Ford unveils new Kuga as it promises an electric future

Ford has unveiled its new Kuga crossover at an event which also showcased its expanding hybrid and electric line-up, with new additions like the Fiesta and Focus hybrids.

The star turn at the event was the long-awaited new Kuga crossover. A far more stylish and eye-catching model than the current version, the new Kuga looks a much like a Focus SUV. It will be offered in a wide range of powertrain options from a 1-litre EcoBoost petrol to a 2-litre diesel, but also as a plug-in hybrid version that Ford claims will deliver 50km on full electric power before switching to regular hybrid mode.

Electric future

Having sat out the Geneva motor show, the US car giant is eager to repeat the message from all those who attended the Swiss show: the future is electric.

"From Fiesta to Transit, every new vehicle we introduce will feature an electrified version that best suits the needs of our customers in an affordable way," said Stuart Rowley, president, Ford of Europe.

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It follows a commitment earlier this year that all the company’s future nameplates would include an electrified option. On Tuesday, at a special “Go Electric” experience in Amsterdam, the company gave a more detailed view of what that future will look like.

The eco-friendly line-up, under a new Ford Hybrid banner, will cover everything from small family cars to SUVs and people carriers. There is also a Mustang-inspired performance SUV and fully electric Transit van on the way.

But first up is the addition of the Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid and Focus EcoBoost Hybrid models to its line-up, joining the already popular Mondeo hybrid.

For commercial vehicle customers, Ford announced that a new all-electric Transit will join its line-up of electrified commercial vehicles in 2021.

Ford’s Mustang-inspired all-electric performance SUV will arrive in 2020, with the car company claiming it will deliver a driving range of 600 km between charges.

"There is no 'one-size-fits-all' solution when it comes to electrification - every customer's circumstances are different," Joerg Beyer, executive director, Engineering, Ford of Europe.