Ford continues to work on a new generation of the compact Kuga crossover, known in the North American market as the Escape. Although production of the model in the US ended last December, preparations for the successor's release are already underway in Europe. The new Kuga may receive a hybrid powertrain and will be created with the participation of Chinese Geely, with whom Ford is developing joint production at its plant in Valencia, Spain.
At the same time, the company emphasizes that the future model will not be a simple copy of a Geely vehicle.
Ford will get a completely unique body. This is not just a badge engineering. We are creating a vehicle with our own engineering development that will fully match the character of the Ford brand.
The technical basis for the new Kuga could be the Geely EX5 platform. Its peculiarity lies in supporting several types of powertrains – hybrid and all-electric. This approach will allow Ford to bring the new model to market faster and reduce development costs.
The question of the model's return to the US remains open. If the new Kuga indeed uses the Geely platform, its entry into the American market could be complicated by trade restrictions and existing tariffs on vehicles of Chinese origin. Furthermore, Ford management has repeatedly stated that it does not plan to sell Chinese-developed vehicles in the US.
According to preliminary information, the global premiere of the new Ford Kuga may take place no earlier than 2029. The company has not yet officially confirmed the model's development.
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