First look at the production Ford Kuga

We got our first look at the Ford Kuga in concept form at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show and it looks like the production model won’t be straying very far, stylewise. The Kuga should land in European Ford dealerships in spring 2008 powered by a variety of engines, including ford’s latest 2.0L turbodiesel. With the Escape bearing much more of a resemblance to ford’s truck lineup, if the team in Dearborn really wants the Mercury Mariner to be more upscale they would bring this design over as its replacement. Hell, just make this the new Escape and forget about Mercury. The Kuga will probably debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March alongside the Fiesta/Verve.
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S4cabriofoxone - 11/23/2007 6:42:43 PM

+1 Boost

Very nice! Much better than anything we get in the US (Escape, I'm looking at you). It will go head-to-head with the VW Tiguan, and whoever wins will be a toss-up, as they both appear to be extremely high-quality and stylish.

Rupert - 11/23/2007 6:54:27 PM

+1 Boost

Tiguan and the rest...
Rav-4, Cr-V, Opel Antara, Chevy Captiva, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan X trail...Ford is late to the party. Again. Just like they were with the C-Max.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/23/2007 7:08:33 PM

+1 Boost

But the C-Max is also at or near the head of its class, is it not?

Or am I thinking of the S-Max? What's the difference?

S4cabriofoxone - 11/23/2007 7:09:32 PM

+1 Boost

BTW, all of the baby SUVs you mentioned (or all but the X-Trail) have been released in Europe within the last two years... so I would say Ford and VW are fashionably late.

EnnNorak - 11/23/2007 11:11:48 PM

0 Boost

This is no match for the Tiguan unless they sell it real cheap and get it over to North America pronto.

Rupert - 11/24/2007 12:58:35 PM

+1 Boost

Well the Rav-4 and Cr0V came out in the mid 90's...the Sportage and Tuscon have been around for about 3 years too.

The C-Max is based off the Ford Focus, and seats 5.
The S Max is based off the Ford Mondeo and seats 7.

0to60 - 11/23/2007 8:26:40 PM

+2 Boost

Nice, looks better than the rest of the ford line up which consists of the ford explorer, a larger version explorer called the expedition, a lowered explorer known as taurus, a micro explorer called the focus, etc.. and luxury explorers badged as lincoln. Whats the purpose of mercury? Again different size ford explorers with a different badge!

S4cabriofoxone - 11/23/2007 11:54:39 PM

+1 Boost

We don't get this car. It's only for Europe, sorry.

jt716 - 11/23/2007 10:49:34 PM

+1 Boost

KILL MERCURY! Bring this over immediately also the mondeo n all others like the focus! Replace the whole market with them. We have the captiva here and its soooooooo much better than the equinox

bmwdrvr - 11/23/2007 11:21:14 PM

+1 Boost

europe gets this, and the home market gets the carry over escape

farabira1 - 11/24/2007 6:25:49 AM

+2 Boost

Why do fords of europe look so much more modern and dynamic than fords of NA? Is there a different European Ford division responsible for European design and engineering? And is parent Ford respecting the fact that local creation should remain local, by not bringing in European Ford designs into US? I very much wonder. Can someone please answer my questions.

Rupert - 11/24/2007 12:59:24 PM

+2 Boost

Ford Europe is practically a separate company...and a lot better.

Bmw8ter - 11/25/2007 10:13:11 AM

+1 Boost

I don't know about being better, but they sure have a much different design philosophy compared to NA. Shoot, look at Ford Australia. The engines they use in their Falcon and Fairlane "piss in the Wheaties" of both Ford Europe and NA; and that's not even factoring in their FPV lineup.

Ford NA all-in-all pales in comparison to it's overseas divisions.

Htay7500 - 11/25/2007 12:31:44 PM

+1 Boost

still questionable, but any global ford owns w/e is in the US.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/25/2007 1:45:53 PM

+1 Boost

"I don't know about being better, but they sure have a much different design philosophy compared to NA."

It's better.

Rupert - 11/25/2007 4:17:29 PM

+1 Boost

Fords in Europe are definitely a lot better...an American Ford would be laughed out of the showrooms here...