The Ford factory in Valencia, located in Almussafes (in the Riera Baja), is an essential part of the history of the motor industry in our country. Not only does it have the largest facilities that the North American company has today in the world (with an area of ??2,700,000 square meters; the equivalent of about 250 football fields), but, for a long time, it has been leader in energy efficiency and production capacity (over the years, it has produced more than 15 million engines and more than 11 million vehicles).
Now, Almusafes is preparing to live a new era in the automotive industry, thanks to its determined commitment to the most revolutionary technology. Today, this impressive factory is already inextricably linked to the new plug-in hybrid Ford Kuga. The brand’s brand new PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle) offers state-of-the-art connectivity, with an electric range of up to 69 km and a full charge in just 3.5 hours. It is also available in self-charging hybrid and gasoline engines, as well as in the new Active or ST-Line versions.
The advantages of driving a vehicle with these characteristics are evident, since they can cover considerable areas in exclusively electric mode. When the battery runs out, the remainder still allows it to travel like a self-charging hybrid. The autonomy, the lower weight than that of an electric car, the possibility of refueling quickly and the more powerful engine than that of non-plug-in hybrids are other notable factors to take into account in our choice.
The bold design of this Ford Kuga offers a more robust appearance compared to previous models, with a new front, a lower rear bumper and, in the case of the Active models, with greater ground clearance (specifically, 10 mm in front and 5 mm behind). It has new anti-glare LED matrix headlights, with daytime LEDs and light patterns that adapt to road conditions (as an optional feature of the Safety Package). Likewise, it allows us to personalize our vehicle thanks to a range of attractive alloy wheel options with new designs.
The new 13.2-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen provides greater wireless connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 5G modem and over-the-air updates. Among the driving assistance functions, we must highlight the 360º cameras, which offer a complete view of the environment through the screen. The headlights are dynamic, with map-based predictive tilting. Thanks to this, the vehicle can identify when a curve is approaching and adapt its light pattern to offer greater visibility.
It has intelligent speed control, which automatically adapts to traffic conditions and changes in the speed limit. In addition, you can reduce this speed when curves, roundabouts or intersections appear. It also includes a series of sensors that are used to monitor oncoming traffic and even detect pedestrians and cyclists when traveling between different lanes at crossings and intersections.
Likewise, we must highlight that the new hybrids (we are talking about the Kuga AWD Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid models) offer a greater towing capacity, which reaches up to 2,100 kg. Intelligent navigation detects when the trailer is hitched and calculates the best route, avoiding tight curves, low underpasses and other potential hazards.
Obviously, traveling with a trailer can be complicated at times, especially when reversing. That’s why Blis® with trailer coverage provides an extra pair of eyes to make driving easier. Likewise, the checklist ensures that we do not forget any steps when connecting the trailer to the vehicle.
Ford Kuga provides a pleasant feeling of freedom when traveling; At the same time, it contributes to combating climate change. Thanks to geofencing, it can automatically switch to exclusively electric driving mode when we enter low emission zones.
This is not everything. The digital dashboard, the completely reinvented interior – with a more stylized design, flexible rear seats that slide backwards and a spacious trunk with a capacity of up to 536 liters – are other elements that make this new plug-in hybrid, exclusively produced at the Ford factory in Valencia, a truly special vehicle that takes us into the benefits of future mobility thanks to its intelligent, connected and energy-responsible technology.
