Ford to drop Kuga name and replace it with Escape

Blue_XR · 17-10-2016, 06:04 PM

Personally I think this is a good move. Not that I had an issue with the Kuga name.

http://www.caradvice.com.au/490467/2...-in-australia/

commodorenutt · 17-10-2016, 06:22 PM

Kuga was too close to Kluger, or even worse, the old Cougar from the early 2000s.....
Not many people I know realised it existed, it was a Ford, and it was a soft-roader.

Escape is a much more recognised name, albeit somewhat tied to the Mazda JV heritage.

**TUF_302** · 17-10-2016, 06:23 PM

Agree smart idea

**DFB FGXR6** · 17-10-2016, 06:30 PM

This is a good move because I believe the Kuga name wasn't well accepted and had negative connotations.

That said, this is just another knee jerk move by Ford. They don't seem to be able to pick a direction and stick with it. So suppose the Mondeo will become the Fusion next................

NX74205 · 17-10-2016, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

So suppose the Mondeo will become the Fusion next................

Unlike Kuga to Escape, this wouldn't be a good move. The Fusion name has no history here whatsoever; whereas the Mondeo is quickly gaining a reputation as a solid, well built, fun to drive mid sizer.

Besides, they aren't even the same - Mondeo is hatch or wagon only, whereas Fusion is sedan only.

malazn mafia · 17-10-2016, 06:37 PM

Someone at Ford grew a brain. Now for a retro styled 60s muscle car called Falcon in RHD and LHD please...

Sprintey · 17-10-2016, 06:44 PM

Escape, from Kuga.

(Ford marketing you can use that line if you like)

**Raptor** · 17-10-2016, 06:50 PM

First sensible move in a while IMHO.

Fusion would be better too. As someone pointed out in another thread;

F A L C O N
F U S I O N

It's almost familia

.

**DFB FGXR6** · 17-10-2016, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NX74205

Unlike Kuga to Escape, this wouldn't be a good move. The Fusion name has no history here whatsoever; whereas the Mondeo is quickly gaining a reputation as a solid, well built, fun to drive mid sizer.

Besides, they aren't even the same - Mondeo is hatch or wagon only, whereas Fusion is sedan only.

I agree, Ford have spend nearly a decade trying establish the Mondeo nameplate in this market, to change now would be foolish. The same applies to the Kuga. The first gen Escape had a decade in this market and Ford threw all their effort aside for an unknown nameplate.

Our Mondeo "hatch" is only a different body option for the current generation Mondeo/Fusion, they are the same car. There isn't anything to stop them using the Fusion name, it would still come from the Euro plant.

**Fordman1** · 17-10-2016, 07:16 PM

Good move, aggressive pricing and good marketing will grow the sales of this product now.

Well done Ford.

Brazen · 17-10-2016, 08:37 PM

Im pretty keen on a FWD Escape Trend, was close to ordering a Tiguan but the Ford will be far better value while also being a decent drive.

The optional $1300 Tech Pack on the Trend looks good.. Be good if there was an optional sunroof like Ford has done with the Focus range.

Teck Pack

Enhanced Active City Stop autonomous braking, which now operates at speeds of up to 50km/h (up from 30km/h),
Active Park Assist now including Perpendicular Parking function
Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) with Driver Alert
Lane Keeping Assist,
Auto High Beam,
Adaptive Cruise with Forward Alert and Enhanced Collision Mitigation,
Blind-spot monitoring
Tyre pressure monitoring.

CyberWasp · 17-10-2016, 08:53 PM

Good move on the name change.
But I think it will be the base model engine that will continue to hold it back.
You can have a 1.5 and 2lt motor with the same output but most will think in the back of their mind, that the 1.5 will work harder and be more stressed and will buy something else.

P6LTD351 · 17-10-2016, 09:05 PM

Good move. Kuga is such a stupid name, given what today's generation thinks a 'cougar' is.

NEXT (if FoA are smart) Change Mondeo to FUSION. FFS, how obvious is that??? Mondeo has no cache in this country.

malazn mafia · 17-10-2016, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P6LTD351

Good move. Kuga is such a stupid name, given what today's generation thinks a 'cougar' is.

NEXT (if FoA are smart) Change Mondeo to FUSION. FFS, how obvious is that??? Mondeo has no cache in this country.

Agreed, Mundano has as much relevance in Australia as its other brother, the Taurus which was also a horrible flop in the 90s. Fusion is a much better name.

Ben73 · 17-10-2016, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazen

Teck Pack

Lane Departure Warning (LDW) with Driver Alert
Lane Keeping Assist,

I'm all for new technology, but I don't get these two things.
Probably for people who enjoy texting while driving. They need something to let them know they are crossing into oncoming traffic.

BDA074 · 17-10-2016, 10:03 PM

Ecosport
Escape
Edge
Everest

Not a bad line up...

RANGEREST · 17-10-2016, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDA074

Ecosport
Escape
Edge
Everest

Not a bad line up...

Wouls be even better with,
Ecoboost!

malazn mafia · 18-10-2016, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RANGEREST

Wouls be even better with,
Ecoboost!

For those of us who intend to hold on to our Falcons indefinitely, a 3.7 F150 EcoBoost twin turbo might be a good swap to keep our mighty birds flying along for decades to come . These engines are very cheap and abundant stateside .

mik · 18-10-2016, 12:53 AM

i dunno , i think the name changing tends to make the vehicle less identifiable with the brand , and just confuses the public.
Why not just keep the original name and advertise the crap out of it .
look at later years of the falcon , ask someone who is not a car person what a G6 is , they will probably say , "oh its a forum attended by a bunch of politicians from around the world talking about world issues " .

EBSXR6 · 18-10-2016, 01:29 AM

[QUOTE=Brazen;5791218]Im pretty keen on a FWD Escape Trend, was close to ordering a Tiguan but the Ford will be far better value while also being a decent drive.

Good move re not getting a Tiguan my sister had one spent as much time at the workshop as it did on the road.

Pepscobra · 18-10-2016, 02:05 AM

Escape is a good name, suits the line up much better.
Might make my 2004 ZB Escape worth a bit more now ;p

NX74205 · 18-10-2016, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P6LTD351

NEXT (if FoA are smart) Change Mondeo to FUSION. FFS, how obvious is that??? Mondeo has no cache in this country.

Strongly disagree. Mondeo has a great reputation, at least since the MA series. I'll grant that the 90s wasn't a great time for Mondeo, but the MA-MC series has more than made up for it by being among the best in class for handling, ride and refinement. MD improved on that even further.

I fail to see why Ford should mess with that and change the name to something that has zero history or relevance to this market. It's suicide. Just ask Nissan.

Joe5619 · 18-10-2016, 09:57 AM

Do people honestly believe Ford are going to sell more Escape's, just because it doesn't have a Kuga Band?? FFS, neither brand as any credit in this country, try building one first, it this takes many many many years (if not decades) & you have just wasted the last 4-5 (??) years with the Kuga brand... The only brand causing the problem is the Ford one...

And please don't change the Mondeo brand.. You're only just starting to build it here!!

Joe5619 · 18-10-2016, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben73

I'm all for new technology, but I don't get these two things.
Probably for people who enjoy texting while driving. They need something to let them know they are crossing into oncoming traffic.

So you are telling me you have never, ever moved into the wrong lane whilst not paying 100% attention?

Wretched · 18-10-2016, 10:02 AM

Confused by this, yes Kuga was a rubbish name but it takes time to build a brand/model up.
It took some time but Focus has now replaced laser in many people's minds.

Ford have a horrid history of doing this and it confuses consumers.
Please Ford, for the sake of us all please be consistent, leave the names alone.
DO NOT change the Mondeo name. There are other reasons for the lack of sales and the name is probably near the bottom of that list. Next time, when introducing a model into AU, research the name and the reaction from the buying public.

vztrt · 18-10-2016, 10:12 AM

The pics in the article might get more people to have a look at it. Nicer looking unit.

Hopefully it drives better. The diesel was/is rubbish. I know I wouldnt buy one after my experiances.

chevypower · 18-10-2016, 10:14 AM

I like the idea, have all the car names start with F, and the SUV names start with E. Except the Mustang of course.

Brazen · 18-10-2016, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Do people honestly believe Ford are going to sell more Escape's, just because it doesn't have a Kuga brand!

The Kuga name sucked

Joe5619 · 18-10-2016, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazen

The Kuga name sucked

Would that really stop a person buying a car (something that costs 30K plus???).. It's no different to 80% of other car names out there & are just a bunch of letters put together. I could understand if the brand Kuga had been destroyed by bad cars, but it hasn't & is still a new brand.. I'd say Ford has done more damage to the "Focus" brand & should look at changing that one to get away from it IMO!!

vztrt · 18-10-2016, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Would that really stop a person buying a car (something that costs 30K plus???).. It's no different to 80% of other car names out there & are just a bunch of letters put together. I could understand if the brand Kuga had been destroyed by bad cars, but it hasn't & is still a new brand.. I'd say Ford has done more damage to the "Focus" brand & should look at changing that one to get away from it IMO!!

Itll be about the same as changing the mondeo name. Itll sell 300 odd units while Camry smashed 2000+ units. Like whats happening now....regardless of brand.