Ford’s CoPilot360 and massaging seats are just a few of the features available.
The Ford Puma was once a smartly-designed front-wheel-coupe that plied the streets of Europe. The moniker is back – this time for the European theater as a compact, stylish crossover. This may not be a popular choice for fans of the original runabout but it is a sign of times in which we live. Ford’s new design language is evident inside and out. It’s certainly not without swagger.
Fancy A Puma ST?
Moreover, the compact crossover design of the Puma is not surprising. Ford The runabout was first seen earlier in the year. It is clearly connected to the new Euro-market. Fiesta . Both vehicles have the same underpinnings and feature plenty of Fiesta styling. The Puma has a more relaxed front clip. However, the ride height is slightly higher. Anyone who is comfortable driving the Fiesta will feel right at home in the Puma. It will be available in Titanium trim and ST-Line at launch. The latter has a more sporty look.
Blue Oval Compact Crossovers Galore:
The interior is Fiesta-familiar, until you reach the rear. With the lower boot floor removed, the Puma crossover offers more boot space – 456 Liters (16.1 cubes) total. The rear seats are still up. The rectangular, drop-down section under the Puma’s rearside floor can be configured in multiple ways and has a drain hole that allows for easy cleaning. For maximum space, the floor can be stowed behind the seatbacks. Alternatively, the Puma can still function as a hatchback by keeping the flat floor in place and folding the rear seats. Although it is not a compact coupe, the new Puma has some very useful features.
Ford has packed the Puma full of technology. Apart from the usual tidbits like active cruise control and automatic emergency braking for pedestrian detection and lane-keep assistance, the Puma also comes with Ford’s CoPilot360 restricted autonomous system which can operate in stop-and go traffic. Ford claims that the wide-view rear camera gives a 360-degree view of the surrounding environment. Both Andriod Auto (free) and Apple CarPlay (free) are also available. The central touchscreen is 8 inches in size, and the instrument cluster uses a 12.3-inch screen. The range-enhancing sound system features a 10-speaker stereo and massaging seats.
The power of the Puma comes from a 1.0-liter EcoBoost three cylinder connected to a 48-volt mildly hybrid system. This mill can be used to stop-start and is available in either 123 horsepower (92-kilowatts) or 153 horsepower (114 kW). The diesel option will be available in the future, but all power is directed to the front wheels regardless of engine choice. There is no all-wheel drive option.
It doesn’t sound bad for a compact crossover. However, this segment isn’t without competition from all, not least from Ford’s lineup. The Puma joins a already-crowded Blue Oval Euro crossover family, which also includes the compact EcoSportand Fiesta Active. Not to mention the Focus Active (and Kuga), which are slightly larger. Although it is not possible for the Puma to be brought to the United States at the moment, with Ford going SUV crazy across all fronts, it would not surprise that the Puma will make its way here in the near future.