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Ford Kuga on sale

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In England.

Not here, of course.

Seems that the everybody in the world thinks this is just what Ford needs in the US. Except Ford.
This would make a fantastic replacement for the old Escape. And could compete head to head with the best.

I am not even sure what they have planned for the Escape. It might just become the Crown Victoria of small SUVs…

Conversation 29 comments

  1. Seems like Ford is out to lunch on this one. Why the Kuga isn’t replacing the dated, plain and unrefined Escape is beyond me. I will be in the market for a small SUV at the end of the year and if the Kuga was available here in Canada I would definitely be interested.

  3. for me, this is the best-looking compact crossover. yes, even better looking than the VUE, X3, LR2, RDX, RAV4 and Outlander.

  4. 08 Escape is selling extremely well. New Escape slated for 2011 – right in line with Ford’s typical 10 year platform lifecycle.

  5. It’s a stunning cuv and yet again it’s ashame that Ford can’t get it’s act together. If they’d just rebadge this as a Mercury or Lincoln. One can dream.

  6. Just today, I rode in an Escape hybrid taxi. As a taxi, the Escape is perfect because they’re rugged, durable and effecient. Even though they sell well, I personally would never consider paying money to own one. This is much more sophisticated by a wide margin and I can only imagine how well they would sell if offered here.

  7. Sooooo good looking, maybe they don’t have the cash to put in the new line? Maybe they don’t have anymore employees to man the line? Maybe they have just lost their minds!!!

    Actually they just make 100M! Who would have guessed.

  8. Light years ahead of the Escape. I guess it says alot about how Ford is still being run. They can’t seem to bring the cars they need to market in a timely fasion. I guess when we finally do get sometthing similar it will be old news.

  9. argh. our Sportage lease is up in ’10, would have picked up one of these, but sadly, Ford seems determined to shoot themselves in their respective foot(s).

  10. Aside from the stupid-looking and done-to-death Murano-style beltline, the Kuga is a good looking CUV.

  12. Why the hell don’t they sell this in the US as the new Escape/Mariner? Or at the least, import it into Mercury? I would SO buy a hybrid version of this car.

    The kinetic styling looks great on this little SUV.

  14. Somebody asked how big this vehicle is. I COULD BE WRONG, but if I remember correctly from what I read a few months ago, it’s about the size of the Escape, maybe an inch or two bigger. I agree Ford needs to bring this to the USA. But as a potential buyer living in the USA, what the heck do I (or any of us) know. I guess Ford is STILL telling us, here in the USA, what we are supposed to like. How the heck did Ford make $100 million last quarter? It must have been all the cost cutting because it sure was’nt the product. Ford, imagine how much more money you could have made if you also had a good product. I will say though that I am looking forward to seeing the new Taurus and Milan.

  15. 08 Escape is selling extremely well.

    Define “extremely,” and quote some sources please.

    Thanks in advance.

  16. Vince, Look carefully and you can see styling cues from the Mitsubishi Outlander and the Subaru Tribeca. Even though it looks more modern than the Escape, there is really nothing groundbreaking about it. What Ford really needs is a homerun in the small SUV/Crossover segment to put it way ahead of it’s competitors. The Edge style would look great updated in a smaller platform!

  17. The Crown Victoria of SUVs…yeah, I thought they had grand plans for the Escape….but like usual, they are resting on their laurels…but I guess only because it sells so well….somehow.

    Although 8 years isn’t bad, they sure know how to keep things mundane.

  18. I thought this was an updated Saturn Vue with new cool rims when I first saw these pictures. Ford must be desperate to copy a 4 year old German Opel design.

  19. This car could not be offered in NA cause it is based off the C1 platform which also underpins the Euro Mk2 Focus and Freelander 2 among other vehicles. Basically if they opted to just import it it would cost too much especially with the falling dollar and how many people in the US would really pay that much for a small Ford SUV? In 3 years when the new Focus comes out it will also be manufactured in NA the same way the new Fiesta will be so all cars based on the new Focus and Fiesta platforms will be able to be manufactured and sold in the US, including the Kuga. Oh and many complain about Ford not offering their hatches in NA yet almost no one seems to be willing to buy a hatch, look at the Astra for example. So don’t blame Ford, they don’t have the luxury to experiment at the moment, the Fiesta 5-door is a GREAT car. Btw the poll on the left shows that the biggest % of members in here would never buy a Ford, even with cars such as the Fiesta coming..hmmm. Yet you all want the new models…hmmm

  21. “Basically if they opted to just import it it would cost too much especially with the falling dollar and how many people in the US would really pay that much for a small Ford SUV?…”

    Incongruent, unattractive world products (namely, US versions) are the cause of Fords problem, not the result. It’s also not a recent occurrence. While the value of the dollar is a plausible excuse today, that’s only a red herring covering up the problem of bad management and bad union contracts. Ford needs to reinvent themselves immediately, and not wait for the dollar to improve.

    Also, the Mazda 3 and the Mazda 5 are on the C1 platform… and they’re very reasonably priced and extremely successful. There’s no reason Ford shouldn’t have this platform here as well.

  22. At least this isn’t a stupid wagon.
    Very nice.

    Ford was very smart when they dropped the Focus Wagon . They should replace it by this one.
    No one in the US with half a brain wants to buy a wagon.

  23. Soutces for my comment that the Escape is selling “extremely well”: Ford’s April sales press release for one. Sales of the Escape were up 13% over last year. Also, my personal experience selling Fords.

  25. “No one in the US with half a brain wants to buy a wagon.”

    I think this guy is just trying to cause trouble. I think he/she was probably the same person who made the loser comments (anonymous 4/28/08 3:02pm) on the Opel Insignia coupe and wagon blog.

    If you don’t like wagons that’s fine, but don’t insult and criticize people who do like them. We’re all adults and friends here.

  26. Wagons are just ugly versions of sedans.
    They have almost no room inside. Most of them actually have a smaller truck than the sedans they’re based on.

    If you want room, get a minivan.
    If you want to drive, get a real car, not a wagon.
    That is why only losers drive wagons.

    If you don’t believe me, just look at who’s driving next time you see one.

  27. “That is why only losers drive wagons.

    If you don’t believe me, just look at who’s driving next time you see one.”

    Honestly now, you could say that about Camry drivers, minivan owners, Civic drivers or just about anything. I’d gladly take an M5 wagon and wouldn’t give a flying fuc$ what anyone thinks about it.

  28. That is why only losers drive wagons.

    If you don’t believe me, just look at who’s driving next time you see one.

    Define loser.

  29. No one in the US with half a brain wants to buy a wagon.Stupidest comment by far on the subject.Soutces (sic) for my comment that the Escape is selling “extremely well”: Ford’s April sales press release for one. Sales of the Escape were up 13% over last year. Also, my personal experience selling Fords.You didn’t quote any sources or provide a link to what you assert. Are you talking about all Escape sales, or are you speaking of only Escape Hybrids? And in what market are you referring to…California? Illinois? Florida?Ford market share: -18.5%https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/05/02/business/02autosgraphic.ready.htmlBut the Focus sales are good. Maybe that’ll make you feel better.

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