Changan Ford's plans to manufacture Kuga SUV in China gain government approval

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai October 26) - The Ford Kuga has appeared on the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's latest list of new vehicles, the Nanfang Daily reported today. The news signifies that Changan Ford's domestic production plans for the crossover have received official government approval. The Kuga will be the first Ford SUV to be manufactured in China.

Since its debut in 2008, the Kuga (pictured) has managed to achieve respectable sales worldwide. 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 crossover's body measures 4.52 m long, 1.83 m wide and 1.68 m tall, with a wheelbase of 2.69 m. It 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 Ford 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.

Other vehicles on the MIIT list included the new own brand Dongfeng Fengshen and Shanghai GM Chevrolet Sail pure electrics.