Changan Ford to begin production of Kuga in November

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai May 30) - The Ford Kuga will begin rolling off production lines this November, auto.qq.com reported today. The compact crossover is anticipated to make its official market debut next year. It will be sold by Changan Ford and will be available in three variations.

Since its debut in 2008, the Kuga (pictured) has managed to achieve respectable sales. It is expected to replace the current generation Escape in the US. In China, the Kuga is expected to compete directly with the VW Tiguan, Honda CR-V and other compact SUV models. The Kuga's sporty design and comprehensive list of accessories are among its highlights. The SUV's body measures 4.52 m long, 1.83 m wide and 1.68 m tall, with a wheelbase of 2.69 m. The Kuga can seat up to five people.

Under the hood, the Kuga comes with a choice of three Ecoboost engines: two turbocharged 1.6 L options and a turbocharged 2.0 L one. The high performance 1.6 L variant can produce up to 180 hp and 240 Nm of torque. The 2.0 L engine, which is the same one available in the Mondeo, can output up to 240 hp and 340 Nm of torque. The Kuga is driven by either a six-speed SelectShift manumatic transmission or a six-speed manual transmission. The latter will not be available right away.