Will we see a Kuga RS? Ford plans to launch several SUVs with the RS badge

The SUV segment is booming, and Ford Performance has taken good note of it. The American brand’s performance division is considering building a range of high-performance SUVs. These models would receive the RS badge, an emblem that until now has only been carried by the company’s most radical compact: the Focus RS.

Although the American brand has little experience producing sporty SUVs, this class of vehicle appears to be a major market opportunity. “If we look at the current SUV market, there aren’t many purely high-performance crossovers. Some manufacturers have made partial attempts, but there are still no firm proposals in this area. So I believe it is a business area that offers a real opportunity,” says Dave Pericak, head of Ford Performance.

When asked about the option of building high-performance crossovers with a sportier character than the current ones, Dave Pericak said such models are a real possibility. “I think customers love performance. The definition of sportiness in an SUV can be different from that of a Focus or a Fiesta. But it has been shown, both in the US and around the world, that people like cars with an aggressive look, they enjoy sportiness, they want power and engine improvements, so I’d say the answer is yes. SUV buyers would appreciate performance, of course,” confirmed the head of Ford Performance. Although it is still too early to know which SUVs will receive the RS badge within the brand, it seems that the best placed is the Ford Kuga.

It is not yet known when the first SUV with the brand’s RS badge will arrive, but when it does, the intention of Ford is to launch a wide range of sporty SUVs.