Ford reveals facelifted Kuga SUV

Ford has shown off its new revised Kuga SUV a full week before its official debut at the Geneva motor show.

Receiving a modest nip and tuck, the new model sports a pair of sleek new headlights that feature daytime running LEDs, a large two-bar grille and a front bumper that incorporates repositioned foglights.

At the rear of the car there are redesigned tail-lights and a new boot lid. Some high-spec models, like the one pictured, also gains a sporty diffuser (fake) and twin exhaust outlets.

There’s also the choice of new 17-, 18- or 19-inch alloys wheels and two new colours, Guard Grey and Copper Pulse.

The revised Kuga also comes with a power retractable tow bar.

Inside, the Kuga gets new steering wheel and air-conditioning controls, the option of a heated steering wheel for the colder northern hemisphere climates and paddles for buyers who option their Kuga with the automatic transmission.

As well as the interior upgrades, the refreshed Kuga now comes with Ford’s latest SYNC 3 infotainment system that works with “conversational voice commands” and can harness apps like Spotify.

The latest system also incorporates both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The big change under the bonnet, meanwhile, is the introduction of a new 88kW 1.5-litre turbo-diesel that replaces the old 2.0-litre TDCi engine with the same power output.

Ford claims that despite offering the same 88kW as the old 2.0-litre, the new diesel is five per cent more efficient, averaging 4.4L/100km while emitting 115g/km of CO2.

The more powerful 110kW and 132kW versions of the old 2.0-litre diesel live on, with the latter available with Ford’s new 'Intelligent' four-wheel drive that adds torque vectoring and curve control, which are said to help drivers who enter a bend too fast.

On the petrol side, the 1.5-litre turbo Ecoboost engine with either 88kW, 110kW or 134kW outputs carries over, with the 178kW 2.0-litre EcoBoost dropped from the range.

It’s not known if Ford Australia will take the new small 1.5-litre diesel, or if the most powerful 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine survives the cull in other markets.

Finally, safety for the Kuga has also been improved. The small SUV will now come with new features like Ford’s adaptive front lighting, autonomous emergency city braking and rear cross traffic alert.

Expected on sale towards the end of 2016, when more local market information about what we’ll see in Australia, the revised Kuga will be officially unveilled at the Geneva show on March 1.