| Motors
Sporty new Ford Kuga ST-Line
adds fourth model to ST-Line range
Ford has announced a new Kuga ST-Line version of the popular mid-size sports utility vehicle (SUV) on sale later this
year, offering sporty styling inspired by Ford Performance models, alongside powerful and efficient EcoBoost petrol
and TDCi diesel engines as well as sports-tuned driving dynamics.
he new Kuga ST-Line will
feature among Ford’s
expanded SUV range and the
most comprehensive Kuga lineup ever, including the
sophisticated new Kuga and
the upscale Ford Kuga Vignale, as well as the
compact EcoSport and large all-new Edge.
New Kuga prices will start from £20,845 and
Kuga ST-Line prices from £25,845 for delivery
by the end of this year.
Kuga ST-Line delivers bold exterior and
interior styling including unique alloy wheels
and sport seat designs; powertrains including
Ford’s 182PS 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol with
T
Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive (AWD); and a
sports chassis with specially tuned suspension
and steering.
“With our sporty Kuga ST-Line joining the
new Kuga and our upscale Ford Kuga Vignale,
Ford will offer a Kuga for every lifestyle,” said
Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing,
Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “We predict
sales of 200,000 Ford Kuga, EcoSport and
Edge SUVs in Europe this year – up by 200 per
cent from 2013.”
Ford’s expanded range of SUVs in Europe
meets increasing demand among European
car buyers. The percentage of SUVs sold in
Europe compared with total car sales has
grown from six per cent in 2005 to 23 per cent
in 2015. This is expected to increase to
27 per cent by 2020, according to industry
sales analyst IHS, fuelled by growing popularity
with an unusually diverse group of buyers,
according to a recent Ford survey.
Nearly one in three “Modern Mums”,
mothers with young kids, are considering an
SUV for their next car, as are one in four
Millennials (17- to 34-years-olds); and one in
five “Quintastics” (active and youthful buyers in
their fifties), according to the Ford-sponsored
survey of 5,000 people in the UK, France,
Germany, Italy and Spain who own a car or
who intend to buy one in the next 12 months.
Research reveals buyers dumping diesel cars
Car buyers are turning their backs on diesel powered cars in favour of petrol models according to new research
by Whatcar.com.
he changing mood among
buyers is reflected in the latest
What Car? Intelligence survey
results, which indicate that
more than seven in 10 would
be likely or very likely to choose
a petrol car, compared with the four in 10 who
would consider buying a diesel.
With engine performance and good fuel
consumption being rated as the two most
important factors for car buyers, the shift from
diesel to petrol is more about running costs
than concerns about the environment, following
the diesel emissions scandal last year.
In recent years, diesel car sales have
T
58 | Farming Monthly | August 2016
matched or exceeded petrol sales; in 2014 and
2015, diesel models represented 50.1% and
48.5% market share respectively.
More than 84% of car buyers surveyed are
also worried about possible legislation changes
that may affect the cost of ownership of diesel
cars in the future, such as the retail price, fuel
duty and vehicle road tax.
The research also shows hybrids and
electric cars are even less tempting for
prospective car buyers, with between 12% and
32% of buyers considering diesel or petrol
hybrid vehicles; more than 48% of buyers
would be very unlikely to consider an electric
car, backing up the fact buyers are less
concerned about being green.
What Car? editor, Steve Huntingford, said:
“There appears to have been a dramatic shift in
the petrol and diesel sales seesaw. In the
2000s, legislation changes resulted in a diesel
boom but after last year’s revelations and the
emergence of extremely efficient downsized
petrol engines, the tide has now turned.
“Buyers appear not to be overly concerned
about environmental factors. Car buying is
usually determined by the financial aspects of
the purchase; if buyers fear a diesel crackdown
and petrol engines are cheaper to buy while
being almost as efficient, it’s easy to
understand the changes taking place.”
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk