Ford Kuga based SUV under development, will rival the Hyundai Creta and Jeep Compass.
Ford is reportedly developing an SUV based on the Ford Kuga which is also known as the Escape in some other markets. Now essentially, the Kuga is a premium 5-seater SUV and a Hyundai Tucson rival. Positioned below the Endeavour, the urban SUV would not quite strike a chord in the Indian market because of the quantum of the segment. We all know that apart from the EcoSport, all other Ford cars do not sell like, say a Maruti or a Hyundai car does. The American automaker would not want another slow-mover in its line-up.
The Hyundai Creta and Jeep Compass have made every other auto manufacturer sit up and take notice. Ford, is no different and this is where the Kuga based SUV comes into the picture. The Creta averages around 8000 units a month while the Compass is doing about 2000-3000 units which makes it a 10,000-11,000 unit segment. With the Kuga based SUV, Ford would certainly want to breach this segment and grab a considerable market share.
It is highly likely that the SUV could be named as Escape as it is in line with the names of other SUVs in Ford’s line-up, EcoSport and Endeavour. The five-seater SUV is likely to measure somewhere around 4300-4400 mm in length and is likely to be feature loaded, considering that the Creta also sells in high numbers because it is brimmed with features. It is not only Ford who’s joining the party, there will be competition from the likes of Mahindra, Tata Motors and even Maruti Suzuki later this decade.
Ford Kuga
– Ford working on a Kuga based SUV
– Will rival the Hyundai Creta and Jeep Compass
– Will be a 5-seater and is likely to be named Escape
– India launch likely in the second half of 2018
Source – Carwale.com
