Ford to preview Kuga crossover at Frankfurt

Newswheel staff :: 20 July 2007 :: Filed under Crossover, Ford

Frankfurt show line-up begins to take shape

It may be all doom, gloom and bottom-dwelling balance sheets Stateside. But Ford Europe is soldiering on valiantly with some interesting product launches. Having injected a little pizzazz into the mainstream MPV market with the S-Max, Ford is following up with the Kuga crossover. A preview version of the final production Kuga will be shown at the Frankfurt show in September.

According to Ford, the Kuga benefits from the latest interpretation of the company’s ‘kinetic’ design language, first seen in the latest Mondeo (here’s hoping the Kuga reflects the new Mondeo’s interesting surfaces but sidesteps its downright dumpy overall proportions…).

According to Ford’s Euro design director, Martin Smith, the sales pitch for the Kuga goes thusly:

"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."

Fair enough. And we’ll be sure to hold Ford to it.

The Kuga will be launched across Europe next Spring. No details on pricing or tech specs as yet. However, it is known that the Kuga is based on ye olde C1 platform.

That’s the kit that underpins the Focus and Volvo S40 / V50, which should give you an idea of the scale of the thing and possible engines FoMoCo will be slotting under the bonnet. We fancy a five-pot Kuga powered by the Focus ST’s excellent turbo mill might actually make a rather tempting family run about…

The Kuga will be built at Ford’s Saarlouis facility in Germany.