FORD has announced a new Kuga ST-Line version of the popular mid-size sports utility vehicle (SUV) on sale from next month, offering sporty styling inspired by Ford Performance models.

It features powerful and efficient EcoBoost petrol and TDCi diesel engines as well as sports-tuned driving dynamics.

The new Kuga ST-Line will feature among Ford’s expanded SUV range and the most comprehensive Kuga line-up ever, including the sophisticated new Kuga and the upscale Ford Kuga Vignale, as well as the compact EcoSport and large all-new Edge.

New Kuga prices will start from £20,845 and Kuga ST-Line prices from £25,845 for delivery by the end of this year.

Kuga ST-Line delivers bold exterior and interior styling including unique alloy wheels and sport seat designs; powertrains including Ford’s 182PS 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol with Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive (AWD); and a sports chassis with specially tuned suspension and steering.

“With our sporty Kuga ST-Line joining the new Kuga and our upscale Ford Kuga Vignale, Ford will offer a Kuga for every lifestyle,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “We predict sales of 200,000 Ford Kuga, EcoSport and Edge SUVs in Europe this year – up by 200% from 2013.”

Ford’s expanded range of SUVs in Europe meets increasing demand among European car buyers. The percentage of SUVs sold in Europe compared with total car sales has grown from six per cent in 2005 to 23% in 2015 according to JATO.

This is expected to increase to 27% by 2020, according to industry sales analyst IHS, fuelled by growing popularity with an unusually diverse group of buyers, according to a recent Ford survey.

Nearly one in three “modern mums” with young children are considering an SUV for their next car, as are one in four Millennials (17- to 34-years-olds); and one in five “Quintastics” (active and youthful buyers in their fifties), according to the Ford-sponsored survey of 5,000 people in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain who own a car or who intend to buy one in the next 12 months.

New Kuga ST-Line

Kuga ST-Line delivers Ford Performance-inspired styling that includes:

• Upper grille finished in high-gloss Ebony Black; honeycomb design for the lower front grille in high-gloss Ebony Black with unique, matching sports mesh finish on the fog lamp bezels
• Front skid plate, side-skirts, mirror caps, door handles, door cladding, rear roof spoiler and wheel arches in body colour; high-gloss Ebony Black rear skid plate; black roof rails; tinted front and rear lights; and privacy glass
• A black beltline beneath the windows and ST-Line exterior badging on the front fenders
• A choice of unique new 18in high-gloss black alloys wheels with a bright machined surface or 19in alloy wheels in Ebony Black
• Sport seat design in partial leather; contrasting stitching for the seats, gear lever gaiter and steering wheel; special two-layer metallic-effect Deep Space paint on the centre console; and black headliner

The new Kuga ST-Line will offer the sportiest Kuga driving dynamics yet, with chassis enhancements including thicker anti-roll bars and a 10mm lower ride height for reduced body roll and sharper responses.

Stiffer suspension bushes help to reduce unwanted movement in the suspension system, while spring and damper rates are fine-tuned to deliver comfort and performance. Ford’s electronic power assisted steering system also features a revised calibration to deliver a tighter, more responsive and sporty feel.

“Ford ST-Line models are designed to deliver a fun to drive experience, and we placed a strong focus on ensuring that Ford’s first performance-orientated SUV in Europe offered the same driving characteristics as the Fiesta ST-Line, Focus ST-Line and Mondeo ST-Line models”, said Frederick Vrancken, Kuga ST-Line vehicle dynamics engineer, Ford of Europe.

The full range of Kuga powertrains will be offered, including Ford’s 120PS 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine that replaces the outgoing 120PS 2.0-litre TDCi diesel – expected to enhance fuel efficiency to 64.2mpg and deliver up to 115g/km CO_2.

Also available will be a 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine with 150PS and either front-wheel drive or Ford Intelligent AWD, offering from 60.1mpg and 122g/km CO₂; and 180PS with Intelligent AWD homologated to 54.3mpg and 134g/km CO₂.

Ford’s 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine in 120PS or 150PS front-wheel drive form is expected to achieve from 45.6mpg and 143g/km CO₂; and a 182PS Intelligent AWD version from 38.2mpg and 171g/km CO₂.

 In addition to the new Kuga ST-Line, SUV customers in Europe will later this year be able to order the stylish and sophisticated new Kuga that offers technologies and updates to make driving simpler, safer, more enjoyable and more affordable, including Ford’s SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system.

Kuga Vignale

A new upscale Ford Kuga Vignale also will be offered for the first time. The production version of the meticulously crafted SUV recently was revealed in pearlescent-metallic Vignale Milano Grigio exterior colour with Cashmere leather interior trim as part of an exclusive specification.

Expanding ST-Line range

The new Kuga ST-Line joins the Fiesta ST-Line, Focus ST-Line and Mondeo ST-Line as part of Ford’s new range of ST-Line models that offer bold styling, sporty driving dynamics and great value.

Fiesta ST-Line is priced at £15,645, Focus ST-Line from £20,595 and newly announced Mondeo ST-Line, first shown at last month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, is available from £24,745.  These three ST-Lines can be ordered now for early autumn delivery.