2013 Ford Kuga Bound For Australian International Motor Show

Ford will show off its next-generation Kuga SUV at this month's Australian International Motor Show, ahead of its sales debut in 2013.

Revealed late last year as the US-market Escape, the brand-new Kuga will replace the already-aged model that debuted in Australia earlier this year.

While the current stop-gap Kuga is among the oldest offerings in Ford Australia's line-up, the new Kuga promises to boost the carmaker's appeal in the popular SUV segment. 

Among the new technologies on offer with the new model will be Ford's 177kW/339Nm 2.0 litre EcoBoost engine, already available in Range Rover's Evoque SUV and overseas versions of the midsized Mondeo range.

Overseas engine options for the new Kuga also include a smaller 129kW 1.6 litre EcoBoost mill, and a 125kW updated version of Ford's 2.5 litre four-cylinder engine. 

In Europe, the new Kuga is also offered with 103kW and 120kW versions of Ford's 2.0 litre TDCi diesel. While local specifications are still to be confirmed, we can likely expect one of these options for Australia. 

Transmissions in the 2013 Kuga range include Ford's six-speed automatic transmission, while front- and all-wheel-drive configurations are also offered.