See all Motoring NewsFord has confirmed that the updated Kuga crossover is going to get a range-topping, upscale Vignale model.
The new Kuga Vignale is being shown off for the first time in an exclusive paint finish - Vignale Milano Grigio - which is said to be inspired by rose-gold jewellery and which takes two hours of hand-polishing at Ford's Vignale facility in the Valencia factory in Spain.
The Kuga Vignale will go on sale later this year, accompanied by a Vignale version of the new Edge SUV, and those two will join the existing Mondeo Vignale and S-Max Vignale. While there are currently 70 Ford Stores that incorporate a specialist Vignale section across Europe, you will be able to order your Vignale from any Ford dealer.
"Our customers have high aspirations, and they want more from Ford. On some vehicles, our top-of-the-line Titanium specifications make up 70 per cent of all sales," said Jim Farley, Chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe. "With Ford Vignale, we can offer them the absolute best of Ford in terms of luxury and personal service. That's why we are expanding from Ford Mondeo Vignale to our flagship products Edge and S-MAX, with Kuga to come soon after."
In fact, the Kuga currently sees around 80 per cent of its buyers select the Titanium trim, so perhaps there's more scope for getting those buyers to go for Vignale than others. It gets similar interior and exterior treatments to those of the Mondeo Vignale, which include a hexagonal egg-crate grille with chrome surround, chrome for the foglight surrounds, unique paint finishes, quilted leather seats (hand-sewn), aluminium applique for the dashboard and polished 19-inch alloy wheels. You can also get dark-finish alloys and a chrome 'delete' pack if you like.
The Vignale option is available on 1.5 EcoBoost petrol and 2.0-litre TDCI diesel Kugas, with the top-spec engine having 180hp and Ford's Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, which is claimed to be able to transfer power from the front to the rear wheels 20 times faster than you can blink. It doesn't, yet, get the active noise cancelling system available on the Mondeo, S-Max and Edge.
"Our Ford Kuga Vignale speaks directly to the growing trend for luxury SUVs and represents the very best of Ford with premium design, materials and craftsmanship," said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe. "We see great potential to extend the top end of our Ford product range and offer a special experience that meets the growing expectations of our customers."
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