A lightly camouflaged prototype of the facelifted Ford Kuga / Escape was caught testing in Germany by 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. 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.
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.
