Although it was around 2023, the fact is an unanswerable fact that Ford stopped making its Fiesta. This puts greater pressure on its crossover, which is called the Puma, to carry on the torch of the dying supermini. The model on stilts has been the Blue Oval’s most popular passenger vehicle in Europe. The car will be getting an update mid-cycle.
The compact crossover has barely been changed from the outside, though Ford tells the public that the headlights sporting a claw-like pattern have been upgraded to use the matrix LED technology. The badge, which is subtle and updated, is now on the front grille.
There aren’t any noticeable modifications to the car’s rear, as automakers generally update the taillights with new graphics when it’s time to give their cars a new look. Customers can choose between six colors – including the brand new Cactus Gray – and a variety of wheel sets that range in size from 17 inches to 19 inches.
If you walk through the door, you’ll be immediately greeted through the projection of the Puma brand logo onto the floor. The cabin is significantly different, with the SYNC4 infotainment system has been added. The dashboard is equipped with two screens, while the air vents in the center have been relocated to the top to allow for the 12.2-inch touch screen. To the left to the left, it is the 12.8-inch Digital Instrument Cluster has been removed and is not completely integrated into the dashboard because it has been pushed out a little.
Ford is reducing the engine lineup as it was announced that the Puma is no longer available in Europe with the 4-cylinder 1.5-litre diesel motor. Additionally, the top-performance ST model has been stripped of the turbocharged 1.5-litre gasoline engine and the manual gearbox with six speeds. The sports version will have a smaller 1.0-litre engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission.
It’s a significant reduction when you consider it’s a full-fat Puma ST that was once equipped with the power of 197 horses and 321 Newton meters (236 pounds) of torque. The new version released a little over a year ago, has only 168 hp with 248 Nm (183 lb-ft). The mild hybrid engine can accelerate from 62 mph to 62 km/h (100 km/h) in 7.4 seconds, which is 0.7 seconds less than the old version with the larger 1.5-liter engine. It can achieve 130 miles per hour (210 kilometers/h).
The models that are not ST Puma include a turbo 1.0-litre engine that can be equipped with an engine with 123 horsepower and 210 NM (154 pounds) or 153 horsepower with 240 Nm (176 lb-ft). The less powerful variant of the 3-pot could be fitted with a 6-speed manual gearbox. In this, the sprint is accomplished with 9.8 seconds.
Opt for the 7-speed dual-clutch automated, and the race can be finished in 9.6 seconds. The more powerful variant of the small EcoBoost engine is an auto-only one and allows the sleek crossover to reach speeds of 62 miles per hour (100 kilometres per hour) in 8.7 seconds.
In 2022, as promised, Ford will also be launching a fully electrical Puma Gen-E. It’s scheduled to debut later this year and is expected to look as it does since it’ll take the same platform as the gasoline-powered model. This EV will be manufactured alongside regular models at the company’s factory located in Craiova, Romania.