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Click above to view the Ford Kuga in hi-res

Kinetic design has been swallowing Ford of Europe's product range whole, and took a big bite at this year's Geneva Motor Show. Alongside the new Fiesta, Ford showed off the production version of the all-new Kuga crossover. Previewed by the concept unveiled at the last Frankfurt show and drawing on styling cues from the Iosis X show car, the Kuga is based on the same platform as the slicker Focus they get overseas.

Although the Kuga is admittedly one more European model that Ford won't offer in its home market, we're not short of Ford crossovers to choose from over here, so we'll let the Europeans have this one. (Just give us the Focus RS and we'll be happy.) But to see what we're missing, check out our gallery of images from the Geneva show floor by clicking on the thumbnails below. Unfortunately, although we're sure the Kuga rolled off its turntable at night after we were gone and duked it out with the Renault Koleos for market share, we couldn't prove it.

Gallery: 2008 Ford Kuga - Production

Geneva 2008: production Ford Kuga originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 Mar 2008 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>design languageDesignLanguageford crossoverford europeford kugaFordCrossoverFordEuropeFordKugagenevageneva 2008geneva fordgeneva motor showGeneva2008GenevaFordGenevaMotorShowkinetic designKineticDesignproduction ford kugaProductionFordKugaSun, 09 Mar 2008 11:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford UK prices Kuga CUV]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/20/ford-uk-prices-kuga-cuv/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/20/ford-uk-prices-kuga-cuv/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/20/ford-uk-prices-kuga-cuv/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the UK Ford Kuga

The Ford Kuga is a terrific-looking little ute that combines the sporty nature of the Euro Focus chassis with an uber-efficient 2.0-liter Duratorq TDCi common rail diesel powerplant. The best part for inhabitants of the UK is that all that kinetic design goodness and a combined 44.1 mpg will set them back just £20,495 for the Zetec and £22,495 for the Titanium model. Standard features include keyless start, 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, stability control and ABS. The Titanium model adds blue-tint glass, partial leather seating surfaces, and dual-zone temperature control. If the Brits want to raise the amenity bar even higher, they can check options like a panoramic roof, high end DAB stereo system and rear-facing camera.

If every glance at an unattainable Euro Ford puts a damper on your otherwise normal day, we apologize. If you feel cheated for not being able to purchase a sexy crossover that averages the same overall fuel economy as the Toyota Prius minus the batteries and door jam aesthetics, you're not alone.

Gallery: 2008 Ford Kuga - Production


[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford UK prices Kuga CUV

Ford UK prices Kuga CUV originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Duratorq TDCi common rail dieselDuratorqTdciCommonRailDieselFord KugaFordKugaKinetic DesignKineticDesignWed, 20 Feb 2008 08:28:00 EST<![CDATA[J Mays set to overhaul Ford's global design]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/06/j-mays-set-to-overhaul-fords-global-design/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/06/j-mays-set-to-overhaul-fords-global-design/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/06/j-mays-set-to-overhaul-fords-global-design/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Rather than have disparate design wings flung across the globe, all speaking in a different tongue, Ford's tasking J Mays with teaching everyone the design equivalent of Esperanto. The new, unified, global design language will replace the "Kinetic Design" that Ford of Europe employs, as well as superseding the "Bold American" motif we get here in the United States. We're not likely to see the Edge pick up any Mondeo themes any time soon, but Mays is looking forward about six years to see the convergence come to fruition on a new generation of vehicles.

Ford is looking inward, trying to divest some of the PAG largesse while simultaneously reinvigorating the core Ford brand. New, cohesive, and most of all exciting design is key to transforming Ford, and Mays will serve as overlord from his London base of operations. While you'd think that something as important as global design for such a huge automaker would be cloistered in the bowels Dearborn, Mays says that Alan Mulally is comfortable with him working remote. We think it will be good to have the design chief living abroad, able to take in a wider sampling of automotive fashion than what we can find here in the US. Besides, we're sure there's an XK in the Mays garage, ready to rip on down to Carnaby Street to study fashionistas in their natural habitat.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]



J Mays set to overhaul Ford's global design originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bold americanBoldAmericanconvergencedesignedgefordglobal designGlobalDesignj maysJMayskinetic designKineticDesignmondeothree barThreeBarTue, 06 Nov 2007 08:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Mulally makes it official: Next Focus and Fusion based on global platforms]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/23/mulally-makes-it-official-next-focus-and-fusion-based-on-global/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/23/mulally-makes-it-official-next-focus-and-fusion-based-on-global/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/23/mulally-makes-it-official-next-focus-and-fusion-based-on-global/#commentsFiled under: ,



Despite not being official, we've known for some time that Ford CEO Alan Mulally wants to increase the number of platforms shared by its U.S. and European divisions. It's something Ford fanboys have been demanding for some time, and yesterday Mulally officially confirmed that the next-gen Focus and Fusion would be global vehicles, sharing platforms with their counterparts across the pond. This will be in addition to the B-class car that's coming in the form of the new European Fiesta small car that will slot below the Focus in Ford's U.S. lineup.

The amount of overlap between Ford in the U.S. and Ford of Europe was one of the first things that surprised Mulally when he arrived at Ford exactly one year ago. He's quickly set about fixing the redundancy, but we won't likely see the fruits of his labor until 2010 or 2011 when the next Focus is expected to debut for both markets.

Ford execs have said that these cars will wear different styling and be tuned differently, but we've heard from inside the Blue Oval that a conflict between U.S. and Euro designers is growing, with the former group upset that its delicate balance of three-bar grilles will be upset by the Fiesta, and possibly other models, arriving with FoE's "Kinetic Design" theme.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Mulally makes it official: Next Focus and Fusion based on global platforms originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallyAlanMulallyfiestafocusford fiestaford focusford fusionford mondeoford of europeFordFiestaFordFocusFordFusionFordMondeoFordOfEuropefusionglobal platformGlobalPlatformkinetic designKineticDesignmondeomulallyThu, 23 Aug 2007 14:29:00 EST