by Cameron Bird
American carmaker Ford showed off its brand new 2013 Kuga at the Geneva Motor Show this week. Details are a little scarce at this point but the new towcar will feature a more defined look in the front, including a sculpted nose, and will also be slightly longer and more spacious than the already popular 2012 model.
The new Kuga is expected to have a starting price of £22,000 when it goes on sale in early 2013, which is around £400 more than the current version.
For that price, the new model will not only improve on features that already make it a popular towcar for caravan owners, but also add several new features as well.
The most innovative of the new technology is a hands-free automatic tailgate, which can be opened and closed easily by gently kicking your foot under the rear bumper.
The Kuga will also come equipped with Emergency Assistance, which automatically dials 999 and gives GPS coordinates to the emergency services when airbags are released or there is an emergency fuel shut off inside the car.
This SUV will also be easier to handle than previous models, as the AWD system in the car is now able to reassess conditions 20 times faster than it takes to blink an eye, giving caravan owners the safety and stability they need to tow in poor weather.
Another very useful feature for caravan owners is the Blind Spot Information System which indicates if a potential hazard is in your blind spot.
Towing Power
Along with all the new technological gadgets, the Ford Kuga is no slouch in the power department either, . The Kuga will offer two versions of Ford’s popular 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine, one having about 138bhp, and the more powerful model carrying about 161bhp.
Ford will also offer a smaller 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine for the Kuga, which is already available in the Ford Focus and C-MAX, and has a strong torque delivery and high fuel efficiency. The new Torque Vectoring Control system will also add to the stability.
The kerbweight of the new Kuga is expected to check in at around 1,670kgs, which is slightly higher than the 1,613kgs the most recent model carried.
The new Kuga is yet to release its official towing limit but going by the Caravan Club’s 85 per cent rule, it will be able tow a caravan that weighs up to 1,420kgs, making it a good match for the new Elddis Crusader Hurricane.
The Kuga will face competition from other compact crossovers including the Audi Q5, Range Rover Evoque, and the recently launched SsangYong Korando. The innovative technologies Ford has installed on the Kuga, as well as its comparable size to its competition, should make the new Kuga an attractive option for caravan owners when it arrives in early 2013.
