A lightly camouflaged prototype of the facelifted Ford Kuga / Escape was caught testing in Germany by our spy photographers, showing its redesigned parts next to the current model. This is the second appearance of the model following its spy debut in October 2021.
The new prototypes were spied driving on public roads close to the Nürburgring, closely followed by an example of the current Ford Kuga ST-Line, likely for benchmarking. Comparing the two versions we can see that the front end is fully redesigned, with new and more aggressive headlights, a lower bonnet line, a larger grille that is now incorporating the Ford logo, and different bumper intakes.
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The profile hasn’t changed at all. The same applies to the rear end which looks identical to the current model despite being covered in camouflage. The only exception is the new and fully uncovered taillight graphics for a more modern look.
Interior updates will most likely include the addition of the larger 13.2-inch touchscreen for the SYNC4 infotainment just like in the facelifted Ford Focus, updated graphics on the digital instrument cluster, and new trim options. The ongoing chip shortage has made it hard for the automaker to satisfy customer demand in terms of tech-related features, but we expect the facelifted SUV to come equipped with Ford’s entire suite of ADAS.
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The SUV’s mid-lifecycle facelift will likely include minor updates in the engine range since the Kuga is already offered with a variety of electrified options using Ford’s mild-hybrid, full-hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The latter is a growing trend amongst C-SUVs in Europe where almost all automakers offer PHEV variants of their models.
The third-generation Kuga, which is the same as the fourth-generation Escape in the US, was introduced in 2019. Three years later Ford is almost ready to unveil the facelifted version that is expected to debut in the second half of 2022 as a 2023 model.
