Ford of Europe is previewing new powertrain and styling enhancements for the new Ford Kuga at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.

Early in 2009, the dynamic Kuga range will be extended with the availability of an exciting new 200 PS, 2.5-litre Duratec Turbo petrol engine as well as a new optional Durashift 5-tronic automatic transmission.

In addition to these new powertrain choices, the Kuga will also be available with Ford Individual vehicle personalisation options, combining a new exterior body kit and specially designed 20-inch alloy wheels with a classy interior treatment.

Smooth and Powerful:
Although the 136 PS 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engined Ford Kuga is no slouch, the addition of the dynamic new 200 PS 2.5-litre Duratec 5-cylinder Turbo petrol engine to the range offers drivers smooth but agile power and high torque levels over a wide speed range, combined with a high level of refinement and a distinctive engine sound.

The new engine for Kuga is based on the well-proven and acclaimed Ford 2.5-litre Duratec Turbo engine already available in the latest Ford Mondeo and S-MAX models as well as the sporty Focus ST.

The unit has been carefully re-calibrated for the Kuga to meet the performance expectations that customers have in the compact All-Wheel-Drive crossover segment.

Gunnar Herrmann, C-Car Vehicle Line Director, Ford of Europe said, “We always intended the new Kuga to be the most dynamic crossover vehicle in its class.  The new 2.5-litre Duratec Turbo petrol powertrain offers extra performance and is a perfect match for the vehicle. The added power and refinement adds a lot of fun when driving Kuga both on- and off-road.”

The Ford Kuga 2.5 Turbo comes with the acclaimed, Haldex Gen 4 Intelligent AWD system and manual 6-speed transmission as standard, and delivers impressive performance.  With a maximum power output of 200 PS (147 kW) at 6,000 rpm and a linear torque peak of 320 Nm being available from 1,600 up to 4,000 rpm, the vehicle reaches a top speed of 208 kph.  For a vehicle in this segment and performance, the homologated combined fuel economy of just 9.9 l/100 km (average CO2 output 234 g/km) is very reasonable.

But it's not all about performance. A detailed re-tuning of the exhaust tone makes sure that the driver can really enjoy the characteristic and sonorous 5-cylinder turbo sound - powerful yet highly refined.

Herrmann said, "Even though we expect the majority of customers across Europe to opt for the power and compelling fuel economy and environmental figures of the 136 PS 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi powertrain, we wanted to meet the demands of customers in many markets who have asked us for a high performance petrol engine to complement the Kuga's distinctive and sporty style. The Kuga 2.5 is a real driver's vehicle!"

The new Kuga 2.5-litre Duratec Turbo will be available to customers all over Europe from the beginning of 2009.

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Posted by Jigar Gondalia on 5 September, 2008 1:55:31 PM IST #