Photo: Ford Motor Company
Ford ripped the cover off its new Puma in Germany last month, and it’s a pretty safe bet that the stylish and sporty compact crossover will be making the leap to the United States at some point or other down the road. With best-in-class cargo space, bunches of tech, and a mild-hybrid powertrain, the Ford Puma seems primed to help Ford with its goal of maximizing profits in Europe and could very well do the same in America.
“Our customers told us they want a compact vehicle with stand-out looks that also delivers solutions for everyday living. The result is our new Ford Puma — charismatic, practical, and offering technologies from massage seats to mild-hybrid powertrains,” said Ford of Europe President Stuart Rowley.
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Probably the most intriguing aspect of the Puma is the way it looks. It goes so far to fly in the face of the wedge-style crossover trend that Ford dubs its side profile design “anti-wedge.” Whatever Ford chooses to call it, it’s quite a sporty-looking compact with a bold face notable for its high-resting, “canoe-shaped” headlamps. Ford of Europe Director of Interior and Exterior Design George Saridakis says that the objective is to create a crossover that is recognizable at first blush, and it’s safe to say that the mission was a success.
“This stunning new look represents the next chapter in Ford’s design identity, while the overarching concept of ‘sexy sanctuary’ employs ingenious and elegant engineering solutions that — in combination with the highly expressive exterior — will delight and surprise customers, fulfilling their distinct needs and desires,” said Saridakis.
That sounds … so weirdly sensual. You alright there, Ford?
The Puma is slated to get two versions of the 1.0-liter EcoBoost with a belt-driven integrated starter and generator, offering 123 horsepower and 153 horsepower and up to 50 percent more torque at low speeds. While there is a Puma ST-Line in the offing, this thing really seems to be being for a full-blown, high-powered ST. Whether that comes to pass and whether the Puma makes the leap stateside remains to be seen, but here’s hoping for both.
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