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The all-new Ford Kuga has been unveiled today at the Los Angeles motor show with a new look and a raft of clever technology.

These official pictures show the Kuga is to become more rugged looking, with styling influenced by the Focus hatchback on which the car is based.

And although the car is badged as Escape, a name given to Ford's mid-sized 4x4 in America, Ford's insiders tell us it will be shipped to the UK as Kuga with only minor styling changes to the grille and fog lamps.

A bootlid which uses computer game motion technology can be opened by the driver making a gentle kicking motion under the rear of the car is a Ford first. Similar technology is already available on the Volkswagen Passat.

Other useful equipment includes SYNC with MyFord Touch, which allows occupants to access information and entertainment systems in a variety of ways, automatic parking and blind spot warning.

The Kuga will also offer technology to automatically slow the vehicle when it's cornering too fast (Curve Control) or help accelerate through a turn (Torque Vectoring Control) and a new intelligent four-wheel drive system which is said to offer "outstanding handling on pristine pavement and in adverse conditions as well, along with excellent traction off-road".

In America, the car will be equipped with a range of small but powerful petrol engines, but the majority of UK buyers are expected to choose from Ford's current range of diesel engines.

Ford says it has benchmarked the Kuga against rival mid-sized 4x4s, including the Volkswagen Tiguan, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV-4.

The new Ford Kuga will get its European debut at March's Geneva motor show, and is expected to launch in the UK in early 2013 with prices comparable to the current model.

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