Acting on its promise to bring serious performance to all consumers across as numerous vehicle ranges and rate points as possible, Ford has provided its compact crossover the ST treatment.
If a Ford brings the ST badge, then it needs to provide something more than an aggressive, sporting look. So with the brand-new Kuga ST-line, there will be a bold outside appearance but that design will include substance.
When it comes to the compact, Ford Focus-derived SUV this indicates a sharpened, firmer chassis, more responsive steering, a lower height, smart four-wheel drive and the alternative of a 1.5-liter 180bhp EcoBoost engine under the hood.
Styling upgrades will consist of the honeycomb grille associated with Ford’s sportier models, side skirts, a front skid plate and a rear roofing spoiler.
Owners will likewise get an option of 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels while inside, the automobile will be geared up with sports seats and a sports steering wheel.
“Ford ST-Line models are developed to deliver an enjoyable drive experience, and we positioned a strong focus on making sure that Ford’s very first performance-orientated SUV in Europe provided the exact same driving characteristics as the Fiesta ST-Line, Focus ST-Line and Mondeo ST-Line designs,” stated Frederick Vrancken, Kuga ST-Line car dynamics engineer, Ford of Europe.
As SUV sales start to truly control the vehicle markets in Europe and the United States, consumers are progressively trying to find high-sided cars that offer a lot more of the elements expected from other automobile types, be it increased luxury, increased rear passenger space, or increased sportiness.
According to the newest research from IHS, SUVs and crossovers already represent 23 percent of European automobile sales (up 6 per cent year-on-year) and by 2020 they’re forecast to represent 27 percent of all automobile sales on the continent.
“Ford will provide a Kuga for each lifestyle,” stated Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe.
“We predict sales of 200,000 Ford Kuga, EcoSport and Edge SUVs in Europe this year– up by 200 percent from 2013.”
The Kuga ST-Line is readily available to order from August with first deliveries expected to the end of 2016.
