Ford is the one to watch in 2015; Ford’s record number of new vehicle introductions continues with refreshed Ford Kuga line up

• Ford introduces new EcoBoost and TDCi diesel technology to the stylish, innovative Ford Kuga to offer both more power and fuel economy
• When compared with Toyota RAV4 diesel automatic models, the new 400 Nm Ford Kuga Duratorq diesel offers more power and torque whilst returning better fuel economy
• Two-wheel drive automatic variant with new 1.5 EcoBoost added as entry level Kuga Ambiente at $36,990

Ford New Zealand has introduced new EcoBoost petrol technology and TDCi diesel technology to the stylish, innovative Ford Kuga to offer both more power and fuel economy across the range. In addition, Ford New Zealand now offers a Kuga Ambiente with a new 1.5litre EcoBoost and front wheel drive with a new lower price point of $36,990.

The Ford Kuga will gain an upgraded 400 Nm, 132 kW Duratorq diesel on Trend and Titanium that is more powerful and efficient than Toyota’s automatic RAV4 diesel range.

When compared with 2.2-litre AWD Toyota RAV4 Diesel automatic models, the new 400 Nm Ford Kuga Duratorq diesel offers more power and torque whilst still offering significantly better fuel economy at 5.4 litres per 100 KMs over the RAV4 Diesel automatic range at 6.5 litres per 100 KMs.

With these introductions, Ford continues to up the ante on smart vehicle offerings for Kiwis said Corey Holter, Ford New Zealand Managing Director.

“The introduction of the refreshed Ford Kuga adds to what is easily one of the biggest, most exciting years yet for Ford New Zealand,” said Holter. “We have an unprecedented number of new vehicles arriving this year including now the Ford Kuga with features and powertrains that leave the competition well behind.”

“The innovation, quality and smart features we’ve packed into all of our new vehicles are the foundation of Ford’s leadership in democratising technology and delivering class-leading features at an attainable price point for New Zealanders.”

“And the power upgrades we’ve made to the Ford Kuga – based on customer feedback – show the action we’re taking to go further than the competition in the SUV category.”

To further compliment Ford Kuga’s acclaimed driving dynamics, a high-output, 176 kW (340 Nm) EcoBoost engine is now standard on Trend and Titanium to offer customers a premium driving experience. In addition to the introduction of the new Ambiente FWD Automatic variant, the entire powertrain line-up has been updated as follows:

*All fuel consumption figures are from officially approved tests in accordance with directive 80/1268/EEC for Ford. Actual fuel consumption figures depend on a variety of factors including driving habits, prevailing conditions, your vehicles equipment and condition.

Safe
Scoring the highest of any vehicles in its segment, Ford Kuga was awarded a maximum five-star rating by both EuroNCAP and the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). Ford conducted more than 5,000 virtual and real-world crash tests to ensure the highest safety levels during the development of the Ford Kuga.

In addition to driver and front passenger airbags, driver’s knee airbag, side thorax front airbags, side curtain front and side curtain rear airbags as standard on all models, more than 30 per cent of the Ford Kuga body structure is made up of high and ultra-high strength steels.

Smart
The Ford Kuga has a surprising array of features and technologies, including on the AWD models, Ford’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system and Ford Curve Control.

The SUV’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system can pre-emptively assess road conditions 20 times faster than it takes to blink an eye, readjusting the all-wheel-drive power split to give the driver the best blend of handling and traction.

The primary goal of the AWD system at low speeds is traction; at speeds above 30 km/h the AWD system is tuned to improve driving feel, handling and responses. A unique cluster display shows drivers the torque demand of each wheel at any moment.

In addition to the intelligent AWD system, Ford Curve Control acts as a safeguard for drivers who have entered a bend with too much speed. The system mitigates against severe understeer by aggressive braking and can, if the driver is still pushing their foot down on the accelerator, also reduce engine torque.

The Ford Kuga also features an array of smart technologies in both the mid-level Trend and top Titanium series, including:

• Active City Stop
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Blind Spot Information System
• Roll Stability Control
• Lane Keeping Aid
• Lane Departure Warning
• Auto High Beam Control
• Driver Impairment Monitor
• Front parking sensor
• Power folding exterior mirrors