New Ford Kuga spy pictures

Vertrek concept takes its first steps to becoming the new Ford Kuga as these spy shots show.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Tom Phillips

14th March 2011

Ford’s new Kuga is preparing to pounce! These are the first spy shots of the all-new version of the Blue Oval’s Kuga.

In line with the One Ford global car philosophy, the new crossover is being developed from the Vertrek concept shown at the Detroit Motor Show earlier this year to replace both the Kuga and US market Escape.

The Kuga will be underpinned by the same basic platform as the new Focus and C-MAX, and will include a similar range of engines, including the 1.6- and 2.0-litre EcoBoost petrols, diesels and manual and Powershift twin clutch gearboxes.

Two- of four-wheel-drive will also be offered, which makes use of Ford’s torque vectoring control system for an impressive on-road drive.

Both the US market Escape and Kuga will feature the latest Kinetic Design cues taken from the Vertrek concept, including the narrow, swept-back headlights, furrows in the bonnet and sculpted tailgate.

On the inside, the dashboard is very similar to the new Focus and C-MAX, and will feature the upmarket kit from those cars, including quality trim materials, blue-lit dials and the SYNC system, which incorporates infotainment functions.

The new car’s look won’t be dissimilar to that offered by the current Kuga, but represents a huge step forward from the boxy Escape sold in the USA as Ford brings its American and European models into line and pushes forward with its global car philosophy.

The Kuga is due to be shown in production form at the Detroit show in 2012, before going on sale in the UK by April 2012.

For an alternative review of the latest Ford Kuga visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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4 Comments

Why?

Did many people even buy the current one?

By marc100 on 17 March, 2011, 6:21pm

Why so soon?

Wouldn't have thought the current Kuga was nearing the end of it's production life already.

By erly5 on 18 March, 2011, 9:10pm

so soon?

as above the current kuga hasn't been out all that long.

on a side note, ford have done a very good job of disguising this one, you cant see anything!!

By bhalay207 on 1 May, 2011, 9:52pm

Its being replaced because it is out-dated inside having the interior of the last C-Max which is now around 7 years old.

The Vetrek concept pictures look incredible and if it has half the goodies and gadgets that the new focus has then it certainly has me sold.

By globalste on 4 May, 2011, 7:43pm

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