Ford confirms Forester rival

Better late than never – that's the sentiment that prevailed at last Thursday's confirmation that Ford would launch its Kuga compact SUV Down Under in 2012.

Now set for local launch in March, the Kuga will be offered in two trim grades – Trend and top of the range, Titanium. Although available in turbodiesel and petrol guises in Europe, just one powertrain will come down under – a five-cylinder 147kW/320Nm 2.5-litre petrol auto all-wheel drive variant.

While it might not offer class leading economy, it should place the car near to the top of the compact SUV performance ladder.

Kuga will replace Escape as Ford Australia's nameplate in the burgeoning compact softroader marketplace. In this respect Ford Australia will align itself with Ford Europe.

Kuga and Escape have to date been very different vehicles – the latter based on Mazda's Tribute SUV. Under the OneFord mantra the two nameplates will continue but as one global vehicle. The all-new Focus-based vehicle Focus-based vehicle was unveiled at the Los Angeles Motor Show last month. It goes on sale in the USA soon.

Australia will have to wait until 2013 for the all-new car. In the meantime the five-cylinder petrol Kuga will act as a beachhead for the nameplate Down Under.

Ford Australia President and CEO, Bob Graziano sidestepped suggestions Australia was excluded from Kuga in 2008 because it didn't participate in the original right hand drive business case. He did agree the belated launch was important for the brand locally, however.

"I have not heard that [reason for the delay] before… It's certainly one where we've looked at the segmentation in the market [and identified] where we could have an opportunity to bring that vehicle in, and that's what we're doing.

"We'll have that [current] vehicle and then obviously it will get refreshed [Ed: via an all-new model] after that," Graziano said.

Defending the decision to go petrol five-cylinder only Graziano commented: "The vehicle itself is obviously very popular around the world, so we're trying to be opportunistic in getting that vehicle here… We couldn't [get diesel]… We've got diesel constraints as that particular powertrain [turbodiesel 2.0 and Powershift dual clutch] around the world is very popular."

The Kuga Trend will roll on 17-inch alloys and include a high level of equipment including Bluetooth connectivity, keyless stop/start, aircon, cruise control and cloth seats. The top of the range Titanium gets 18-inch wheels, a panoramic fixed glass roof, dual-zone air, leather seating and auto wipers and headlamps.

Full details and pricing will be announced closer to the cars' arrival, Ford stated.

The Kuga was first launched in Europe in 2008. motoring.com.au drove a 2.0-litre turbodiesel Kuga in September of that year, stating: "The compact SUV is as thoroughly modern and trend-setting as the existing Escape is old and dowdy. Ford Australia needs it -- and right about now..."

Hmmm… As we said – better late than never!

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