Sharp-eyed tipster Leslie L. spotted this camouflaged crossover in front of the Taco Bell restaurant at the Pilot truck stop just off Interstate 75 in Monroe, Michigan, about 21 miles from Toledo, Ohio.

As best we can tell, the camouflage is just for local consumption as savvy observers will recognize this crossover as the second-generation Ford Kuga that debuted at the Geneva Auto Show this year and was previewed as the 2013 Escape by Ford last spring. It’s is part of the “One Ford” strategy that aims to standardize as much of the worldwide Ford vehicle line as possible.

The Kuga/Escape is based on the Ford C1 platform that also carries the Focus passenger cars and the C-Max multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) that went on sale here earlier this year.

While it may be part of the “One Ford” strategy, the Escape won’t be coming with the two 2.0-liter turbocharged diesels that will be offered to Kuga customers in Europe and the UK. When it hits our shores later this year, it have three gasoline engines, including a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder, a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four and a 2.5-liter four with intake variable cam timing.

We’re not really sure why the vehicle was wearing camouflage; the new Escape was shown on U.S. television when it starred in the six-week NBC series “escape Routes.”

The Escape will be assembled at Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky. The Kuga is slated for the Ford plants in Saarlouis, Germany and Valenca, Spain.

Many thanks to Leslie L. for the tip and photos!