That was fast, alright! Not the Puma per se, but the Ford Motor Company with the announcement of the world premiere. Following the April 2019 teasing, the Fiesta-based crossover will go official on June 26th before production starts in Craiova, Romania for the European Union and the United Kingdom.
As mentioned beforehand, the Puma features underpinnings from a subcompact hatchback. The question is, how will the Ford Motor Company slot this thing in the lineup? The answer to that question is simple, namely between the subcompact EcoSport and compact Kuga. Over in the United States, the latter is called Escape and both models are based on the C2 vehicle architecture.
It’s not known if the Puma will eventually replace the EcoSport, nor if the U.S. will get the newcomer. Sales of the EcoSport are woeful in pretty much every part of the world, and it would make sense for the Puma to take over from the small crossover which is also produced at the Craiova plant in Romania.
Spied in May 2019 testing at the Nurburgring in Puma ST specification, the newcomer will compete against the likes of the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-3. A mild hybrid is also under development, combining the 1.0-liter EcoBoost turbo three-cylinder with a 48-volt electrical system for an output of 155 PS (153 horsepower). Given the underpinnings of the Puma, it’s not certain if all-wheel drive will be available.
Even more interesting, the Puma will have to convince European customers away from the Fiesta Active and Focus Active. The former features 18 millimeters ground clearance than the Fiesta, but nevertheless, the hatchback-turned-crossover isn’t made for going off the beaten path. At best, the Fiesta Active is a lifestyle-oriented vehicle for people who can’t afford a crossover.
From the following teaser and previous photographic evidence, the Puma appears to feature exterior styling influences from the Kuga. That’s not a bad thing at all, but on the other hand, don’t forget Puma used to be a coupe from 1997 to the early 2000s.
It’s not known if the Puma will eventually replace the EcoSport, nor if the U.S. will get the newcomer. Sales of the EcoSport are woeful in pretty much every part of the world, and it would make sense for the Puma to take over from the small crossover which is also produced at the Craiova plant in Romania.
Spied in May 2019 testing at the Nurburgring in Puma ST specification, the newcomer will compete against the likes of the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-3. A mild hybrid is also under development, combining the 1.0-liter EcoBoost turbo three-cylinder with a 48-volt electrical system for an output of 155 PS (153 horsepower). Given the underpinnings of the Puma, it’s not certain if all-wheel drive will be available.
Even more interesting, the Puma will have to convince European customers away from the Fiesta Active and Focus Active. The former features 18 millimeters ground clearance than the Fiesta, but nevertheless, the hatchback-turned-crossover isn’t made for going off the beaten path. At best, the Fiesta Active is a lifestyle-oriented vehicle for people who can’t afford a crossover.
From the following teaser and previous photographic evidence, the Puma appears to feature exterior styling influences from the Kuga. That’s not a bad thing at all, but on the other hand, don’t forget Puma used to be a coupe from 1997 to the early 2000s.