GENEVA — Ford of Europe has released several new images of its Focus-based Kuga crossover, ahead of the final production-ready model's formal public debut next week at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show. The Kuga goes on sale in June, priced from around $39,000.
The Kuga is being assembled in Germany at Ford's Saarlouis plant and will be available in Europe in two trim levels, Zetec and Titanium. Sadly, there are no immediate plans to market it in North America — partly because the vehicle is based on the European Focus platform, rather than the dreadful, aging compact of the same name that's still sold in the U.S.
An evolution of the Iosis X concept from the 2006 Paris Auto Show, the Kuga was displayed at last fall's Frankfurt show in near production trim. Although the automaker describes it as "the first crossover designed and developed in-house by Ford of Europe," the Kuga actually joins a growing range of Ford crossovers in Europe, including the Focus-derived C-Max and the larger S-Max.
The Kuga will be offered to European customers with full-time all-wheel drive, a six-speed manual gearbox and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel rated at 135 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of peak torque.
Keyless start, stability control and 17-inch wheels and tires are among the standard features.
What this means to you: Much sexier than an Escape, don't you think? — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
The Kuga is being assembled in Germany at Ford's Saarlouis plant and will be available in Europe in two trim levels, Zetec and Titanium. Sadly, there are no immediate plans to market it in North America — partly because the vehicle is based on the European Focus platform, rather than the dreadful, aging compact of the same name that's still sold in the U.S.
An evolution of the Iosis X concept from the 2006 Paris Auto Show, the Kuga was displayed at last fall's Frankfurt show in near production trim. Although the automaker describes it as "the first crossover designed and developed in-house by Ford of Europe," the Kuga actually joins a growing range of Ford crossovers in Europe, including the Focus-derived C-Max and the larger S-Max.
The Kuga will be offered to European customers with full-time all-wheel drive, a six-speed manual gearbox and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel rated at 135 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of peak torque.
Keyless start, stability control and 17-inch wheels and tires are among the standard features.
What this means to you: Much sexier than an Escape, don't you think? — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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