Ford Puma ST - 197phb Hot Crossover SUV - All You Need To Know

Ford Motor Company has launched the new Ford Puma ST. This is the third model to join Ford’s ST performance line-up, following the Fiesta and the Focus. The Fiesta ST’s chassis has only received minor tweaks from its transition to the Puma’s crossover body. The rear torsion bar is 40 per cent stiffer to compensate for the extra weight and height.

Exterior:

The Puma is spruced up by the ST-specific styling pack. The front gets a new grille design with ST badging, while a splitter increases front downforce by 80 percent over the standard car. The back gets a larger rear wing and diffuser help to balance out the extra downforce at the other end. The Puma ST is also available in the new ‘Mean Green’ shade with a total of 5 color options. The roof and spoiler, front grille surrounds, side trim and door mirror caps are always painted black while the new 19 inch alloy wheels complete the look.

Interior:

Inside, the Puma’s cabin also gets the ST treatment; including a flat-bottomed steering wheel, a sporty gear knob and pedals, along with Sporty Recaro front seats. However still, the ST’s boot retains the hose-down 80-litre ‘Mega Box’ from other Pumas, and the 456-litre volume is retained. 

All Puma STs get a generous standard equipment list:

• Wireless charging

• Front and rear parking sensors

• Quick clear heated windshield

• Rain sensing wipers

• Automatic LED headlamps

• 12.3 inch digital instrument cluster

• 8 inch Touchscreen system

• SYNC 3 connectivity

• Android auto, Apple carplay

• Bang & Olufsen sound system

• Ford pass connectivity

Safety Features:

   While the Puma crossover received a 5 star rating at the ANCAP crash tests, the new Puma ST includes the following advanced driver assist tech:

• Active braking assist

• Pre Collision assist

• Active park assist

• Cross traffic alert with active braking

• Intelligent speed limiter

• Local hazard information

• Geofencing & tracking

• 6 airbags

• ESC with traction control

• Torque vectoring control

Powertrain and Performance:

        Mechanically, the Puma ST is very closely related to the Fiesta ST. The 1.5-litre turbocharged Ecoboost engine is the same, though a revised exhaust system has been tuned to be ever so slightly more civilised. This engine produces a power output of 197bhp and 320Nm through a 6 speed manual gearbox to the front wheels. With launch control engaged, the Puma cracks the 0-62mph benchmark in 6.7 seconds – two tenths down on the Fiesta, while the 137mph top speed has dropped by 7mph.

        The Puma ST also offers multiple driving modes. ‘Sport’ sharpens the throttle and adds weight to the steering compared to ‘Normal’, and it opens up valves in the exhaust to provide a sportier soundtrack. Switch into ‘Track’, and the traction control switches off and the intervention from the stability program relaxes – though this can still be turned off completely if the driver wishes. At the other end of the scale, ‘Eco’ mode makes the most of a stop/start system and cylinder deactivation to help reduce fuel consumption. Based on the official WLTP testing procedure, the Puma ST achieves 40.9mpg and emits 155g/km of CO2.

The Puma ST’s steering system is claimed to be 25 per cent quicker than the standard Puma’s, and buyers will be offered the option of a Quaife mechanical limited-slip differential to improve traction on corner exit. This also works in conjunction with a torque vectoring system which activates the brakes on the inside wheel to help the Puma hug a tighter line through corners. The Puma ST gets larger brake discs which measure 325mm at the front and 271mm at the back, and are housed within 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in specially developed Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres.

The Puma ST is expected to go on sale in Europe by early 2021 and will cost from £28,500.