Adding some of that famous Ford performance edge, the Puma now adds ST to its lineup. Based on the Fiesta ST, it adds space, economy and practicality. Now available in Ireland, the Puma ST has a turbocharged 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine building 200 PS with 320 Nm of torque and does the 0-100 km/h run in 6.7 seconds. Like the Fiesta, power is sent to the front wheels by a nimble six-speed manual gearbox.
The Puma ST’s chassis has had only a few minor tweaks over that of its Fiesta sibling. The rear torsion bar is 40 per cent stiffer to compensate for the extra weight and height, but otherwise the setup hasn’t changed too much.
The Puma’s driving style can be adjusted via a selection of driving modes. ‘Sport’ sharpens the throttle and adds weight to the steering compared to ‘Normal’, and opens up valves in the exhaust to provide a bolder soundtrack. Switch into ‘Track’, and the traction control switches off and the intervention from the stability program relaxes.
Not forgetting ‘Eco’ mode which makes the most of the stop/start system and cylinder deactivation to help reduce fuel consumption. The Puma ST emits 155g/km of CO2 and is around €280 to tax.
The Puma ST is priced in Ireland from €41,813 (excluding delivery and related costs). Standard spec on the Puma ST includes: 19” Magnetite machined alloy wheels, fixed LED signature headlamps; black painted contrast roof, dual chrome exhaust, red brake calipers, selectable driver modes – normal / eco / sport / track, ST suspension, engine sound enhancer, Recaro sport seats, ST gear shift knob, ST scuff plates, ST flat-bottomed steering wheel, alloy pedals, wireless charging pad, Quickclear heated windscreen, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers and Ford’s SYNC 3 system.