KIG impresses with Kuga

Sheldon Williams, Gleaner Writer

The all-new Ford Kuga Titanium was launched in the courtyard of the Spanish Court Hotel, New Kingston, last Wednesday.

Branded as the flagship of the Ford Kuga range and the Ford's smartest SUV to date, the titanium (silver) was strategically placed beside its predecessor, a lower-end Kuga (white) for enthusiastic guests to make comparisons.

Jeffrey Panton, top executive at Kingston Industrial Garage (KIG), made good on his promise in his welcome address that the evening would be dedicated to the viewing of the SUVs, and not burdened with rhetoric and speeches. After a brief audio-visual presentation on flat screens hoisted on metallic mounts, guests were allowed to view the vehicles which were unveiled by two promotional beauties.

Among its many attributes, the Ford Kuga is being marketed as a smarter choice for shopping. The boot of the SUV comes equipped with a motion sensor located under the rear bumper that can be activated by putting your foot under the rear bumper. Once the key is nearby, the tailgate will open automatically. The flick of a foot can then be repeated for the tail to close.

Sensors in the boot lid can also detect when an object is in its path so it will not hit someone in the head. The boot can also be opened to a specific height that is stored in memory by pressing and holding a button for at least three seconds when the tailgate is at the required level.

Additionally, the Ford Kuga is being put forward as a smarter choice for company car drivers as it is fitted with various fuel-consumption technologies. It boasts a 1.6L GTDi EcoBoost 4-cylinder petrol engine. It has a 6-speed automatic transmission with sport mode, electronic power assisted steering and a towing capacity of up to 1500 kg.

The EcoBoost model has a stop-start capability that stops the engine once the car comes to a halt and restarts once the driver is ready to move again. It also uses brake regeneration technology that aids in charging the battery.

Other impressive exterior attributes include, power opening panorama glass roof, HID headlamps (Bi-xenon) with auto headlamp leveling and headlamp jet wash. The Kuga also comes with roof rails, rear spoiler, dual pipe exhaust stainless steel finish and rear parking sensors.

Built for safety

The Kuga also places emphasis on safety features. It has the optional offering of lane keeping alert that notifies the driver when the SUV is drifting out of its lane. Also optional is blind-spot recognition that detects when another vehicle is approaching but cannot be easily seen by the driver.

Automatic park assist steers the SUV into a parking spot. The Kuga also has a traffic-sign recognition and the speed limit can also be detected. Other features include traction control, hill launch assist, and a rear-view camera.

It is also possible to sync the Kuga with a cellphone to answer calls and read text messages using voice commands. Voice commands can also be used to instruct the SUV to play one's preferred music.