Dominating the pick-up and truck market just isn’t enough for Ford. Now, the company is doing its best to insert itself into the compact crossover market by producing the Ford Kuga, which was showcased at last year’s Frankfurt Show.

Compact crossovers have slowly gained popularity ever since it was introduced into the market. Due to its combination of ruggedness and sophistication, crossovers have been able to provide motorists the power and durability that comes with having a truck and the sleekness and style of having a sedan. This is what Ford is hoping to capitalize on with its Ford Kuga.

Based on its Focus platform, the Ford Kuga features an all-wheel drive system and a Haldex clutch system. On top of the systems incorporated in the Kuga, the vehicle will also sport a 2-liter turbodiesel engine capable of producing 134 brake horsepower (bhp) and 236 lb. ft. of torque. The Ford Kuga is rumored to be able to give a fuel economy of 44 miles per gallon. The Kuga will also have two variations, the basic Zetec trim and a Titianium trim. The differences that will set this two apart are the additional features included with the Titanium trim like rain-sensing wipers and dual electronic air temperature control. Due to the added features, the Titanium trim carries a more expensive price tag of £22,495 while the Zetec trim will be priced at £20,495. The only hitch here is that while the Ford Kuga will be released in the UK on June, there has been no word as to whether the crossover will reach the US market.

Let’s hope that Ford decides to release the Kuga in the US. If their goal is to establish themselves in the crossover market, then tapping the US market should definitely be one of their top priorities don’t you think?

Sources:Top Gear, AutoblogGreen, All You Need To Know About Cars

The preliminary features of Ford Motor Company’s trendy Kuga crossover are to be presented to the public at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show in Cologne, Germany. The Ford Kuga crossover will be shown during the initial press day of the motor show on September 11.

Together with the latest Ford Verve Concept vehicle and other new Ford creations, the Ford Kuga crossover will be witnessed by car aficionados from all over the world even prior to its production in 2008. This new Ford model takes pride in various impressive facets such as an on-road driving system, extensive off-road capacity, sharp FWD and 4WD schemes, a 2.0-litre 136 PS Duratorq TDCi diesel engine, tough Ford Focus attributes, and European-developed designs.

The European division of Ford Motor Company is once again spreading out and heading to a new route. Its product line-up is definitely becoming more innovative in terms of design and function. The new Kuga crossover is an example of Ford’s improved crossover products, which fuse together technology and trend.

Throughout the first six months of 2008, the Ford Kuga crossover will be available for sale. Ford Europe President and CEO John Fleming stated, “When we unveiled the stunning iosis X Concept car at the 2006 Paris Motor Show I promised that in less than two years we would enter this segment with an all-new vehicle developed and built in-house.” This promise was kept as the European arm of Ford made effort to conceptualize a vehicle that can be made available in the automotive market by 2008.

According to Ford Europe Vice President for Marketing, Sales and Services Stephen Odell, the Ford Kuga crossover is an exceptional combination of sports utility vehicle and wagon concepts. This Ford automobile possesses a four-wheel-drive structure that will definitely provide an active and forceful capacity. Moreover, the crossover essence of this new Ford model is evident in its front-wheel-drive version.