FORD

Puma ST with one liter turbo engine

It may look like an ordinary Ford Puma ST at first glance, but it is significantly different from the crossover that has been on sale since 2020. A version with a smaller one-litre EcoBoost engine is now available. The three-cylinder mild hybrid delivers 168 PS and 248 Nm of torque. As an upgrade, the 1.5 liter variant has 197 hp and 320 Nm.

Another big difference between the two is the way power is directed to the front wheels. The more powerful Puma ST uses a six-speed manual gearbox, while the new entry level gets a Powershift transmission with paddles behind the steering wheel. It is an automatic unit with two clutches and seven speeds, which allows the subcompact crossover to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds. This makes it 0.7 seconds slower than the most powerful 1.5 liter model.

The cabin gets sporty front seats with Ford Performance badge wrapped in synthetic leather, plus a heated windshield and wireless phone charger. The Puma ST Powershift is also equipped with front and rear parking sensors, automatic wipers and various driver assistance systems (including adaptive cruise control). Unfortunately, it still uses the old SYNC3 multimedia system, but the buyer gets Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Leveraging the most powerful version of Ford's one-litre EcoBoost engine, the new Puma ST automatic features mild hybrid technology to reduce fuel consumption to 6.3 liters per 100 kilometers and CO2 emissions to 144g/km. Maximum power is reached at 5,750 rpm and maximum torque starts at 3,000 rpm. Similar to the more powerful variant, the new Puma ST receives active exhaust valve technology and can change the sound profile depending on the driving mode.

For the new Powershift model, Ford adds an exclusive ST Azure Blue color, contrasting with the optional gloss black roof. There are six exterior paint options available. As standard, the hot crossover gets black side mirror covers, radiator grille and roof spoiler, while 19-inch wheels can be had in a finish called magnetite.

Miodrag Lukić