Ford has announced details of its improved Duratorq turbo-diesel engine which will feature in the 2015 Kuga arriving in January.
FORD CONTINUES ITS game of one-up-man-ship with Toyota with the announcement the 2015 Ford Kuga (arriving in January) will get a new 132kW/400Nm Duratorq turbo-diesel engine when it arrives next year. Ford Australia claims the new upgraded-diesel-powered Kuga will outgrunt and be more fuel efficient that the equivalent model Toyota RAV4.
Compared with the 2015 Kuga diesel, the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel dour-cylinder RAV4 range offers 110kW (at 3600rpm) and 340Nm (at 2000rpm), fuel economy in the RAV4 is a combined 6.5L/100km (automatic) while Ford says its improved Duratorq diesel will return 5.7L/100km (automatic). The new Duratorq engine sees power in the Kuga jump from 120kW to 132kW and torque from 340Nm to 400Nm. The upgraded diesel engine available on Trend and Titanium comes standard with start-stop technology as well as Active Grille Shutters.
“Our upgraded 400 Nm Duratorq engine offers customers the outstanding diesel fuel economy they expect whilst delivering the power and performance they want,” said Ford Australia Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service Graeme Whickman.
The 2015 Ford Kuga will offer:
- Ford SYNC with Emergency Assistance;
- Ford’s ‘intelligent’ All-Wheel Drive system with Torque Vectoring Control;
- Hands-free tailgate (standard on Titanium, optional on Trend);
- DAB+ radio (standard on Trend and Titanium); and
- A digital compass display in the instrument cluster is now also standard across the range (previously Titanium only).
While the 2015 Hyndai Santa Fe will offer a proximity-based automatic tailgate, the Kuga continues (standard on Titanium and cost-optional on Trend) with its “gentle kicking motion under the centre of the rear bumper activates, unlocks and raises the tailgate when the driver has the Ford Kuga key-free fob in their hand, pocket or bag”. Ford says “the system safeguards against accidental openings by being programmed to open with leg motion and the breaking of a miniature electric field – not when a ball rolls under the car or when the vehicle hits a bump on the road”.
Ford is also offering three new colours on its 2015 Kuga range: Ruby Red, Magnetic and Tiger Eye. All three new colours are prestige paint options with a list price of $385.
