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 performance 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 RS treatment would be the Kuga, its underpinnings especially capable of a performance upgrade. The Edge and Ecosport models could follow suit.
Bugatti has become the latest automaker to venture into the nautical world, joining with boat builder Palmer Johnson to create a Chiron-inspired superyacht.
The Bugatti Niniette 66 mimics the Chiron’s sweeping ‘C line’, which dominates the side of the car. Its two-tone paint scheme matches that of the £2.1 million car and despite the immense size difference between the pair, they are unmistakeably cut from the same cloth. Just 66 of the boats will be built, and Palmer Johnson says each will cost ‘in the region of a Chiron’.