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Ford has unveiled the stylish third generation of its best-selling SUV in the UK – and the next Kuga will be eco-friendly and more technologically advanced than ever.
The attractive new addition to the range will be the first Ford to offer Mild, Plug-in and Full hybrid options.
The Kuga was originally launched in 2008 and the current Mk2 is still selling well. In 2018, 40,398 Kugas were registered in the UK, making it the 9th most popular car overall.
Sleeker, lighter and more spacious than the current model, it will be available with the latest safety and driver assistance technology including Adaptive Cruise Control, Speed Sign Recognition, Lane-Centring and Active Park Assist 2, which enables fully automated parking manoeuvres at the push of a button.
It will also be the first Ford SUV in Europe to offer a head-up display (HUD), which helps drivers keep their eyes on the road by projecting useful information into their field of vision.
FordPass Connect embedded modem technology that turns the vehicle into a mobile WiFi hotspot with connectivity for up to 10 devices is another first for the Kuga.
Other tech goodies include a 12.3-inch driver’s digital cluster, wireless charging, SYNC 3 with 8.0-inch touchscreen and a B&O Sound System.
However, it’s the efficient powertrain options that will excite many with a Plug-In Hybrid, EcoBlue Hybrid (mild-hybrid) and Kuga Hybrid (full-hybrid) all available, alongside Ford’s 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel and 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engines, plus new eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Plug-In Hybrid, a Ford first for Europe, will have a 100% electric driving range in excess of 31 miles with CO2 emissions as low as 29g/km.
The battery can be charged using a front wing-mounted charging port, and is automatically replenished on the move using regenerative charging technology that captures kinetic energy normally lost during braking.
Ford anticipates that to fully charge the battery from an external 230-volt electricity supply will take around 4 hours.
