A mini BMW x5 for the masses! Seriously though, it looks nice.

If it looks nice, it must not be coming to the US

Just what I was thinking, frank. That’s a pretty nice vehicle there…have to go over there to get one

Sharp, sharp, sharp! This would make a great Mercury, as would most of Ford of Europe’s product portfolio. It’s a shame Mercury has to continue with badge engineered Ford clone vehicles when great brand defining vehicles are just an ocean away. What a missed opportunity.

The only complaint I have is with the model name. It really doesn’t fit with the way cool design.

Not bringing stuff like this over is why Ford will lose my business next time around.

There will be many posts lamenting the US not getting this fine ride, and they will all be right. It has a clean fresh design, but does not need such cartoonish wheels. If Ford insists on keeping Mercury, then this would make a nice Mariner, and would leave Ford to sell the more traditional blocky Escape. Nice synergy!

Ford just entered the automotive knife fight with a .357 Magnum.

They are making some serious moves. The kinetic design theme will make it’s way over here, hopefully just not too late, which is probable.

LOL Is Ford trying to go out of business ? Why isn’t this in the States ?????

Looks good – pretty close to the concept too! That’s what we like to see, keep it close to the concept! However, as everyone else has mentioned – they’re probably not bringing it to the states – BOO! When will they realize a lot of Americans like European styling?

–GM_Sales, I’m sure there’s a pile a manure that is sitting in your lot that people are beating down the door to get to over this. Just thought I’d save you the post.

jkt

I’m getting tired of the same talk over and over. Yes, it’s attractive, yes it should be here, blah, blah, blah.

Then find a news site that doesn’t have a comment feature

I’m from Europe and I like the styling! Does anyone know if the car is based on the C-Max platform to cut costs? The dash seems to be identical…

Perhaps it’s me, but does it look like RAV-4? Even the console is identical. Very creative.

Dude, that interior looks NOTHING like the RAV.

Nor does the exterior.

wow this looks really good im guessing that it probably wont be available to the US market.

Diesel option? EGGcellent news! Too bad it’s only available in Europe.

I see some subaru tribeca in there. I’m going with the majority. if this doesn’t make it Stateside, it should cost some ford Sessel-pupser his job.

Kuga Luga Doopity Do
This could be a profit for yo
Kuga Luga Doopity day
Don’t let this nopportunity escape

LMFAO Ford is SOOO thick. It’s obvious that they have a pro-Toyota executive running the show.

I think it’s gotten to the point where they are INTENTIONALLY trying to give away their US market share to the competition. It’s the only thing that can explain why they’re not bringing over these modern looking vehicles to their most troubled market.

Nice all around except for that steering wheel

See how much better Ford does in Europe? This would kill the Saturn VUE here and possibly the Toyota RAV4 if people are willing to consider a non-import.

This is so frustrating – get this thing to the states to replace the Escape NOW!

The US is getting a version of this. It’s just not know what changes will be done. Ford announced the Euro Focus is coming over and since this is built off that platform it would make sense that it could be the next escape.

“The US is getting a version of this. It’s just not know what changes will be done”

Don’t worry, we know exactly what it will look like.

1. Ford will take the smooth, flowing console and dash and aggressive trim, replace it with boxy design and call it an award winning interior.

2. They will take the sharp looking grille and convert it to that hideous and uninspired 3-bar design.

3. The really unique and sharp looking styling of the headlights will be replaced with strange squares that sort of round over a bit at the top.

4. They’ll redesign the exterior to look like this:
http://static.flickr.com/111/272306761_27befd7611.jpg

Remember that many years ago (think 1981) the Euro Escort was a tight, zippy, throwable little bugger, very cool, while the Stateside Escort was a slow, plasticky slug that staggered around under the weight of layers of cladding and chrome designed to make it look bigger.

There is no end to the damage Ford can do to a Euro platform to “make it ready” for the US market.

I like the Kuga just as it looks; therefore I will never be able to buy one in the US. I dislike the plodding, heavy design language in US Fords and will never buy one; therefore they are all that are available to me.

Typical ****ing Ford, make a decent product and only sell it in Europe. Here’s a ****ing clue – stop making different vehicles for the US. Or at the very least bring over all of your Euro models and sell them as Mercurys. If the exchange rate is too high to bring them over, here’s another clue, ****ing build them over here. So just stop pussy-footing around and kill your American design teams. This is a bigger boner than letting Buick dealers decide between a fwd car and a rwd car. I’d just like to know who the hell Ford NA is catering to?

mondeo headlighs…lookin good

btw thats the only ford i’d buy

Looks like VW interior and Mazda exterior design cues. Nice looking. Ford would have to be brain dead not to sell it in the US.

ford needs me to sift through their designs…I will make them draw up a thousand designs b4 I pick my top 10 vehicles and I GUARANTEE I’ll turn that ****ty company into a gold mine. First I would get rid of that HIDEOUS blue oval around Ford-makes the overall car look tacky and cheap to begin with. But that’s just the beginning and seriously designs like this in the USA will make them a SOLID company….of course they have to focus on more things but I think exterior is #1 priority right now. What ford needs is vehicles people won’t be ashamed of!

I’m with you guys—-this IS a nice looking vehicle, and I think it would make a great kid brother to the Edge. The surface treatment is certainly different on the two vehicles, but the overall proportions look quite similar.

I sure do hope Ford is planning on selling it in the U.S., but something tells me they’re not, which is a shame. Judging by the product they choose to sell here, they don’t give us American consumers much credit for appreciating good design.

Do some reading! Ford is moving to 1 global design and that will most likely be the Kinetic design theme since it has established itself well. They’re gonna start with the Focus and S-max and move from there with the new Fiesta. Once again Mullaly isn’t an idiot, he knows everyone wants the Falcon, Mondeo, etc. He just has to find a possible route to do it considering how expensive it can be to import these things. Just look how the next Falcon was developed for left hand drive this time around when it never was before. They’ll come, it’s just a matter of time and Ford has time, they’re not gonna dissapear.

Term: the Falcon should be sold in a RHD version here

“Do some reading! Ford is moving to 1 global design and that will most likely be the Kinetic design theme since it has established itself well”

It flipping better be. The Kinetic theme (which is what Europe gets) is top notch.

http://www.pistonheads.com/astonmartin/default.asp?storyId=11771

I would buy one of those without even thinking. I would just hand over my cash without even taking it for a test drive. If Ford can roll that out, they’ll soar WAY ahead of GM in terms of design renaissance.

Meanwhile Toyota and Honda will be left flapping in the wind.

Oh yeah Ford, if you do grow some hair on your wrinkly old nads and bring this here, please remember to offer a manual tranny with it. Some of us below the age of 90 like to shift for ourselves, and still even remember how to.

o dont worry, ford will still be around, just not in the states lol if they keep up the way they are doing, they are fubared. i live in germany right know and drive a big ol super duty, but i am getting the new mondeo when i can. well, after i get back from Iraq lol. Ford of Europe and Ford of North America is like the difference of night and day.

^Exactly and it’s Ford of Europe that’s carrying Ford of NA right now.

Jackjim are you saying f*** it and just bring the Falcon over in RHD? I could deal with that, I just don’t know how coordinated my left hand is.

That’s exactly what I’m saying

boy, i just hope mulally does the right things the next few years because the nest 2-3 years will be very pivitol for ford

AgmLauncher that was a great post!

This thing would kick the crap out of the Honda CRV in the U.S. But Ford is too dumb to sell it in the U.S., so Honda wins again. Alan needs to get his **** together quickly.

Don’t worry corvette lover he’s doing it!

OK, want to start a letter writing campaign to the *brain dead* Ford U.S. market?
I’ve started writing a letter a week so far, let’s lay it on ‘em!
I’d love to see the Kuga, the Australian Courier, Falcon, Focus, Mondeo, and the new ‘09 Ranger come on over! Ford would knock ‘em all outta the water!
Here you go, folks!!

Ford Motor Company
Customer Relationship Center
P.O.Box 6248
Dearborn, Michigan 48126
1-800-392-3673(FORD)
TDD for the hearing impaired:1-800-232-5952
Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM local time