Ford Kuga. The most technologically advanced European Ford
Ford Kuga is a compact front-wheel drive crossover of the American automobile concern Ford Motor Company, produced since 2008. Ford Kuga was the debut compact crossover of the Americans, which was developed by their German branch - ‘Ford of Europe’. This version of the " SUV ‘replaced the European market all-terrain model Maverick, which many know as"Escape’. Interestingly, the name of this car is in tune with the word “cougar”, which translates as “cougar” - one of the names of the puma.
For the first time, this crossover was presented in the form of a prototype Ford Iosis X at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. A year later, the first-generation Ford Kuga concept appeared, after the presentation of the new product at the Geneva Motor Show in 2008, it went on sale and became the best-selling Ford all-terrain vehicle. Today, there are already three generations of the Ford Kuga crossover on the market, the last of which, released in 2019, can be purchased in Israel.
The first generation
The first generation Ford Kuga was produced from 2008 to 2012. The first Ford Kuga is based on the’ platform " Ford C1, which is also built and Ford Focus, and C-MAX, and Mazda3 with Mazda5, and Volvo S40 with Volvo V50.
The main idea of the appearance of the 2008 Ford Kuga was a kinetic design. The new corporate style made it possible to make the crossover unmistakably recognizable. The front of the Ford Kuga had a huge false radiator grille and large head optics. External mirrors-on a fairly long leg, which is installed on the door. The sharp profile and pointed details gave a sporty character to the first Ford Kuga, and inside the car received a rather voluminous interior and a wide luggage compartment.
Interestingly, the name Ford Kuga is consonant with the word ‘cougar’, which translates as’ cougar " - one of the names of the puma.
For off-road qualities, the system of plug-in all-wheel drive with a Haldex clutch, which connected the rear wheels, was responsible. Thanks to the complex multi-link independent rear suspension, the first Kuga had fairly good handling, was obedient in turning and quickly responded to the movement of the steering wheel. Plus, Ford paid great attention to the safety of its new crossover, and on the EuroNCAP test, the Ford Kuga received the maximum number of stars - 5.
The second generation
The second generation Ford Kuga was produced from 2012 to 2016. At the time of the presentation, Ford called the second-generation Ford Kuga the most technologically advanced European Ford. It was: and opening the’ hands-free " trunk door, and the latest security systems, and a beautiful multimedia system SYNC, and a lot of other things. In addition, the’ second " Ford Kuga has an economical turbocharged low-volume engine, and the interior has become more beautiful and more expensive. The safety level of the Ford Kuga 2 generation was even higher than that of the first! 100% for active safety, 94% for the safety of an adult passenger and 86% for a child received the 2012 Ford Kuga on the Euro NCAP test.
The safety level of the Ford Kuga 2 generation was even higher than that of the first! 100% for active safety, 94% for the safety of an adult passenger and 86% for a child received the 2012 Ford Kuga on the Euro NCAP test. Ford called the second-generation Ford Kuga the most technologically advanced European ‘Ford’.
At the very end of 2016, a restyled version of the 2nd generation Ford Kuga crossover appeared, which was produced until October 2019. The updated Kuga has stylish elongated headlamps with lensed optics and a border of LED running lights, a new hexagonal radiator grille with two large horizontally oriented ribs and the manufacturer’s logo. At the bottom, along the edges of the bumper, there are small recesses, trimmed with black plastic, in which there are large fog lights. On the sills, bumpers and wheel arches - special pads made of black unpainted plastic-a necessary attribute of the crossover, designed to protect the paintwork of body parts from flying from under the wheels of gravel and sand in the case of driving on a dirt road.
Inside the updated Kuga was equipped with 7 airbags, standard parking sensors, rear view camera, climate control, multi-function trip computer, and rain and light sensors, full power accessories, leather interior, seats with electric adjustment and memory settings, sensor tire pressure, cruise control, control system dead zones, panoramic glass roof, premium sound system, electric tailgate, standard navigation system, a key card for starting the engine with a button and even an automatic parking system.
The third generation
The third-generation Ford Kuga, officially unveiled on April 2, 2019 at the Go Further special event in Amsterdam, is still in production. Kuga was previously the closest relative of Ford Focus: they were related to the platform and common design solutions. But the third-generation car came closer to the donor than ever before. The silhouette has become more dynamic, the profile of the hood is made more horizontal, in general, the Kuga is more like a hatchback than a crossover.
At the same time, the new Ford Kuga became larger than its predecessor: the length increased by 89 mm (to 4613 mm), the width - by 44 m (to 1882 mm), and the wheelbase - by 20 mm (to 2710 mm). And only the height is now less by 20 mm (1669 mm). The body became 10% stiffer, but the optimization of the design allowed to reduce the weight of the car by 90 kg.
