Ford has debuted the 2013 Ford Escape at the Los Angeles Auto Show – the SUV enters the North American market next year in both front-wheel and 4WD guise, with three four-cylinder powertrain choices to pick from – a normally-aspirated 2.5 litre as well as 2.0 and 1.6 litre EcoBoost versions.

The new Escape will also feature globally – it will be known as the Ford Kuga in Europe and China, with unique powertrains and features for those markets. Set to make its international debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the vehicle is slated to be introduced in China next spring.

In terms of outputs, the 2.5 litre NA unit will offer 168 hp and 226 Nm, while the 2.0 EcoBoost will have 237 hp and 338 Nm, and the 1.6 EcoBoost 173 hp and 240 Nm. All three engine choices are mated to a SelectShift Automatic six-speed, which for the EcoBoost mills are specially calibrated. The gearbox features revised gear ratios and a new torque converter for improved driving feel and smoother shifts.

The vehicle features more cargo volume behind the first and second rows than the outgoing Escape, and Ford says that it has driving dynamics that make the drive experience more engaging on-road, with a new Ford Intelligent 4WD System providing even better traction off-road. It’s also nearly 10% more aerodynamic than the current Escape, as well as 20% stiffer in terms of overall body structure.

Inside the cabin, improved materials and execution highlight the interior, and the list includes a soft-touch instrument panel, wrapped, padded and stitched door armrests and the elimination of exposed fasteners in the glove box and sun visor pivots, among others. Versatility in cargo carrying continues the roll – the car has an available two-position load floor, which can be configured to allow the choice of maximum luggage volume or a flat load floor.

Among the tech features is a hands-free power liftgate that allows quick and easy access to the cargo hold. The liftgate is enabled by motion technology – a gentle kicking motion under the centre of the rear bumper activates, unlocks and raises the liftgate when the driver has the Escape key fob, allowing quick and easy access to the cargo area without needing to set down packages or dig out keys. The same process closes the hatch.

Elsewhere, there’s a panorama Vista sunroof, active park assist, a sensor-based Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert, SYNC with MyFord Touch in the mix, as well as an enhanced Personal Safety System with new safety belt technologies and seven airbags.

A host of exterior colours abound, led by Ginger Ale, an earthy metallic tone. There’s also Ruby Red, White Platinum Tricoat, Frosted Glass Metallic, Deep Impact Blue and Kodiak Brown, along with Tuxedo Black, Sterling Gray Metallic, Ingot Silver Metallic and Oxford White.

‘Tis the season to be draped in yellow – you’ve seen the Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee and the Challenger SRT8 392 Yellow Jacket, and now, here’s the 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302. The edition – and the Boss Laguna Seca – features a heritage-inspired School Bus Yellow paint job that honours Parnelli Jones’ 1970 Trans-Am championship car prepared by Bud Moore.

The Boss 302 also features a new, reflective hockey stick graphics package, which gets its first modern application on a production car, the company says. The reflective stripes – which follows the classic hockey stick motif by going over the fender and extending down the body panel – come to life when lights hit them, similar to how they did in 1970 on the Mustang Boss 302.

As for the Boss Laguna Seca, this one delivers race-ready suspension, aerodynamic details and a removed rear seat, and features new Sterling Gray accents and black paint offerings, complemented by hockey stick stripes and a grey interior rear cross-brace.

Grey is also to be found on the front grille, mirror caps and rear pedestal spoiler on this one, while Laguna Seca rear badging and unique two-tone gray and silver wheels round out the version’s exterior accents.

Compared to the base Mustang, the front end of the Boss offers a more powerful design with a more prominent grille, as well as a more powerful splitter and functional hood extractors. The car also gets new signature lighting, with standard HID headlamps and LED-surround taillamps.

Elsewhere, the grille features removable covers where fog lamps would be – for improved cooling on track days, the covers can be easily removed with a screwdriver. Additionally, the rear end features a high-gloss black panel that connects the taillamps, which have a smoked finish.

The 444 hp and 515 Nm Boss has a race-inspired clutch, with upgraded friction materials, and a short-throw, close-ratio six-speed manual. Power is delivered to a 3.73-ratio rear axle using carbon fibre plates in the LSD to improve handling and longevity, though an optional torque-sensing (Torsen) LSD is available, coupled with Recaro front seats.

The Boss also gets a revised suspension, with adjustable shocks and struts, higher-rate coil springs all around, stiffer suspension bushings and a larger-diameter rear stabiliser bar, and the Boss models are lowered by 11 mm in front and 1 mmm at the rear compared to the Mustang GT.

In line with the suspension upgrades, the Boss 302 wears lightweight 19-inch black alloy racing wheels in staggered widths, wrapped by Pirelli PZero 255/40 front and 285/35 rear rubbers. Four-piston Brembo calipers and 14-inch vented rotors up front and Boss-specific high-performance pads at the rear round off the items list.