Ford is apparantly thinking about including more high-end options to the model line that we know of as the Eescape and is known as the Kuga to people in Europe. This may include higher-end Vignale version for people overseas, but may also result in an ST version.
Previously the Blue Oval automaker have offered its ST performance line to its mass-market hatchbacks as the Focus ST and the Fiesta ST. However Fusion have been seen not long ago, running in a possible ST variant and now Ford have been reported to be considering a Kuga ST which could enter American showrooms as the Escape ST.
When talking to Auto Express, Ford’s European VP Roelant de Waard agreed that there was the space to bring the Kuga/Escape upmarket. “With the maturing of the SUV segment increasingly we will see all derivatives come to that segment, and yes some are experimenting” with performance crossovers. For instance, Mmini offers the Countryman JCW and Nissan have Nismo and Nismo RS versions of the Juke. At the same time, Fiat s expected to start bringing out an Abarth version of the 500X in the near future and Renaultsport are thought to be heading down the same route.
You’d expect Ford not to stay on the sidelines for long with all these compact hot-utes being released. At the moment the top engine option in the Escape is a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four with 240 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque on tap, therefore an ST version would be required to offer even more whilst also providing bigger brakes, stiffer suspension, more pronounced aero and with a bit of luck, a manual transmission.
An improved Vignale version of the Kuga could also do well in Europe. Ford revealed the Vignale range along with a luxury version of the Mondeo (Fusion) and is due to do the same with an S-Max Mignale in the near future too. Due to a large majority of Kuga buyers in Euroe choosing the top-spec Titanium and Titanium X trim levels, the next sensible step may well be a Vignale version.
