Without doubt, Ford Kuga’s exterior design won us instantly – inside, it’s another story since the cabin was virtually carried over unchanged from the redesigned C-MAX. In our books, the Kuga is by far the best looking compact SUV/ Crossover offered this moment in 
Continuing our Frankfurt Show updates, Ford released the first official details of its beautifully designed Kuga crossover, the first pictures of which we showed you last night. To be produced at Ford's Saarlouis plant in
The All-New Ford Kuga in Brief
Ford of Europe's product portfolio is expanding again – and in another new direction. The new Ford Kuga is an exciting 4WD crossover that combines style with technology and promises impressive on-road dynamics coupled with substantial off-road ability.
The new Ford Kuga will go on sale throughout
"In delivering that promise, the commitment we also gave in
"Kuga offers a rare blend of a wagon and SUV features together with coupé-like sporting qualities," said Stephen Odell, Vice President for Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe.
"A major element of our strategy to return the Ford of Europe business to sustained profitability is the introduction of exciting new products – like Kuga – that attract new customers to the brand," explained Odell. "The S-MAX proved to us that there is demand for vehicles which offer the customer universal usability for work, leisure and family roles and where "driving pleasure" is also very important."
Unmistakably a Ford
One of the challenges of the Kuga development team was to give the vehicle Ford's acknowledged driving quality while at the same time delivering substantial off-road ability.
For this reason, the Ford Kuga will be available with an intelligent four-wheel-drive system which contributes positively to normal road use and helps give the vehicle an almost sporty dynamic ability. The fact that the Kuga will also be available as a front-wheel-drive only version simply emphasises the crossover concept of the vehicle.
Kuga's powertrain will feature Ford's established and highly fuel efficient 2.0-litre, 136 PS Duratorq TDCi common-rail diesel engine mated to a Durashift 6-speed manual transmission. Further details of the Kuga powertrain will be released closer to launch in early 2008.
Kuga Design - Standing Out
"Our kinetic design form language is very flexible and is giving an exciting look to all our new vehicles," said Martin Smith, Executive Design Director, Ford of Europe. "The iosis XConcept demonstrated how kinetic design could be adapted to the C-sized crossover segment of the market. All the expressive design elements of iosis X are clearly visible in the production vehicle. The new Ford Kuga is a dramatic addition to the Ford portfolio which develops our brand significantly."
Kuga closely follows the proportions and basic dynamic forms of the iosis X. This relationship is enhanced by the paint finish in the same unique 'Ice White' body colour and the bold wheel arches are filled with the same alloy wheels, as seen on iosis X which will be available to customers as a 19-inch option. Strength and athleticism in the design are key attributes of Ford's 'kinetic design' philosophy. Kuga demonstrates this through its dynamic lines, full surfaces and muscular presence. This athletic form language is highlighted with the bold kinetic graphics such as the trapezoidal front grills, rising belt-line and kick-up of the rear window graphic and the dramatic swept back headlamp shapes.
For the production Ford Kuga the coupé-like roof profile of the iosis X Concept has been adjusted to a slightly higher silhouette offering comfortable accommodation for five people.
The luggage compartment is accessed via a split tailgate and this, together with the divided rear lights, ensures the maximum full load width is available for loading and unloading.
Finally, the rear end design of Kuga also incorporates the graphic elements of 'kinetic design' such as the high mounted tail lamps, facetted rear glass and sculptured rear bumper. The rear bumper neatly integrates the tailpipes into the contours of the diffuser.
Kuga Interior – Space and Comfort
The interior of the new Ford Kuga has a spacious feel – and not just because of the large panoramic glass roof fitted to the preview model and available as an option in production.
The clean, ergonomic design of the instrument panel and centre stack converge into a voluminous centre console for maximum accessible storage. These interior components contribute to a comfortable surrounding for the driver and front seat passenger. The high seat and shoulder line position of the doors offers the opportunity for maximum glazed areas to give a light and airy environment for passengers and provides the driver a commanding view of their surroundings.
The materials chosen for Kuga's interior also demonstrate the close links to the iosis X Concept. In Kuga we see once again technical materials, fine leathers and striking orange piping. The Ebony interior is set off by a centre console and details in the door which also feature the piano-white finish from iosis X. All these elements together show how Ford intends to enable Kuga customers in the future to personalise their vehicle.
A hint of the technology coming in Kuga is seen in the new Blaupunkt navigation system which incorporates a 7" colour display to also show images from a rear view camera incorporated into the tailgate. This new feature, to aid reversing manoeuvres, will find its way to the production version of the Kuga.
"We're very excited about Kuga, and believe that its blend of great looks, compact exterior dimensions, superb on-road driving quality, spacious and high quality interior and good off-road ability will allow it to stand out from the crowd," said Fleming. "We can't wait to see it on and off road early next year"
Here are the first official pictures of Ford’s new Crossover -slash- compact SUV that will make its first public appearance at next week’s Frankfurt Show (Sep.13). To be precise, Ford will launch the Kuga as a “preview-model” in Frankfurt, which practically means take away the glossy 19-inch rims and a few minor details like the red trim in the interior and you’re looking at the production version that’ll go for sale in Though less dramatic than the Paris Show Iosis-X concept, we’re relieved to see that Ford’s designers didn’t disappoint us with the final product – well, at least by looking at the pictures. Inside, the Kuga’s interior looks like it has been literally lifted off the C-MAX, but we can live with it. Although officials details are scarce (check out Ford’s pre-show media release here), the Kuga is based on the Ford’s C1 platform which underpins cars like the Focus / C-Max, Land Rover Freelander, Mazda3, Volvo S40 and V50. It is expected that the production model will be offered with both front-wheel drive and AWD powertrains. -Continued after the jump
The Kuga’s competitors in Europe will include the Toyota RAV4, the VW Tiguan and the Nissan Qashqai
Pics via: km77
There’s no need to get excited or anything since, as we informed you last night when we got the German press release in our hands, Ford didn’t include any technical details on the Kuga. What it does contain though is comments from various Ford Europe Execs like CEO John Fleming and Executive Design Director Martin Smith. -Follow the jump to read the full English press releaseFORD KUGA: A STYLISH, ALL-NEW ADDITION TO THE FORD RANGE FOR 2008
"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
"I'm really excited that we are adding the Ford Kuga to our growing product range in
Continuing our “Frankfurt Show News Bulletin”, we managed to obtain the first official sketch along with the German press release on Ford’s highly anticipated mid-sized crossover model called Kuga. To put it simple, we’re talking about the production version of Ford’s Iosis X concept revealed at the According to the press release the Kuga will be manufactured at Ford’s plant in
German Press Release (Translated via Google so don’t expect any wonders…)
PS: If any bloggers need the original German or French Press Release e-mail us here
The model family of Ford OF
“With the introduction Ford of the Kuga we hold our automobile salon
“We recognized that image-conscious customers in this segment expect a very individual vehicle, which convinces by perfect road qualities likewise as by impressing Offroad abilities” describe Ford OF Europe Executive Design Director Martin Smith the concept. “The Kuga is in this segment a Solitär, because the optically responding “Kinetic Design” finds its correspondence in a handling on the road, like it our customers of models like Ford the focus, which S-MAX and the new Mondeo already know and expect”, adds Smith.
Ford Design team publishes likewise the first official styling design of the new model. “The Kuga is a vehicle with strong signal effect, and which we wanted to communicate to Smith also in our first official picture”, commentate. “We are the conviction that the time for an athletic and charismatisches vehicle is ripe. The Kuga goes in the same way new ways like price-crowned Ford S-MAX, to that the MPV segment new terrain opened.”
