Bloomberg is reporting that the Focus-based Ford Kuga crossover SUV will be built at Ford's Louisville, Kentucky, plant starting in 2011. A weak dollar has evidently made it attractive to shift all production from Ford of Europe's Saarlouis, Germany, plant. As many as 80,000 of these U.S.-built Kugas would be designated for export.
Bloomberg quotes three unnamed sources close to Ford, but Ford itself hasn't confirmed the report. If U.S. Kuga production and sales do come to fruition, that would suit us just fine, though: Our own Chris Walton drove the Kuga in Europe and brought back a positive report on its dynamics.
bankerdanny says:
09:59 PM, 10/22/09
I've always thought that this was a great looking little SUV. I hope this happens.
zoomzoomn says:
04:52 AM, 10/23/09
with production here they could and I think that they should bring this here. Honestly and in spite of it being a bit smaller, it would make a good (and damned attractive) replacement for the aging Escape!
arumage says:
05:38 AM, 10/23/09
@zoomzoomn:
The word is that the Escape and Kuga will merge soon into one global model.
dougtheeng says:
06:00 AM, 10/23/09
Great looking vehicle.
rick8365 says:
06:37 AM, 10/23/09
Good news.
brn says:
08:41 AM, 10/23/09
I'd like it if the cargo capacity were a bit better. The Escape is already limited in that sense and the Kuga is worse.
roadburner says:
07:35 AM, 10/24/09
Too bad about the exchange rate; I'd consider a Kuga that wasn't built using UAW labor...