We covered the Ford Iosis X concept car at last year's Paris Auto Show (click here for story) and predicted that Ford would produce a small crossover within the next eighteen months. Pardon us for the back-patting, but we were right - the Ford Kuga is exactly that crossover.
Based on the Focus platform, the Kuga will go on sale in Europe in the first half of 2008. Powered by a 2.0-liter, 136-hp turbodiesel and six-speed manual transmission, the Kuga will be available with either front- or four-wheel drive.
The Kuga's 'kinetic design' styling isn't quite as aggressive as it was in the Iosis X concept, and the roofline has been raised so that five people can fit in the crossover comfortably. And they'll have quite a view out with the large glass panorama roof, which will be an option.
Don't get too excited, since Ford has no immediate plans to bring the Kuga to North America.