Ford seriously looking at superfast versions of its SUVs

Ford’s global director of performance has revealed the brand is seriously considering making hot RS versions of its SUVs.

In the clearest possible hint yet that the Blue Oval is planning fast versions of its 4x4s, performance chief Dave Pericak said he feels there’s definitely “an opportunity” to be explored.

Asked if an RS badge could ever work on a Ford SUV, he said: “If you did what you needed to do to make it perform the way that an RS should, the answer would be, ‘sure’.

“I think customers love performance. I think the definition of what that means for an SUV might be different than what it means for a Focus or for a Fiesta.

“But I think that we’ve seen, even in the US and globally, that people like aggressive-looking cars, they like sporty, they want the power and pick-up and engine improvement, so I think the answer is yes. SUV customers would appreciate performance, for sure.”

Audi has ventured into the performance SUV market with its SQ5 and SQ7 models, while the likes of Porsche have offered hot versions of its Macan and Cayenne models for years.

However, Pericak isn’t impressed with the current performance SUV offerings, hinting further that if Ford was to do a RS version, it would be a true performance car.

Most likely to get the treatment would be the Kuga, its underpinnings especially capable of a performance upgrade. The Edge and Ecosport models could follow suit.

Meanwhile, Bugatti has become the latest auto maker to venture into the nautical world, joining with boat builder Palmer Johnson to create a Chironinspired superyacht.

The Bugatti Niniette 66 mimics the Chiron’s sweeping C line, which dominates the side of the car. Its twotone paint scheme matches that of the £2.1 million car. Just 66 of the boats will be built and Palmer Johnson says each will cost “in the region of a Chiron”.

The Ford Kuga Vignale. A powerful RS version of the Kuga could be on its way.