If you’re transitioning to the SUV life but not ready to give up a fast ride, the 2020 Ford Edge ST may be the answer.
As soon as you hit the gas, you’ll just know. This is no ordinary SUV. The first Ford was designed for track driving, it’s faster, tighter, and more capable for fast acceleration, tight turns and also, all the things we love SUVs for. To show just how capable this SUV is, Ford Performance Racing School designed the ST SUV Experience just for owners of the 2020 Ford Edge ST line so they can see just how well the new model performs.
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Hello Utah!
Utah is surely a sight to see during the summertime. Everything is green and every drive is scenic. Snow-covered mountain tops can be seen as well as farm animals and wild animals, even moose. Many people visit during the winter for snow sports like skiing and snowboarding. But its flat, open expanses make it a haven for performance driving; in fact, land speed records are set in Utah. If you buy a Ford Edge ST, you’ll be able to pop in for a few days and get the experience for yourself.
I had the opportunity to attend the Ford Edge ST program. Instructors from the Ford Performance Racing School took us through scenic mountain drives to show us how capable the car is on hills and curves. Then, we went through exercises on test tracks that were set up for us. The drive up the mountains was a bit of a challenge for me as I have a fear of heights, but somehow, I did it! (If you’re insanely afraid of heights, you may want to let the instructors know so they can offer an alternate route.)
Related: 2019 Ford Edge ST Review: Not Your Mom’s Crossover
So What Exactly Does ST Mean?
In case you’re not familiar with the ST badge and its meaning, it stands for Sport Technologies. Basically, in order for a Ford car to get the ST badge, it has to come with special features that are developed by Ford Performance engineers. Each of these features are tested out before a car can get an ST badge. The Ford Edge ST is their first performance SUV.
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What You Should Know About the New 2020 Ford Edge ST line
You’re probably wondering what exactly makes this model so darn special. For one, Sport mode is pretty awesome. Once you push that button, you get a more thrilling drive experience. It’s got 335 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque (you can feel it accelerate pretty quickly). Some other things you’ll want to know…
- It has 2.7L V6 turbocharged EcoBoost ( you’ll get 19 MPG city / 26 MPG highway with this car)
- Lots of driver-assist features- park assist, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, and more. I tested the automatic emergency braking on the track and it works really well. It’s a great option for those “just in case I’m not paying attention” moments. I also tested out the park assist feature with an instructor and it was pretty cool but I must admit it would take some getting used to as you cannot grab the steering wheel or it will stop.
- Comfortably seats 5 passengers. The Ford Edge ST has a spacious cabin, perfect for a family. The driver’s seat was especially comfy and cushy, great for long rides.
- 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto,
- 2 USB ports in the front plus wireless charging for your phones and devices
- WIFI- connect up to 10 devices, powered by AT&T, you’ll need a subscription
- ST design- from the exterior to the interior, you will see lots of ST details. For example, the ST badge on the exterior, ST logo on the steering wheel and stitched onto the seats, Performance logo on the door sill plates.
- Pricing starts at $42,355
My time in the 2020 Ford Edge ST during this trip wasn’t *enough* so we’ll be reviewing this fun SUV soon. In the meantime, you can see a full review on the 2019 Ford Edge here.
What You Should Know About the Program
- The school experience is free with the purchase of a new Ford Performance product. When a customer buys (or leases) an Edge ST, they will receive an invite to the Ford Performance Racing School for the ST SUV Experience. They have up to a year to attend at no cost to them (other than their own airfare and rental car/uber).
- When an owner attends the program, they are allowed to bring a guest. Airfare and transportation to the resort are not included.
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The Ford Performance Racing School also offers classes for Raptor, GT350, Focus RS and Focus/Fiesta ST for owners. The cars are driven at the Utah Motorsports Campus (about 45 minutes west of Salt Lake City) and the Raptor program is also based out of that area and heads up trails into the mountains. They also offer racing instruction for non-owners with paid programs in Mustang GTs.
More information on the owner programs can be found at the bottom of this page: http://fordperformanceracingschool.com/en/
This is an Experience to Remember
Buying a new car is an experience in itself, but imagine getting being invited by the manufacturer to have an adventure with it? Not many cars come with such perks, with the exception of luxury cars. But when you buy a Ford Edge ST, you are invited to attend the ST SUV experience in Utah. Among options for the trip is a stay at the lovely Hyatt Centric at Canyon Resort in Park City, which is close to the Ford Performance Racing School facility. There, instructors will teach you about the handling and features of the car as you follow along on a scenic ride. After that, you’ll drive on courses set up by the instructors so you can test out things like speed, braking, oversteer, and understeer.
Then, at the end of the day, you’ll go to a shooting range where pros train for the biathlon during the Olympic games in Utah; Soldier Hollow, part of Utah Olympic Park.
If you’re adventurous enough to buy one of these, Ford knows just how to set up the adventure of your ownership.
Disclosure: I was Ford’s guest to test drive the 2020 Ford Edge ST. Travel and accommodations were covered, but all opinions are my own.
