Ford Motor Company is driving to be the leader in the crossover segment and dominate the market seen to reach three million sales by 2010.

Ford’s new crossovers, the Ford Edge and the Lincoln MKX – recently launched in the Middle East – were prominently displayed in the recent Detroit motor show and received good reviews and customer response.
“Crossover Utility Vehicles (CUVs) are increasingly becoming popular in the US and we anticipate the same reception in the Middle East as soon as we roll out the Lincoln MKX and Ford Edge,” said Hussein Murad, sales and marketing director of Ford Middle East. “Initial feedback on these two models is overwhelming and we are confident we will be attracting a younger group of customers to our showrooms.”
What makes CUVs attractive in today’s market is that they offer nearly all the passenger- and cargo-carrying capabilities of an SUV, but in a smaller, more fuel-efficient, fun-to- drive package. CUV owners still get the feeling of driving an SUV but less the bulk.
In the US, crossovers topped SUV sales for the first time in 2006, driven partly by gas prices. Crossovers attract customers who were previously sedan owners looking for spacious and flexible interiors of the traditional sport utility vehicle or SUV owners hungry for more fuel-efficient and maneuverable vehicles.
To differentiate, CUVs are built on a car chassis rather than an SUV’s body-on-frame construction. Crossovers are lighter, easier to drive and equipped with smaller, more fuel-efficient engines, like the 286 horsepower V6 that powers the new Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX. Both are available in all-wheel drive versions designed for all-weather use and occasional off-road drive. Both Lincoln MKX and Ford Edge offer the full range of standard equipment and luxury options that SUV owners have come to expect.
“Youth customers in the Middle East are ready to receive crossover utility vehicles.  Lincoln MKX and Ford Edge both carry appealing designs not to mention the power of a 4-wheel drive that young Middle East consumers love,” said Murad.
The all-new 2007 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX have earned ‘Top Safety Pick’ ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the US. Both models also earned the US government’s  highest five-star ratings in recent side impact crash testing for both front and rear seat positions.
To earn a ‘Top Safety Pick’, vehicles must earn good ratings in IIHS’ high-speed front and side crash tests, and in evaluations of seats and head restraints. An added requirement for 2007 is that vehicles must also offer electronic stability control.