handling rocks and soft dunes.
Edge represents the first Ford vehicle to feature standard EcoBoost power, meaning you get more horse power and torque out of a smaller engine, which saves fuel and is in turn better for the environment, as well as saving you money at the petrol station. We were driving the 2.7-liter EcoBoost with approximately 340 PS and 542 Nm of torque, which provided enough power to tackle even big dunes. We were impressed as at first glance the Edge does not look as though it is capable of driving in the dunes. Not many people will push the car that far, but it shows that you don’t have to be afraid to go off the road to the beach or desert BBQs.
The 2016 Edge will be a technology leader for Ford, with a suite of standard and available technologies designed to improve the driving experience and the level of
occupant comfort. Key technology features include: adaptive cruise control and collision warning, Blind Spot Information System, Cameras, cross-traffic alert, enhanced active park assist, forward and reverse sensing systems, hands-free liftgate, heated and cooled seats, table, lane-keeping system, side parking sensors, SYNC® with MyFord Touch, auto-park brake and much more.
Overall, we were impressed with the all new Ford Edge, not only for the comfortable and very quiet ride on the road, but also for the fun it can provide off-road. What took T.E Lawrence months, we did in style and comfort in one day. Jordan is an incredibly picturesque, safe and historic country to visit and to explore by car, especially if you also have the chance to leave the paved roads and go on an adventure.
For more details on the new range of SUV and 4×4 models by Ford, visit your local dealer or www.me.ford.com
