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Camera cars have come a long way since someone's literally hung on the hood of a sports car to get the perfect photo. Heavy and expensive equipment must be hauled at high speed, making high-performance SUVs the choice of many production companies. The Ford Edge ST, the company's first Ford Performance utility, was chosen to play the role of Pursuit Systems.
In collaboration with Ford, Pursuit Systems has modified the new Ford Edge ST 2019 to make it the ideal camera car. What makes it ideal? Cars must be fast. Pursuit Systems needs vehicles that can go beyond 100 mph and the Edge ST rises to 130 mph, delivering 335 horsepower with 380 lb-ft of torque. It also features high-performance brakes, which are important for slowing down the vehicle with a 1000-pound mounted crane attached to the roof.
In addition to the massive crane, the vehicles they use must be able to carry people and additional equipment. That's why the Pursuit Systems team went to Dearborn when developing Edge ST to make sure it was the vehicle that suited it.
"Speed, acceleration, braking, maneuverability, even space, Edge ST has it all," said Mike Johnson, racing driver, stunt pilot and chief executive officer of Pursuit Systems.
Structural support has been added to the roof for the crane, which makes sense given its weight. In addition, the 2.7-liter EcoBoost needed was readjusted to compensate for the weight of the crane and camera equipment. Air suspension was added to each wheel to keep the vehicle level even when the crane arm was fully extended.
Additional modifications include a protective cage to protect the occupants, a gutted interior for more space for people and objects, and wiring for video monitors so the crew on board can see the video in real time and wrap the all in a matte black so that it does not reflect against the scene the crew pulls.
The changes are not a small feat considering what the camera equipment does at the center of gravity of the vehicle. The manipulation is surely unique, to say the least.
The car will see the real work once added to the fleet of Pursuit Systems vehicles. It combines a modified BMW X5 M, a Porsche Cayenne Turbo and a Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG.
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