The Daily Car

Ford sure has been busy. Just after the announcement of the new Fiesta, and it’s also unveiled the new Focus-based Kuga. Like the Fiesta, its première is at the Geneva Motor Show on March the 4th.

The Kuga is what Ford calls a crossover utility vehicle (CUV). Basically, it’s a small SUV, similar to the Volkswagen Plus Dune and SEAT Altea Freetrack.

The Focus hatchback’s platform provides a basis for the Kuga, only it gets four-wheel-drive to complement the rugged looks and increased ride height. The only engine available will be a 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel, mated with a six-speed manual gearbox.

The diesel engine should lead to satisfactory running costs; Ford says the Kuga will deliver fuel consumption of 44.1mpg, and CO₂ emissions of 169g/km. The car will be cheap to buy, too: Ford says the starting price will be £20,495.

French marque Citroën have announced the first details of their new Berlingo Multispace, expected to launch in the second half of 2008. The current version has achieved international sales of over 1.75 million, and clearly Citroën will be hoping for even greater success with the new model.

Citroën say that the new car retains the ultra-functional family friendly character of the original, but new features like an independently-opening tailgate window, three separate removable rear seats and a redesigned aircraft-style overhead storage system make it even better.

Also, enhanced comfort is promised, which is good to hear - the last model’s upright driving position kept masseurs busy.

Not content with combining two cars, Volkswgen has - like SEAT and Renault - decided to join in with the current SUV MPV spirit, only VeeDub’s effort is more extreme: it is the Hatchback SUV MPV.

Meet the Golf Plus Dune. It’s based on the Golf Plus but is 2cm higher and gets a few bits ‘n’ bobs plastered around the bodywork to spice things up. There are 400 coming to the UK and if you want to buy one it will cost you £18,495. But why would you want one?

To be honest I think it’s all a bit stupid - we don’t really need new niches of car to be created every time a butterfly sneezes. We’ve coped for ages with the usual selection of machine categories so why the need for change now? Can’t they be busying themselves with other, more important issues, rather than creating pointless niches in the car market?

Last week, Renault unveiled a vehicle called the Scenic Conquest - a beefier (yet two-wheel-drive) version of the Scenic small MPV, with SUV looks. SEAT has been quick to keep up with the Joneses and show off the similar Altea Freetrack, a vehicle based on the Altea XL and the company’s first ever off-road car.

This MPV/SUV thing is not a puny 2WD vehicle, however - it has four wheel drive: take that, Renault! The 4×4 system itself is the VW group’s Haldex four-wheel drive system which has been previously used in the Škoda Octavia Scout. There will be a choice of two different 2.0 litre engines - a diesel and a petrol. The former will have 167bhp and achieve 41.5mpg, whilst both numbers for the latter - which is also found in the VW Golf GTi - rise by 30.

Inside, the cabin remains unchanged but expect a battery of equipment, including a built-in DVD player.

The vehicle will be shown at the Barcelona motor show and is thought to go on sale in September, but there’s no word on pricing yet.

Škoda will take on the likes of the Daihatsu Terios, Fiat Sedici, Suzuki SX4, VW Polo Dune and Fiat Panda 4×4 with this - the enlarged, Scout badged version of the Roomster supermini-MPV.

On sale next summer in the UK, and to be unveiled at the Essen motor show in Germany, the Scout should cost about 14 thousand quid. Apart from the 1.2 litre basic engine, all motors from the normal Roomster will be carried over from the previous car.

This won’t be a proper SUV, however, with just 2-wheel drive at the front. That said, it will at least look the part with 16-inch rims (17-inchers are an option), and roof rails, topped off with underbody protection.