End of the Kuga is nigh? Inc info on next gen Kuga

 

Ford - "Ford preliminary data show that a production vehicle based around the Vertrek concept.... "

 

Auto Express -"and is only a concept for now "

 

I wouldn't make the assumption that *anything* will appear before the end of 2012.

was quite interesting. Not having experienced the Escape, I was surprised to see how it measures up, externally, to the Kuga, and how similar they are. It's boxy 'traditional' SUV styling make it look much bigger than the Kuga in photos, I think. 

It's clear that the Vertrek concept is very much in the same ball park. While a concept, Ford have stated in their press release that this is 'very close' to how the Kuga/Escape replacement will look, much in the same way I guess, that the Iosis Max became the new C-Max. I am ignoring the concept interior (although it would be nice to think it would be something like this), it will look like Focus or C-max, almost for sure.

Have been looking around for the last few days at a replacement for my 18 month old Kuga. Volvo XC60 looks interesting but it's very expensive. So ended up back at Ford would you believe looking at the new C-Max, interior plastics quality is superior to Kuga's hard soul less plastic, Titanium has an all cloth seat trim?  dash is more fighter jet, than Fireball XL5, curiously with the EU DRL directive rumoured to come into force in 2011,  I was surprised that unlike say the new S-Max, the all new C-Max has no DRL's?  but appears taller and longer than the previous C-Max. I enquired about Saarlouis factory delivery, 6-8 weeks (March) However got a call this evening to say whoops!! those build times quoted were not based on any vehicle with a 2 .0 Duratec diesel engine or the Powershift gearbox, so build times would extend considerably to May and possibly beyond, apparently Ford cannot make these units fast enough, well clearly,  they must try much harder then?  sadly there lies a problem because if Ford cannot make them fast enough then a C-Max or another Kuga to replace "Avalon" may not now,  be an option, and now that I have slated almost every other SUV/Crossover,  it leaves me with what exactly ?  WHAT? I hear you say, The Skoda Roomster   . . . . get outa here. The boss (wifey) likes the collision avoidance by braking wizardry onboard the XC60, until she read about Clarkson's mishap, and the Youtube video of the Volvo reduced to what basically was a ton and a half paperweight.