New Ford Kuga SUV Revealed

[The Stylist]

From Globalautoindex.com




Ford Kuga: A stylish, all-new addition to the Ford range for 2008


Ford Europe has issued the following press release:

Ford of Europe's model range will have an all-new addition early in 2008 – The Ford Kuga. A preview model of the production vehicle will be presented to the press and public at the 2007 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, which opens on September 13.

"With the launch of the Ford Kuga, we will keep the promise that we gave at the Paris Motor Show 2006: to develop a stylish new model based on the stunning Ford iosis X concept car in less than two years," said John Fleming, President and CEO, Ford of Europe.

Ford's European Design team has applied its exciting 'kinetic design' form language to introduce a compact and distinctive new 4x4 crossover to the Ford portfolio.

"We recognised that image-conscious customers for this kind of vehicle want a very individual car in which impressive on-road capability blends seamlessly with substantial off-road ability," said Martin Smith, Executive Design Director for Ford of Europe.

"Kuga will stand out from the crowd by offering the visual excitement of 'kinetic design' and the on-road driving quality that customers of cars like the Ford Focus, the S-MAX and the new Mondeo have come to expect from us," added Smith.

The Ford design team is also releasing its first official styling sketch of the new model.

"Kuga is adventurous and distinctive, and we wanted to highlight this in our first official image," Stefan Lamm, Ford's Chief Designer for Exteriors, commented. "We believe that there is a role for a more athletic and charismatic vehicle that marks a departure from the norm, in the same way that the award-winning Ford S-MAX carved out new territory for an MPV."

The all-new Ford Kuga will go into production early in 2008 at Ford's Saarlouis plant in Germany. It will be launched across Europe from Spring 2008.

"I'm really excited that we are adding the Ford Kuga to our growing product range in Europe," said Fleming. "It represents the continuation of our design-led commitment to add emotion and desirability to our cars and we expect it to bring even more new customers to the blue oval brand as we continue our product-led transformation towards sustained business success."

2007-07-19 Filed under New model introduction

[phillyc]

This is the Focus derivative which is the third vehicle line being considered for manufacture at Broadmeadows!

Looks great!

[Danny]

Gentlemen, theres a BIG hint to the styling of the next Gen Territory...

[Dezza]

The name sounds as bad as Kluger

[The Stylist]

Here's an article about the Kuga from Goauto.com.au:


Finally, the Blue Oval presents its first compact SUV: the 2008 Ford Kuga

By MARTON PETTENDY 19 July 2007


IT’S been spied on, speculated about, sneak-previewed and, more recently, suggested as the secret third model that could be build at Broadmeadows - and now the beleaguered Blue Oval has officially revealed it in all its glory: Ford’s first small SUV.

Revealed tonight ahead of its worldwide public debut at the Frankfurt motor show on September 11, the all-new Ford Kuga will be built at Ford of Europe’s Saarlouis plant in Germany from early 2008 and hits Ford dealers across Europe by mid-year.

The eagerly anticipated compact Ford crossover may have shirked its expected X-Max moniker for another feline Ford name, but its appears to have retained much of the wild ‘kinetic’ exterior design language seen on the Iosis X concept that previewed it at Paris last September.

The press release that accompanied this single styling sketch of the Kuga is thin on detail, but says “a preview model of the production vehicle will be presented” at Frankfurt.

Ford is widely reported to have developed an entrant for the booming global compact SUV segment by employing components from its small Focus hatch/sedan – in much the same way Volkswagen has with its Golf-based Tiguan, which will also premiere at Frankfurt.

Like the Kuga, however, the Tiguan's future in Australia is unclear (see story below).

Ford’s own off-road brand, Land Rover, last month launched its Freelander 2 – Australia’s second small “premium” SUV after BMW’s X3. In Europe, Kuga is expected to be available in both (front) two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, the latter via a part-time Haldex AWD system as used by Volvo, another Ford subsidiary.

While the Kuga isn’t likely to offer the Freelander 2’s more sophisticated full-time Haldex AWD system, it will also be priced far lower than both the X3 and Freelander 2 (from $49,990), and other upcoming premium off-roaders like Volvo’s XC60, the Mercedes-Benz MLK and Audi Q5.

Globally, Kuga will compete most directly with the likes of Toyota’s RAV4, Nissan’s X-Trail, Subaru’s Forester and the Honda CR-V from under $35,000. If sold here, Kuga’s entry price would need to undercut that of mid-size SUVs like the homegrown Territory and Holden’s Captiva, which is expected to be joined by a smaller Korean-built SUV from GM Daewoo, as previewed by the T2X concept.

No specifications have been given, however, expect Kuga to be powered by a range of Focus engines in Europe, including 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre petrol fours, 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre TDCi diesels, and the Focus XR5’s Volvo-sourced 2.5-litre turbo five.

"With the launch of the Ford Kuga, we will keep the promise that we gave at the Paris motor show 2006: to develop a stylish new model based on the stunning Ford Iosis X concept car in less than two years," said president and CEO of Ford of Europe, John Fleming.

"It represents the continuation of our design-led commitment to add emotion and desirability to our cars and we expect it to bring even more new customers to the Blue Oval brand as we continue our product-led transformation towards sustained business success."

[kenz]

Yeah not really aa fan. I like things to look tough and that just doesnt

[FlipXW]

hideous

[Mark351]

Lots of common design language in that to the new Falcon though?

[LeadFoot81]

looks alot like an X5! Noice!

[XR8putts]

Hate the name..

Will reserve judgement untill I see more than just a photoshopped sketch.

[uranium_death]

I don't think its wise to pass judgement on a drawing of sorts...I shall wait until the final product is released.

The name, "Kuga" is sad. Too close to "Kluger", and the Ford Cougar probably isn't Ford's proudest moment...

[AWD Chaser]

Remember a while ago, I posted about the Registered TM, Kuga... well there was also the Isis and the Lynx... keep an eye out for those too...

[MITCHAY]

Looks very ghey

[cowboy]

Looks kinda funky, I actually like it. Great soccer mum alternative to the Rav 4 perhaps?

[rodderz]

Originally Posted by Danny

Gentlemen, theres a BIG hint to the styling of the next Gen Territory...

Exactly what I 1st thought too... you can see from this, which has similar attributes to the orion pics, that most Fords are going to have the same basic design elements across the range.

I think the current Territory will look pretty "boxy" to its replacement when it gets a more rounded curvier body, similar to this Kuga but of course not as exaggerated as the artwork pic shows it as

[S3SR]

Originally Posted by ea_silver_ghia

The name sounds as bad as Kluger

not as bad as the cougar

itll look great, but why not just make that the territory and call it kuga in europe and territory here.....theyd be competing against them selves

[MeestaNob!]

I reckon it looks good. It's not aimed at us though, it's for the Rav4/X3 crowd.

[PepeLePew]

Like it, a sexier Territory

[fou_bleu]

Looks and sounds good! I'd have one!

[outback_ute]

Originally Posted by S3SR

itll look great, but why not just make that the territory and call it kuga in europe and territory here.....theyd be competing against them selves

Because its based on a Focus and much, much smaller than a Territory!

[Yaw]

I have found another link with better pic
http://www.motivemag.com/pub/news/20...cans_Cry.shtml

I must say it looks ok from what i can see.
I wonder if there is any Mazda CX7 in it?

[Deadman]

Damn, any idea when it'll be here?

I need to change over in July 08 - and I have no hope of that being here in time do I? :(

[XR8putts]

Lets hope it eats into the RAV4's pie. And other soft-roaders..

No news on whether it's coming to Aus & NZ yet I take it?

[Bossxr8]

Looks good. Surely they will be adding a petrol engine to the line-up, probably the Focus 2 litre.

[uranium_death]

It is good that Ford is becoming more aggressive into various markets now. The main concern is quality control. If that can be up to standard, then people may take notice.

I hope the journos take notice. As stupid as some may be, people do take notice of what they say.

[donno]

At least it doesn't quite look as bad as the Tourag.