Ford used the Geneva Motor Show to unveil the all-new Ford Kuga - the previous version of which only recently went on sale in South Africa.
Ford SA said it was so eager to enter the compact SUV market that it simply couldn't wait for the new model. That said, the all-new Kuga you see here will reach our shores in due course.
The Kuga is virtually identical to the US-market Ford Escape that was unveiled last year, but has been Europeanised with the addition of some diesel engines.
This comes in the form of Ford's familiar 2-litre TDCi oil burner, which will be available in 103kW and 120kW guises. The new 1.6-litre EcoBoost turbopetrol engine will also be available in the Kuga.
Power is channelled through an advanced all-wheel drive system that pre-emptively reassesses conditions 20 times faster than it takes to blink an eye, readjusting the AWD power split to give the driver the best blend of handling and traction.
Techno highlights include a hands-free automatic tailgate (which can be opened simply by sweeping a foot under the rear bumper) as well as Ford's advanced voice control, device integration and connectivity interface called SYNC and a range of driver assistance systems like parallel parking aid and a blind spot assistant.
It's also more practical, the new Kuga boasting 82-litres more boot-space than the current model, while the rear seats fold flat at the touch of a button.