The plug-in hybrid technology of the Ford Kuga combines a battery-powered electric motor with a 2.5-litre petrol engine. The combination produces a total output of 225 horsepower and guarantees – according to the manufacturer – reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of 26 grams of CO2 per kilometre. That, in brief. The other interesting feature of the most virtuous model (in terms of efficiency, consumption and emissions) in the Kuga range is the ability to choose between four electric driving modes, including one that allows the driver to select purely electric power, petrol power, or a combination of both, with a driving range of up to 56 kilometres in the silence of exclusively electric power. In short, the plug-in hybrid version of Ford's SUV represents the most advanced step in the range, which also includes hybrid and mild hybrid versions. "A single version would not meet the needs of all customers, so we developed a powertrain strategy for the new Kuga to help them find the best solution for them, while at the same time making it easier for them to transition to an electrified driving style," said Joerg Beyer, executive director, engineering, Ford Europe.

Ford Kuga, how the plug-in hybrid system works

Let us look in greater detail at what makes up the hybrid technology Ford has chosen for the Kuga plug-in hybrid. As mentioned, the hybrid system in this case consists of a 2.5-litre four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle petrol engine, a second electric motor and a 14.4 kWh lithium-ion battery. In addition to its considerable power output and an electric-mode range comparable to that of other hybrid models on the market, the Ford Kuga offers particularly low declared fuel consumption of 1.2 litres per 100 kilometres. The battery of the hybrid system, as well as being charged during normal use of the car (under braking or on downhill stretches), can be charged in approximately 6 hours from a standard domestic power socket.

Different modes to improve efficiency

The Ford Kuga plug-in hybrid, in addition to offering the ability to choose when and how to use the battery through four electric modes – EV Auto, EV Now, EV Later and EV Charge – thereby making the best use of the petrol engine's power and the assistance provided by the electric motor, and managing recovered energy to reduce fuel consumption – also offers several driving modes. The technology is called Drive mode and allows the driver to set parameters for the accelerator, steering and traction control, as well as the responsiveness of the automatic gearbox, to tailor performance to different driving styles and routes. Starting from Normal mode, the driver can move to Sport for maximum performance, to Eco for the greatest benefits in terms of reduced consumption and emissions, and finally to Slippery mode, which is particularly useful in winter on low-grip surfaces, while Snow/Sand assists driving on soft and deformable surfaces such as snow or sand.

Ford Kuga plug-in hybrid, three life-saving technologies

The availability of a wide range of driver assistance technologies is aimed at making the on-road experience more comfortable, less stressful and safer. Among the most innovative systems is certainly the Lane-keeping system enhanced by the blind spot assist function; in practice, if the driver decides to change lane but the system detects a vehicle in the blind spot that could lead to a potential collision, the steering wheel transmits a counterforce to discourage the incorrect manoeuvre. Another very interesting technology featured on the Ford Kuga is Local hazard information, capable of alerting the driver in real time to any dangerous situations on the road ahead before they come into view – think of a sudden queue, or an accident. Even severe weather events can be predicted. The last technology we highlight (among the many on board the Ford Kuga) is called Pre-collision assist, which is able to detect pedestrians and cyclists on the road and mitigate, or avoid, a possible collision.

The radar, the "magic" display and hands-free parking

But the Ford Kuga plug-in hybrid offers many other features designed to make driving not only safer but also more relaxing. The adaptive cruise control, thanks to a radar, automatically maintains the set speed and a safe distance from vehicles ahead, reducing stress on long journeys while keeping the car in lane and monitoring road signs. Another feature that helps drivers reduce potential distractions is the Head-up display, a system that projects information such as speed, traffic, navigation and multimedia content onto the windscreen via a retractable polycarbonate screen. Finally, also dedicated to comfort (and the less hands-on driver) is Active park assist: the system first finds a suitable parking space and then automatically carries out all the necessary manoeuvres (including steering, accelerating and braking) without any input from the driver.