Ford has revealed the first image of the Ford Puma – an SUV-inspired compact crossover that fuses stunning exterior design; best-in-class luggage capacity and flexibility; and 48-volt mild-hybrid powertrain technology.
Puma will go on sale at the end of the year, and will be produced with exceptional craftsmanship and quality at Ford’s Craiova Assembly Plant, Romania, following nearly €1.5 billion investment since 2008.
“Innovatively engineered and seductively styled, we think Puma is going to really resonate with compact-car customers in Europe. If you want a car that can turn heads on Friday night, and swallow your flat-pack furniture with ease on Saturday afternoon, then you’ve found it,†said Stuart Rowley, president, Ford of Europe. “We’ve gone to every length to give customers the flexibility they want, with progressive and evocative styling, so that they can drive the best-looking car they’ve ever owned.â€
The first image of the Ford Puma reveals significant styling cues including distinctive wing-top mounted headlamps and athletic, seductive, aerodynamic lines, alongside compact crossover proportions that support raised ride-height for a confidence-enhancing driving experience and class-leading uncompromised luggage capacity of 456-litres.
Developed to meet and exceed a clear requirement for flexible luggage space following extensive discussions with customers, the Puma’s innovative rear stowage solution provides a deep, versatile storage compartment that is capable of comfortably accommodating two golf bags in an upright position.
Ford EcoBoost Hybrid technology will optimise Puma fuel-efficiency* and deliver powerful, responsive performance, with up to 155PS. A belt-driven integrated starter/generator (BISG) enables recovery and storage of energy usually lost during braking and coasting to charge a 48‑volt lithium-ion air-cooled battery pack.
The BISG also acts as a motor, seamlessly integrating with a low-friction, three-cylinder 1.0‑litre EcoBoost petrol engine and using the stored energy to provide torque substitution – which reduces the amount of work required from the petrol engine to maximise fuel savings, and torque supplementation – which increases the total torque available from the powertrain for optimised performance.
Puma joins Ford’s expanding line-up of SUV and SUV-inspired crossover models in Europe, including the Fiesta Active, Focus Active, EcoSport, Kuga, Edge, and the all-new Explorer Plug-In Hybrid – unveiled yesterday for the first time at Ford’s special “Go Further†Experience.
SUVs now account for more than one in five Ford vehicles sold in Europe, and sales rose more than 19Â percent in 2018.
