Ford revealed the new 2013 Ford Kuga at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The new car features hands-free kick-activated tailgate technology allowing owners to close or open the tailgate by simply waving a foot under the rear bumper. This is very useful feature for those carrying groceries or other stuff to load into the car.

Ford’s advanced voice control, device integration and connectivity interface SYNC will also be available from launch. It will include Emergency Assistance, which upon detecting airbag deployment or activation of the emergency fuel shut-off within the car, uses the on board GPS locator and Bluetooth-paired device to set up an emergency call and provide GPS co-ordinates, in the local language, for the emergency response.

A range of driver assistance technologies including the parallel parking aid Active Park Assist, and sensor-based Blind Spot Information System, which indicates with a warning light in the door mirror that a potential hazard is in the driver’s blind spot, will also be available.

The new Ford Kuga offers 82-litres more boot-space than the current model, while the rear seats fold flat at the touch of a button.

The smart Ford Kuga AWD system pre-emptively reassesses conditions 20 times faster than it takes to blink an eye, readjusting the AWD power split to give the driver the best blend of handling and traction. Dynamics and cornering control are improved by the introduction of the Torque Vectoring Control (TVC) system first found on the new Focus.

Engines available from launch include 140PS and 163PS versions of Ford’s popular 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine, with Ford Powershift automatic gearbox an option. Kuga will also offer the 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, already available in Ford Focus and C-MAX and impressing with its strong torque delivery and high fuel efficiency. The new Ford Kuga will go on sale in late 2012