2013 Ford Kuga confirmed for Sydney motor show | CarAdvice

Car Advice
  • Home
  • »  2013 Ford Kuga confirmed for Sydney motor show

2013 Ford Kuga confirmed for Sydney motor show

FORD KUGA
By Tim Beissmann
FIND DEALS

The all-new Ford Kuga will make its Australian debut at this month’s 2012 Sydney motor show ahead of its local showroom launch in the first quarter of 2013.

The new mid-size Kuga SUV will join the smaller Ford EcoSport crossover – also making its Australian premiere – on the Ford stand, with the latter scheduled to go on sale in the second half of next year, giving the blue oval brand a full range of SUVs topped by the locally manufactured Territory.

The new Ford Kuga will arrive in Australia just 12 months after Ford Australia belatedly introduced the ageing TE-series Kuga to its line-up as a stopgap between the old Mazda Tribute-based Escape SUV and the all-new model.

While the outgoing Kuga is only available with a single petrol powertrain and two highly specified model variants starting from $38,990, the new range will be significantly broader with petrol and diesel engines and more affordable versions that should drop the starting price below $30,000, helping Ford compete with the likes of the Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4 and the Nissan X-Trail.

A 129kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost powerplant is tipped to be joined by a 120kW 2.0-litre diesel from launch, with six-speed manual and automatic transmissions sending power to either the front or all four wheels.

The new Kuga offers a larger and more versatile interior that boasts high quality materials and soft-touch plastics as well as Ford’s SYNC connectivity system, which has just launched in the compact Focus range.

The current-generation Kuga has largely failed to win over the local market. Just 738 were sold to the end of August, leaving it trailing behind the discontinued Escape on 757 sales.

Along with the EcoSport, the 2013 Ford Kuga will join the Focus ST, FPV GT RSPEC and Ford Performance Racing’s (FPR) Car of the Future prototype on the Sydney motor show stand from October 18.


 

  • Justincrdable

    I would of considered one of these if Ford AU where not so far behind the 8 ball! the current model is a rip off! instead i brought a CX-5 and am loving every second of it. 

    I have owned 5 falcons in the last 10 years but am over the shocking service and stupid prices on some of the vehicles 

    • Simon

      Good to hear your pleased with the CX5. Is it a diesel, and if so have your experienced the diesel in the oil problem? Am thinking of buying one!

      As for the Kuga, you’d have to say that the second half of 2013 for an Oz release is woefully late, even for what is now a catch up to the rest of the market.

      • Justincrdable

        Hi 

        yeah brought the diesel and haven’t had an issue. Drives like a dream! I highly recommend it

        Yeah Ford Oz is shocking with releasing vehicles and advertising them

      • Zaccy16

        Yeah very late, overseas the current kuga has the same 2.0 turbo diesel as the focus and mondeo, they should have brought that here instead of the fuel guzling current models 2.5 turbo

      • davie

         I think the oil issue you describe is related to how these (and other diesels fitted with a DPF) are incorrectly driven.

        If the engine does not run hot/hard enough to burn the soot out of the filter, engine computer will initiate a manual filter regeneration (DPF regen) which injects extra fuel (diesel) into the engine, Not all is burnt and some makes its way into the oil sump.

        Most people who don’t have problems report that they give their diesel car frequent high speed highway runs which ensure prolonged/adequate engine temperature to burn out/clean the filter as designed.

        lots of info (good and bad) about DPF’s on the net – well worth reading.

        • AutoMoto

           I agree, you must have some high speed running. This is from a website how to run diesel engine.

          First 1,000 miles

          Keep rpms below 3,800. Avoid steady rpms. Frequent firm (75%)
          application of power is strongly recomended up to a maximum engine rpm
          of 3,800. Avoid the use of cruise control so that you naturally
          fluctuate the power with your foot.

          DO NOT CHANGE THE ENGINE OIL UNTIL 10,000 MILES!

          1,000-5,000 miles

          Use the full 5,100 rpm power range. THIS DOES NOT MEAN DRIVE AROUND AT
          5100 RPM! This DOES mean to find the rpm range where your cars best
          power resides. Most owners will find that the best engine operating
          range to be between 2000rpm and 4200 rpm for the purpose of
          acceleration. At all costs avoid using full throttle below 2000 rpm the
          ECU will attempt to prevent you from applying full power in this range,
          work with it and don’t request it with your foot.

          Continue to avoid steady rpms and avoid the use of cruise control.
          occasional application of full throttle (100%) is recomended to help
          seat the rings. City driving is ideal for breaking in a TDI due to
          frequent stops and acceleration. DO NOT CHANGE THE ENGINE OIL UNTIL 10,000 MILES!

          5,000-10,000 miles

          Use of the cruise control is ok at this point since most of the initial
          break in has occured. Continue to use occasional full throttle
          accelerations to continue to seat the rings. You will notice the engine
          become slightly louder during this phase due to less friction from the
          engine breaking in (normal for a diesel to become louder under lighter
          loads). If your going on a long drive and you are using the cruise,
          every so often step on the peddle to accelerate up about 20 mph then
          coast back down to your preset speed.

          Your first oil change is due at 10,000 miles DO NOT change it early! Oil
          analysis supports 10,000 miles as being realistic for a first change
          interval. Wear metals will remain at safe levels during this entire
          first interval thanks to the initial run-in and flush at the factory
          before the engine was installed in your car…OK, now you can change
          your oil (AT 10,000 MILES!).

          10,000-60,000

          This is when the rest of the break in occurs. The engine from the
          factory will check out with about 475psi of compression pressure out of
          the crate. It will take at least 60,000 miles to reach the peak pressure
          of 510 psi. For the most part once you get to 10,000 miles your
          compression will be around 490 psi meaning that most of the break in has
          occured.

          60,000-and for the rest of the life of the motor

          The owners have followed the advice above and do not have any oil
          consumption issues. This also means that with the higher pressure the
          engine is more efficient returning optimal fuel economy and reduced
          smoke output. I am still of the opinion that if possible use a LowSAPS
          5w40 instead of the 5w30 oils ie Mobil 1 ESP 5w40 formula M (MB229.51,
          .6 Sulfated Ash)

          • Stumpy

            I really wouldn’t follow this advice. It is obviously not from Mazda, I certainly doubt that Mazda would use miles as the unit,(so it must be from the USA) , particularly when the Mazda service interval is 10,000km, not 10,000 miles (16,000km) If you followed these instructiions, you would certainly run the risk of voiding the warranty because you did not follow the Mazda mandated intervals, wrong spec oil and who knows what else, I would be surprised if many owners have driven their CX5 60,000 miles anywhere yet, they have only been on sale since Feb/March this year.

            AutoMoto,where did you get this from and what car is it referring to? Don’t tell me it is for a CX5

      • ChopstaR87

        The New Kuga is to be released in the first Quarter of 2013… the vehicle that is to be released in the second half of 2013 is the Eco Sport, which is the Baby SUV based on the Fiesta… so for once the delay is not as liong as usual for Ford Aus.

    • Zaccy16

      Yeah they should have brought the current kuga years ago for it to be competative because compared to newer rivals eg. cx5 it has no hope

  • Golf

    2013 model?  New model is already on the US market

  • Joe

    The Kuga has not gone into production yet in Thailand, where all Australian (2013 & onwards) models will come from. This being one of Ford’s “One Ford” world cars, it is built in North America as well, and this version is the one that has recently gone on sale in the US. 

    So for a change, not too bad Ford Australia, as the new Kuga hasn’t even been released in Europe yet!

  • Ck

    hmm, i like this new facelift, its only smart to wait for it. But what would you guys say if i had a deal to get the current Titanium version for 36k drive away?

    My heart is telling me to just go buy now, but my mind is telling me to wait as the new version might have so much more.

    In USA, they get all the gimmicks such as the blind spot mirror sensor and automatic rear boot open/close… I hope the aussies get these features as well. Oh and i hope we get the HID versions of the headlights, cause the current Kuga don’t have them, and can’t be bought as options.

    So what are your thoughts? Wait or settle for the current titanium model for 36k?

  • peter

    I’ll be trading in
    my old 2009 Escape at the end of 2013 for this.

    I’ve done 300,000+
    in 2 Escapes and not had one issue.

    • Zaccy16

      That’s good old Mazda reliability for u