Ford has released a sketch of its new mid-sized 4x4, and a name: Kuga

Ford is reviving an old name - but with a new spelling - for its first European 4x4. The Kuga will appear at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, and it's the latest model to feature Ford’s ‘kinetic design’ language. The look has been pioneered by Ford Europe’s executive design director Martin Smith, and it was first seen on the Iosis concept that previewed the current Mondeo.

The Kuga, which was first shown as the - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER at last year's Paris show, has survived to production looking remarkably like the concept at first glance. Out go the suicide doors and high-mounted wing mirrors, but the car looks distinctive. We'll have to see it in the metal to be sure, and no doubt it'll come on smaller wheels.

Although we can't see the interior yet, it will be a lot more restrained than the concept's. Gone are the individual bucket seats and centre console running the length of the car. But taking the new Mondeo as an indication, expect a well built and high-quality dashboard.

The Kuga is based on the Ford Group's C1 platform, which underpins the Focus and Volvo S40/V50, meaning this 4x4 will borrow the Swedes' four-wheel drive system. Conversely, Volvo will also produce the - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER from this platform.

CAR Online was told last September by Gunnar Herrmann, Ford of Europe’s vehicle line director, that the Kuga will be available from launch with 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines. The Focus ST will also lend its five-cylinder turbocharged unit to the Kuga, whilst a hybrid is on the cards.

Herrmann also claimed the Kuga will rewrite the handling rulebook for the segment (he would, wouldn't he?). It'll need to be good, as Ford is very late to the compact 4x4 party. The Japanese (Toyota, - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER, and - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER) have dominated the sector since the launch of the Toyota Rav4 in the early 1990s.

Only now are the European manufacturers catching up. Vauxhall has recently launched the - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER, we've seen official pictures of the - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER, - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER, - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER, and we’ll soon have the - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

The Kuga will be built in Germany and Ford hopes to produce 60,000 cars per year. It will be launched in spring 2008 with prices starting around £18,000. CAR Online will be at the Frankfurt show this autumn, where we'll bring you our first verdict on the Kuga the moment the covers are whisked off on 11 September.

Source: - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Kuga?

"Kuga" means "plague" (the disease) in our language.

Or in one of our dialects "kuga" (with different intonation) also means "what".

So either way we will get either Ford "Plague", or Ford "What".


Btw: bigger official sketch, and a spy pic:

LOL! Kuga...

Just for the record, if properly done (design wise), that thing is going to look nicer than ugly X3. Even in tat sketch looks better.

In Finnish, "kuka" means "who", and many Finns tend to pronounce 'g' (which has very limited use in Finnish) as 'k' anyway, so it'll be Ford "Who" then. (Or, in some grammatical cases, Ford "Flower", but explaining that would require delving into the Finnish case system and consonant gradation which would be far too much for most people to take in. )

What the F word is a "Kuga"?

I like the way Ford camouflage's their concepts. Reminds me of some kind of military outfit. Or did they camo-ed it so that they can test it in the jungle un-noticed?

I guess Kuga = Cougar.

But Ford already uses Cougar name for that coupe. Same thing with Puma.

Jaguar name is already taken.

What about Ford Leopard, Ford Lion, Ford Tiger, Ford Lynx etc ...

Source: - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

More Forda Kuga "Concept" pics & info:

Ford Kuga Concept Revealed Ahead of Frankfurt

Not as attractive as recent Ford designs. The car looks like the designers are trying too hard to fit in as much styling details as possible. It looks like a jacked up Mazda 3 hatch with a Ford nose on it. Not very exciting at all.