Dollar exchange rate falling under the relation in the European currency and presence of free capacities to the USA force company management Ford to transfer manufacture of cars from Europe to America. According to agency Bloomberg, crossover Ford Kuga becomes the first European model which will move for ocean, – in 2011 this car will start to assemble not in Germany, and in America in the State
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“She is very pretty,” said the middle-aged Frenchman, with a smile and polite nod. “So, are you happy with her?” Even allowing for any vast cultural differences, this isn’t what we expected to hear while standing outside a gas station in the north of Paris.
Lest you feel offended on our behalf, know that in French the word for “car” is feminine. The “she” our admirer was referring to just happened to be the diesel-powered Ford Kuga crossover that we were refueling. The Kuga’s fat-fendered and aggressive exterior earned lots of compliments and envious stares during our weekend together—although the gas station conversation was by far the strangest of the bunch.
Kuga’s beauty is more than skin-deep. Based on the same rock-solid C1 platform found lurking beneath the latest Euro Ford Focus (which finally arrives in the U.S. for 2011), the Kuga’s ride and handling shames many family sedans, not to mention most small sport-utes and crossovers.
Credit goes to Ford for creating a truly classy, comfortable, and sophisticated cabin. The silver finish on the center console is, of course, painted plastic. But it’s a million times better looking than black plastic or, heaven forbid, fake wood. One notable flaw was the nav screen’s tendency to wash out in direct sunlight. Even more serious was the Kuga’s poor rear visibility. This made parallel parking ponderously slow, and hyperactive parking sensors only made matters worse. The optional rear-view parking camera is a must-have.
There is room for two in the rear, but three adults would be a squeeze. Loads of useful nooks and crannies in the dash, door panels, and even under the floor help free up precious space for stuff, though. The cargo area accommodates 12.7 cubic feet of cargo with the 60/40 split rear seats up. With them folded down, cargo room swells to 47.9 cubic feet.
In terms of size, there isn’t much to separate the Kuga and the Ford Escape. The Kuga is 174.9 inches long and 67.3 inches high—fractions of an inch away from the Escape’s measurements. Where the Kuga sets itself apart from its American cousin is with its combination of sharp steering and suspension control.
© Source: caranddriver
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Handsome, economical, and not coming to the U.S. any time soon, the 2009 Ford Kuga crossover arrives at the 2008 Geneva auto show in production-ready form.The Kuga was first seen as the Iosis X concept during the 2006 Paris auto show and again as a near-production-ready concept last September in Frankfurt.We like the tiny Kuga and think its chiseled looks would appeal to a wide audience on both sides of the Atlantic.
Ford says the Kuga stays true to the company’s “kinetic design” language, as seen in the European-market Focus and Mondeo. The Kuga uses the same C1 global platform used by the second-generation Focus and other C-segment vehicles in Ford’s European lineup (the North American Focus is still a first-gen model).
The Kuga goes on sale in Europe in June. Power will be provided solely by a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel with 134 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual is the only transmission—although we suspect Ford will admit that some sort of slushbox will eventually be offered.
Inside, the Kuga offers seating for five, fold-flat second-row seats, and extra storage compartments under the seats and beneath the cargo area. Stability control, 17-inch wheels, and keyless start are among the Kuga’s standard equipment. Two trim levels will be offered: the Zetec and the range-topping Titanium.
The knockout punch for the Kuga ever making it to America is dealt by the crossover’s lofty price. A base Kuga is likely to sticker at the equivalent of $38,000 to $40,000. Like other tasty Ford of Europe products, such as the slick new Mondeo, there is simply no profit to be made by selling the German-built Kuga on our shores.
© Source: caranddriver
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The Kuga CUV is based off the C-car platform that underpins the C-Max and Euro-Focus (also our Mazda3 and Volvo S40/C30), and is motivated by Ford's 2.0-liter Duratorq TDCi common rail diesel. 136 hp and 236 lb.-ft. of torque can be sent to either the front wheels or all four depending on the model (Trend or Titanium, respectively) and the Kuga comes standard with ESP, Anti Rollover Mitigation, ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution.
Inside, Ford boasts a handsomely outfitted cabin, with seating for five and a 60/40 split rear seat that offers a bit of practicality alongside the Kuga's style.
As much as we'd like to bemoan the fact that Ford is still offering products abroad that we think would do wonders for the marque here at home, we can only hope that Mr. Mulally's plan to globalize Ford's lineup happens soon and sends over some of the Kuga's mojo.
© Source: autoblog
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Arriving late to the soft-roader party, Ford will show off the production model of its Kuga SUV in Frankfurt next week. 
Taking plenty of design cues from Ford's Iosis X concept we saw in Paris last September - but sadly losing the neoprene upholstery, glass floor and Star Trek wing mirrors - the Kuga is the clearest example thus far of the 'kinetic design' philosophy that Ford has been banging on about for the last year or so.
The trapezoidal grille and steeply raked roofline remain from the Iosis X, and there's more than a hint of new Mondeo about the front end. It's not quite as coupe-esque as the new Mazda CX-7, admittedly, but there's no denying it's a handsome little SUV.
And little it is - the Kuga is a strict five-seater that sits on the same platform as the Focus.
More Nissan Qashqai than Freelander, it'll initially be powered by Ford's ubiquitous two-litre turbodiesel engine mated to a six-speed manual 'box.
However, more powertrains should be on the way later, including (we'd expect) the 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol engine from the current Mondeo.
It'll come in two-wheel and four-wheel drive, the latter most likely to be an intelligent drive system that shifts torque around depending on road conditions. There's a split tailgate at the back, too.
The Kuga's list of options confirms Ford UK's assertion that it's a genuine up-market soft-roader: leather trim, a reversing camera and those shiny 19-inch alloys you see in the photos can all be specced.
With prices expected to start at around £20,000, the Kuga will go on sale in the UK next summer.
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