AN advanced voice control system, a little diesel engine and a bold new face are about to make an appearance on a revamped Ford Kuga to be launched later in the year.

The new model has just been revealed at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and will be arriving as Ford boosts its SUV line up with the introduction of the Edge to Europe.

Like the Edge, the new Kuga has a striking three slot grille and comes with redesigned light clusters front and rear.

The greatest changes to the car - now a top-selling SUV in the UK - are under the bonnet and inside, where the latest model will feature Ford's new SYNC 3 connectivity system.

This has been upgraded to recognise simple voice commands such as ‘I want a coffee' and is now also fully compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The new engine is Ford's economical 1.5-litre diesel, also used in the Focus, which is boosted to 120ps.

Ford claims it is good for 64.2mpg with emissions of 115g/km and will be fitted to front-wheel-drive versions, making them the most economical Kugas to date.

Other engines in the new Kuga line up include 150 and 180ps 2.0-litre diesels which will power 4x4 versions.

The Kuga will also be available with Ford's 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine in three states of tune developing either 120, 150 or 180ps.

Inside, the new car will now be available with a heated steering wheel while other changes see its automatic parking system now allowing it to negotiate perpendicular spaces as well as being capable of driving out of tight spots.

On the safety front the latest Kuga has a cross traffic alert system in addition to the city safety anti-collision device which will now operate at speeds of up to 31mph as opposed to the 19mph on the current model.

The car's eight-inch touchscreen has also been modified enabling it to be used in similar fashion to a smartphone with swipe and pinch functions.

Prices for the new Kuga have still to be announced but are likely to be little different to the current model which costs from £20,795.