Ford's Kuga woos new buyers 05 | 03 | 2012
FORD'S NEW KUGA, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, will go on sale at Scottish showrooms from early next year. And insiders at the Blue Oval badged car giant are predicting the newcomer will attract new customers.
Why? Because Ford says it's better to drive, larger, more practical and fitted with more technology as standard than its rivals.
The new Kuga benefits from Ford’s Torque Vectoring Control system, which was first fitted to the latest generation Focus, with which the Kuga shares a platform.
The system works by encouraging power to the front wheel with the most grip by braking the slipping wheel.
In addition, the Kuga will also be available with Ford's latest all-wheel drive system. It adjusts the power split front to back more than a 100 times a second with the goal, Ford says, of achieving “the best blend of handling and traction”.
At launch there will be the choice of three engines; 138bhp and 161bhp 2.0 diesels and a 148bhp 1.6-litre Ecoboost petrol. The diesels will be available with the option of Ford’s Powershift automatic gearbox.
See more official photos of the all-new Ford Kuga
The Kuga is also bigger than the outgoing model — it's grown 100mm in length, which in turn has has opened up more rear passenger space. This was an area where the previous model suffered a lot of criticism. Bootspace has also increased, up by 82 litres to 442.
The Kuga, according to Ford, will also be one of the most versatile and easy-to-operate cars in its sector: the boot that can be opened or closed when someone waves their foot under its rear bumper, and the rear seats fold flat at the touch of a button.
The all-new Kuga will also get Active Park Assist, which helps steer the car into a parking space, and Blind Spot Information System, which uses a light in the door mirror to indicate if a car is in the driver’s blind spot
And from launch, Ford's new in-car connectivity SYNC system will also be available as an option.
Ford reveals new B-Max
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/scotcars
Jim McGill