Ford engineers are busily testing the Kuga crossover on the continent – but judging by the minute changes on these new spy photos, it looks like it’s a nose job plain and simple.
We reckon it’s nigh-on identical to today’s 4×4, but look closely at that lightly disguised front grille to spot a few detail changes. The upper grille has a new, broader chrome effect surround that is much thicker on the bottom than on today’s Kuga.
The air vents directly under the grille are different, too, suggesting a front-end tidy-up could be underway. The sixth photo in our gallery is the current car, showing how the number of vents will be reduced.
A mid-life facelift for the Ford Kuga?
That could be on the cards, yes. Although nothing is imminent, according to our sources in Cologne, the Kuga has been on sale since 2008 and a mid-life fillip would be due in the next 12 months or so.
That would be enough to keep the Ford Kuga ticking over until a replacement arrives around 2013.
The Kuga’s not changed at all since 2008…
No, which stands as testament to the neatness of the original design. And probably why they’re not looking to fiddle with the design too much more.
There has been no visual meddling since launch in 2008, although Ford has added some new engines and the Powershift transmission was added to the diesel engines in summer 2010.
Our best guess is that this Kuga is an engineering prototype testing mechanical upgrades; but don’t rule out a mild model-year cosmetic refresh. That new grille looks production ready to us under the disguise.