Ford Puma ST coming in hot (just not to NZ)
Thursday, 13 August 2020
Ford has confirmed the Puma ST will debut on September 24, featuring power from the Fiesta ST’s turbocharged triple.
That means output of around 147kW/290Nm, a 0-100kmh time of less than seven seconds and a top speed of more than 230kmh. Quite quick, then, for a small SUV.
Just don’t get too excited though, because we won’t be getting it here.
While the standard Puma and the Puma ST-line will be touching down locally sometime in September or October, Ford New Zealand has confirmed to Stuff that the hot ST won’t be making its way here any time soon.
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This is no doubt because the Puma ST will only be available with the Fiesta ST’s six-speed manual transmission. While a small hot hatch with a manual is a hard-enough thing to sell in auto-loving New Zealand, a small hot SUV with a manual would be all-but impossible to shift. Regardless of how cool it would be…
And it does sound very cool, with the Fiesta’s chassis being retuned for the Puma ST, pushing the SUV lower to the ground with stiffer springs and new dampers. Bigger brakes and an optional limited slip differential round out the major performance changes.
Design-wise, a new body kit with a revised front bumper, wider air intakes and a front splitter also feature. Around the back will be a similarly redesigned bumper, two exhaust outlets and a boot lid spoiler. Nothing too garish, mind, just enough to let passersby know that this isn’t a vanilla Puma.
Inside, there’ll be some form-hugging sports seats, a leather-wrapped sports steering wheel and plenty of ST badging. Launch control and drive modes will be offered as well.
Europe will get the Puma ST shortly after the September reveal, and we will just have to look on with envy.