Take one of the best hot hatches on the market, lift the thing and add some extra room. This seems to be a tall order, but it's precisely what Ford is attempting with the 2020 Puma ST. Trailing the standard Puma subcompact crossover by about a year, this Ford Performance-massaged version borrows many of its tech assets from the Fiesta ST.
Mean Green is the launch color you can see in the image gallery, while the gloss black exterior trim and dark finish of the 19-inch wheels come as standard.
There's a front splitter, which wears the Ford Performance logo (alas, this FP model won't land in America), while the upper and lower front grilles improve cooling. Another element that stands out is the roof spoiler and we'll add the dual-tip side exhaust, which is all about function (while the hardware means business, it's one decibel quieter than that on the Fiesta ST).
Motivation comes from the same turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine. Peak power stays at 200 hp, but the newcomer delivers 320 Nm/236 lb-ft of torque between 2,500 and 3,500 rpm, while its subcompact sibling offers 290 Nm/214 lb-ft between 1,600 and 4,000 rpm.
You can add the Puma ST to the list of performance vehicles that are only offered with a manual transmission, while the Quaife limited-slip differential is also here, albeit as part of an optional Performance Package (this works together with the brake-operating torque vectoring feature). And yes, the ESC still comes with three modes, ranging from full nanny to you're on your own.
Work that six-speed and you'll hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.7 seconds, which is only 0.2 seconds behind the Fiesta - this is obviously explained by the weight difference between the two: the crossover tips the scales at 1,358 kg (just under 3,000 lbs), while the subcompact is around 75 kilos (165 lbs) lighter. The top speed of the Puma ST? This Ford can hit 220 km/h (that would be 137 mph).
As far as ground clearance goes, the standard Puma sits between 143 and 139 mm, depending on the model, but this all-out ST (as opposed to the ST Line equipment level) takes things down to 131 mm.
The banana springs that allow the Fiesta ST to deliver its playful handling have made a comeback, having obviously been adapted to the new requirements.
Compared to the rest of the range, the suspension is stiffer, while the steering is almost 25% quicker, with a ratio of 11.4:1. while the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires are wrapped around 19-inch wheels.
Matching stopping power comes from the larger brake rotors, with 325 mm units up front and 271 mm units at the back.
Step inside and you'll find heated Recaro seats featuring a Miko Dinamica finish. These display the ST logo, which can also be found on the door entry sills, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shifter. We should also mention the Metal Grey contrast stitching featured on the seatbelts, the seats and the floor mats.
Since the ST is produced in the same factory as the standard Puma (Craiova, Romania), Ford decided to throw the go-fast model at the country's Transfagarasan, which is one of the best driving roads in the world. And you'll find the result in the clip below.
In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist. Full profile
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