The Ford Kuga ST-Line will go on sale in September priced from £25,845 with Ford Performance-inspired styling and mildly altered driving dynamics as part of the new facelifted range.
Changes over the standard Kuga, which starts at £20,845, include new 18in or 19in alloys and sports seats, as well as chassis tweaks with tuned suspension and steering, thicker anti-roll bars and a 10mm lower ride height.
The chassis has stiffer suspension bushes from the Ford Focus, and the spring and damper rates have been altered to allow for "comfort and performance" according to Ford. Cosmetic changes include a new finish for the grille, black roof rails and privacy glass, as well as tinted front and rear lights.
Ford’s all-wheel-drive system is available, and all engines from its standard line-up will be carried over.
ST-Line versions of the Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo are already available, and a range-topping Ford Kuga Vignale model will also be offered later in the year. The new spec-level sits in the mid to top-end of the Kuga range below Titanium and Vignale.
Ford expects its SUV sales in Europe to grow by 2020. Currently, SUV sales account for 23% of total passenger car sales, but it’s aiming for 27% by the end of the decade.
It also predicts 200,000 sales of Ford Kuga, Ecosport and Edge in Europe in 2016; an increase of 200% from 2013.
