Ford Kuga

Infobox Automobile
name = Ford Kuga


manufacturer = Ford Motor Company
production = 2008-
class = Compact crossover SUV
predecessor = Ford Maverick
body_style = 4-door SUV
platform = Ford C1 platform
layout = Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
related = Ford Focus
Volvo C30
Volvo S40
Mazda 3
assembly = Saarlouis, Germany

The Ford Kuga is compact crossover SUV to be produced by Ford Europe. The car is based on the C1 platform that also underpins the Ford Focus and Ford C-MAX. Both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive will be offered, while only a 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine will be available at launch.

The Kuga will go on sale in the first half of 2008, and will be built at Ford's plant in Saarlouis, Germany. In the UK, emphasising the car's premium market aspirations, only high-end Zetec and Titanium specifications will be offered. It's priced similar to the other small SUVs in the market such as the Citroen C-Crosser and the Vauxhall/Opel Antara, and is set to go on sale in the UK with a starting price of around £20,500. The combined fuel consumption is 44.1 mpg and the CO₂ emmisions is 169 g/km.

On July 20, 2007, a report indicated that Ford executives were considering the prospects of sales in North America. [ [http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/ford/ford-kuga-and-c-max-destined-for-us/ Ford Kuga and C-max destined for US?] - Motor Authority] This idea was later scrapped after it was determined the car could not be sold both competitively priced and at a profit in the US due to the current dollar-Euro exchange rate. On July 24, 2008, WDIV-TV had announced that Ford Motor Company is re-considering bringing the Kuga to North America after all.

In Croatian, Serbian, Slovenian and Bosnian the word "kuga" is a direct translation of the word "plague."

References

External links

* [http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=26395&make_id=92 Ford Media Release and Official Sketch]
* [http://www.worldcarfans.com/9071123.008/production-ford-kuga-spied Kuga production is started - the first real picture]
* [http://www.rejecttheordinary.org Ford Kuga Teaser site]
* [http://www.cnet.co.uk/microsite/ford-kuga/ Ford Kuga CNET.co.uk microsite]