Ford
continues the ST-ification of its SUV lineup with the Puma ST. Unveiled earlier this year as a
Europe-exclusive model, the Ford Puma subcompact crossover features a sporty,
athletic design that would suit a performance ST version quite well.
While Ford hasn’t confirmed a Puma ST yet, it
admitted to considering such a model. As it turns out, work on the Puma ST is
already underway as our photographers have spotted a camouflaged prototype
entering Ford’s test center at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Although fully wrapped, the Puma ST prototype
features the final production bodywork which features a deeper front spoiler,
bigger wheels and brakes, black wheel arches, a roof spoiler that looks
slightly bigger than on the regular Puma, and twin exhaust pipes. It looks
quite similar to the Puma ST-Line though the grille will probably feature a
different mesh trim — the one fitted to this prototype is clearly provisional.
Expect the Puma ST to source the powertrain from its
platform sibling, the Fiesta ST hot hatch. That’s a 1.5-liter EcoBoost
three-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine rated at 200 PS, mated to
a six-speed manual transmission driving the front wheels.
Performance should be close to the Fiesta ST which
accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds. The slightly heavier Puma ST
should cover the same sprint in just under 7 seconds. Expect Ford to lift the
wraps off the Puma ST next year.
