Ford delivers most powerful diesel Kuga ever
The Ford Kuga is now available with a significant range of upgrades that include the smart utility vehicle’s most powerful diesel powertrain to date.
Improvements to the Kuga’s diesel and petrol engine range also deliver lower CO2 emissions. Kuga is offered with more advanced technologies as standard that help reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions, including Auto-Start-Stop and Active Grille Shutter.
“Ford has updated the Kuga range with models that deliver more power and lower emissions. Tiger Eye metallic is a bold new colour not previously seen on any Ford vehicle, and SYNC with AppLink will help ensure drivers can be more connected on the move while keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe.
Ford’s 2.0-litre TDCi diesel powered 95 per cent of the Kugas sold in the UK during the first nine months of 2014. Ford has now increased peak power of the engine by 17PS to 180PS and peak torque to 400Nm, up from 340Nm. This engine choice will deliver the most pulling power ever for Kuga, particularly when combined with Ford’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system that is chosen by most customers.
Ford is introducing its new 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine to Kuga, reducing CO2 emissions to 143g/km from 154g/km – an improvement of more than seven per cent over the outgoing 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine. Ford will also offer a 150PS 2.0-litre TDCi option that delivers 122g/km CO2 – an improvement of 12 per cent.
Smart utility vehicle
Ford SYNC with AppLink will now enable drivers to voice-activate apps, while keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. These already include leading music-streaming service Spotify, Audioteka, Glympse and Radioplayer.
Ford’s latest sales data revealed a high take-rate for Kuga’s advanced driver assistance technologies: around a third of vehicles were sold with Rear View Camera and more than half featured Active Park Assist technology that helps drivers to parallel park.
On top of the Cruise Control with Adjustable Speed Limiter, that is offered as standard on the Titanium series and above, Kuga is also available with Adaptive Cruise Control including Forward Alert, which warns drivers if they are travelling too close to the vehicle in front. Another standard technology is the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, which warns if any of the tyres lose significant pressure during a journey. Further available technologies include Hands-Free Tailgate,Blind Spot Information System,Active City Stop,Lane Keeping Aid, Lane Keeping Alert, Auto High Beam,Driver Alert, and Traffic Sign Recognition.
Kuga will boast new colours in Ruby Red Metallic, Magnetic Metallic and, for the first time on any Ford vehicle, Tiger Eye Metallic. A body-styling kit enhances the appearance of the Titanium X Sport even further.
Since Ford’s new Kuga’s launch in the UK, supplied by Ford’s Valencia assembly plant in Spain, more than 200,000 vehicles have been sold across Europe.
Ford’s expanding range of SUVs in Europe already includes the all-new EcoSport and will also next year include the charismatic, spacious and smart Ford Edge.
