• Sophisticated new exterior design gives the Kuga a sporty and modern appearance while the redesigned interior makes for a more intuitive and comfortable driving experience
• Advanced technology, including enhanced versions of Active Park Assist and Active City Stop, make the new Kuga one of the smartest vehicles in its class
• Will be available with Ford’s improved SYNC 3 connectivity system, offering Chinese handwriting recognition and enhanced performance
• Available with either a new 2.0-liter or 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine, the new Kuga offers drivers power when they want it and efficiency when they need it

Ford today debuted the new Ford Kuga in Asia Pacific at its Innovation for Millions event ahead of Auto China 2016, bringing a refined, sporty new design and advanced new technologies to one of China’s favorite SUVs.

The sophisticated new Kuga features a host of technological advancements and updates to help make driving simpler, safer and more enjoyable. These include innovative driver assistance technologies like enhanced Active Park Assist and Active City Stop, a comfortable and spacious new interior, and SYNC 3, the latest generation of Ford’s in-car infotainment system.

“The Ford Kuga is already one of the most popular vehicles in China, meeting and exceeding customer needs with advanced technology and the flexibility and capability of an SUV,” said Marin Burela, president, Changan Ford Automobile Co. “With the new Kuga, we are building on that popularity and offering our customers and their families a host of new and cutting-edge features that will help them unlock life’s possibilities.”

Stylish new design
The exterior of the new Kuga represents the bold new face of Ford, with a sporty design that strongly links it to Ford’s family of SUVs. A large upper trapezoidal grille and a lower grille are flanked by sleek new daytime running LED headlamps and stylish fog lamps.

Moving to the rear of the vehicle, the new taillights have been given a modern redesign to complete a sophisticated new look. Thanks to the Hands-Free Liftgate, customers can easily open or close the tailgate by using a kicking motion beneath the rear bumper. This technology helps parents easily access the cargo area when returning to their vehicle with shopping bags or children.

Inside, the new Kuga offers a more comfortable and spacious experience for all occupants. The instrument panel has been revised and reorganized for a modern design that allows drivers to effortlessly control the vehicle’s features.

The steering wheel and air-conditioning controls are even more intuitive and easy to navigate, featuring fewer and more easily identifiable buttons, and a heated leather steering wheel helps keep drivers’ hands warm in cold weather.

A new electronic parking brake is effortless to apply and replaces the traditional hand brake in the center console. This increases the feeling of spaciousness in the cabin and also frees up room for improved storage space. A new door lock indicator enables drivers to check whether all the doors are locked at a glance.

SYNC 3
Highlighting how Ford is embracing advanced technology as part of its expanded business model into both an auto and a mobility company, the new Kuga will feature the latest generation of Ford’s in-car connectivity system, SYNC 3. SYNC 3 will allow drivers to control their entertainment, climate settings and navigation, as well as their connected smartphone, all with simple and conversational voice commands.

SYNC 3 offers much faster performance than previous generations and features simpler voice commands. Simply by pushing a button and saying, “I need a coffee,” “I need petrol” or “I need to park,” drivers can locate nearby cafés, petrol stations or car parks, and can also easily find train stations, airports and hotels. The 8-inch touchscreen features larger buttons that are easier to operate, and is used in the same way as a smartphone, including pinch and swipe gestures.

Customers will also be able to handwrite an address on the navigation screen. The system recognizes thousands of Chinese characters and has an autocomplete function that makes searching for an address quick and convenient.

Customers with iPhones can use SYNC 3 to connect to Apple CarPlay, the smarter, safer way to use your iPhone in the car. This allows drivers to make phone calls, access their music, send and receive messages, get directions and more, while they stay focused on the road. SYNC 3 also delivers SYNC AppLink, enabling voice-activation of a range of smartphone apps, including Qingting FM, Ximalaya, QQ Music, Kaola FM, and CNR

Sophisticated technology
The new Kuga is a modern, smart SUV that makes driving and parking simpler thanks to a range of sophisticated Ford driver assistance technologies.

Smart new features available in the Kuga include an enhanced version of Ford’s semi-autonomous Active Park Assist technology. This technology now includes additional ultrasonic sensors to enable Perpendicular Park Assist. At the push of a button, drivers can locate parking spaces between and alongside other cars, as well as parallel to the road. The Kuga’s system will steer the vehicle into a spot while the driver controls the accelerator and brake.

Active City Stop now operates at speeds of up to 50 km/h, up from 30 km/h in previous versions. This collision avoidance system helps to mitigate low-speed collisions, such as those common in heavy traffic or in busy cities. A windshield-mounted sensor can detect stationary objects and braking, slower-moving or stationary vehicles in front, and alerts the driver with a warning light on the windshield if a collision is likely. If the driver fails to take action immediately, the system pre-charges the brakes to maximize their effectiveness when applied, and can even apply the brakes automatically if no action is taken at all. 

A variety of other driver assistance technologies also help to make the driving experience more convenient in the new Kuga:

• Park-Out Assist is part of the new, enhanced version of Active Park Assist and helps drivers as they exit a parallel parking space. After the driver has chosen to exit the space from either the left or right hand side, the system operates the steering to guide the vehicle out while the driver operates the accelerator and brake
• Cross Traffic Alert warns drivers reversing out of a parking space of vehicles that may soon be crossing behind them. The upgraded system operates with radar at a range of up to 40 meters, and issues a series of three warning signals if it detects a vehicle approaching from either side
• The latest generation of Ford MyKey technology allows new Kuga owners to program a key for younger drivers that can inhibit incoming phone calls; restrict top speed; prevent deactivation of driver assistance and safety features; reduce the stereo’s maximum volume, and disable the stereo altogether if occupants are not using safety belts. The enhanced MyKey system offers a greater number of choices in both the speed limiter and speed minder settings
• Ford’s new Adaptive Front Lighting System monitors ambient light conditions and automatically optimizes visibility. It adjusts the beam angle of the Kuga’s new bi‑xenon headlights to one of seven settings depending on the vehicle’s speed, steering angle and distance to an object in front

These new and upgraded features build upon the Kuga’s existing advanced driver assistance technologies, such as Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Aid, Blind Spot Information System, and Adaptive Cruise Control.

Powerful, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive
Kuga customers will be able to choose between two powerful and efficient EcoBoost engines, which offer significant fuel-economy and emissions improvements over conventional petrol engines, while giving drivers the power they need.

For maximum performance, customers can choose a new 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, which provides outstanding power and torque. For customers seeking maximum fuel efficiency, a 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine is also available.

To further improve fuel efficiency, the Kuga is available with Auto Start-Stop technology, which saves fuel by switching the engine off when the vehicle idles, such as at a traffic light. The system seamlessly restarts the engine when the driver releases the brake pedal. Other advanced technologies also help to enhance the driving experience:

• Intelligent All-Wheel Drive adjusts the amount of torque sent to each wheel to optimize handling and traction, especially in slippery conditions
• Curve Control mitigates against loss of control by automatically applying brakes and reducing torque if a driver enters a bend too quickly
• Torque Vectoring Control applies a small amount of braking to inside wheels to enhance traction and stability when cornering

The new Ford Kuga will be available later this year. It will be built at one of Changan Ford’s state-of-the-art manufacturing plants in Chongqing.