Ford has started teasing the 2021 Puma ST,
announcing at the same time that the performance version of the small crossover
will premiere later this year. The video shared on social media reveals bits
and pieces of the car, such as the ST badge on the grille, LED headlights,
large wheels and Recaro sports seats with ‘ST’ monikers, while also allowing us
to hear the engine sound for the first time.
We’ve
actually already seen the Puma ST undisguised when Ford thought that if it
removed the ST logos, people would mistake it for a regular Puma. That didn’t
work out that way it was intended, so they spilled the beans on the model’s exterior
revisions that include a beefier front bumper with a small lip, a bigger roof
spoiler and dual exhaust pipes.
We also caught a glimpse of the interior,
with the Recaro body-hugging front seats and ST branding on the gearshift lever
and steering wheel. Model-specific upholstery with contrast stitching and
probably different trim are thought to be included.
The new Puma is based on the same platform
as the seventh-generation Fiesta, which is offered in ST guise, with a
1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, pumping out 200 PS and 290 Nm of torque. So, it’s no surprise that the Puma
ST will retain the same powertrain, which will be hooked up to a six-speed
manual transmission driving the front wheels.
Given that the Fiesta ST takes 6.5 seconds
to accelerate to 100 km/h and tops out at 232 km/h, the
slightly heavier Puma ST will be a bit slower.
