Ford has taken the veils off the new
range-topping Puma ST-Line X Vignale, which is essentially a more luxurious
version of the Puma ST-Line X. Unique to this flagship variant are the 18-inch
dual-tone alloys, satin aluminium radiator grille and surround, black lower
grille, and body-coloured lower rear bumper.
These come on top of the existing LED
headlights, Windsor leather seats, wrapped instrument cluster, heated front
seats, heated steering wheel and Ford KeyFree system. Granted, it’s not quite
the Puma ST that was teased last month, but this will hold the fort for the
time being.
Not much has changed on the inside. Like
the Fiesta, the Puma gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a
freestanding eight-inch SYNC 3 head unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
support, a full-length panoramic glass roof, 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen
sound system, as well as Ford’s MegaBox storage solution. This allows vertical
items to be loaded with greater stability, and it’s capable of housing objects
up to 115 cm tall.
Powering the B-segment SUV is the 1.0
litre three-cylinder EcoBoost Hybrid engine, delivering either 125 PS or 155
PS. Both variants of the engine are augmented with Ford’s own 48-volt
mild-hybrid system, comprising an 11.5 kW belt-driven integrated
starter/generator (BISG, produces an additional 50 Nm), which replaces the
standard alternator. Transmission options include a six-speed manual or
seven-speed dual-clutch unit.
Customers can also opt for the rather comprehensive
Ford Co-Pilot360 set of safety systems, which include adaptive cruise control,
speed sign recognition, lane centring functions, 180-degree rear-view camera,
evasive steering assist, and a whole lot more.
