According to Autocar, the upcoming model is not expected to replace the Kuga (sold as the Escape in the U.S.) despite sharing similar dimensions. Instead, the new Focus will expand Ford’s crossover lineup, offering hybrid and electric powertrains under a familiar badge.
The Focus has long been a cornerstone of Ford’s European portfolio. Turning it into a crossover reflects a broader trend across the auto industry, where carmakers increasingly repackage legacy models to suit changing tastes. While some loyalists may bristle at the shift, Ford has had recent success reviving historic nameplates in unexpected formats.
A New Format, Same Name
The upcoming Focus SUV is expected to share the C2 platform, a modular architecture that already underpins the Bronco Sport, Maverick, and current Kuga in Europe. It also served as the foundation for the outgoing Focus hatchback. This continuity suggests that while the form factor will change, Ford is retaining some underlying DNA of the model it’s replacing.
Motor1 reports that the SUV will feature “multi-energy” powertrain options, with internal discussions around hybrid and fully electric versions. Though nothing has been officially confirmed, the brand may carry over mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid technologies from the Kuga, providing consistency within the lineup. The Valencia plant, where the model will be assembled, has a maximum capacity of 300,000 units annually, setting the stage for significant output if demand follows.
Apollo Evo Hypercar Marks Return of a Legend — but Only 10 Will Ever Be Made
Not a Kuga Replacement
Despite the similar dimensions, Ford does not intend for the Focus SUV to replace the Kuga in Europe. Instead, both vehicles will coexist, targeting overlapping yet distinct customer segments. The Kuga, which is known as the Escape in the U.S., remains one of Ford’s best-selling models on the continent.
In 2024 alone, the Kuga recorded over 105,000 units sold in Europe. Ford seems to be betting that offering another SUV of similar size under a different banner will give customers more options without cannibalizing existing sales.
By reviving the Focus name, the company also draws on decades of brand recognition—something that could boost the new model’s visibility and initial traction in a crowded crossover market.
Another Legacy Name Repurposed
Ford has a track record of recycling historic nameplates for entirely new vehicles. The Puma and the recently reintroduced Capri were both small cars in their original iterations, but have since returned as electric or hybrid crossovers. This strategy appears to be paying off.
Between January and May 2025, Ford sold over 64,000 units of the Puma SUV, making it the automaker’s top-selling vehicle in Europe during that period. The popularity of these rebranded models supports the notion that familiarity, even when divorced from original form, can resonate with consumers. That could be what Ford is counting on with the new Focus SUV.
While the official confirmation is still pending, the combination of consistent platform use, production readiness, and recent success with nameplate revivals points to a calculated shift. For fans of the traditional Focus, it’s the end of an era. But for Ford, it’s one more step into an SUV-dominated future.
