Posted on Wednesday 26 September 2007
Ford will be launching its new Kuga crossover with only one engine option, a diesel engine mated to a six-speed auto gearbox. Set to go on sale in May next year, the new vehicle will come in either Zetec or Titanium specifications with a 136hp 2.0L TDCi diesel being the only engine option. Towards the end of the year, however, Ford will eventually launch a new high-performance 2.5L five-cylinder version with an available 220hp.
During a recent interview with BusinessCar, Ford’s medium cars’ brand manager Damian Oton explained that the new Kuga “will be a strong user-chooser product and we have made a conscious, strategic decision to have one body style, one engine and the one six-speed transmission.” The Ford exec also revealed that sales are expected to only amount to around 6,000 to 8,000 units in its first year.
Sales of petrol powered SUVs and crossovers are low in Europe but since the vehicle is destined to be sold in the U.S. you can bet there’ll be a larger displacement petrol V6 installed eventually. There were even reports suggesting that a hybrid option will be available.