Ford is promoting social distancing in the
Puma ST’s new teaser video, which reveals the model’s official unveiling date.
While it’s not the most exciting video we’ve seen, it’s actually the caption
(and second to last frame) that interests us, as it reveals that the Puma ST
will debut on September 24.
The Blue Oval’s rival for the Hyundai Kona
N and Volkswagen T-Roc R is pretty much a Fiesta ST on stilts as it shares the
same platform with the subcompact hot hatch. It will sit at the top of the Puma
range and will appeal to driving enthusiasts with its sporty credentials.
Keeping our fingers crossed that it will
retain at least some of the driving characteristics of its hot hatch sibling,
which is one of the most engaging in the segment, we will remind you that the
Puma ST will adopt the latter’s 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine.
In the Fiesta ST, the unit pumps out 197
HP and 290 Nm of torque in combination with a
six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive. The setup should help the
performance crossover hit 100 km/h in around 7 seconds, considering
that the lighter Fiesta ST can do it in 6.5 seconds.
Besides the punchy mill, tuned chassis,
and upgraded brakes, the 2021 Puma ST will set itself apart from the rest of
the lineup thanks to the beefier body kit consisting of bigger bumpers, small
front apron and large roof spoiler. The dual exhaust pipes, lowered sports
suspension, model-specific wheels, Recaro seats, ST branding and so on will
round out the package.
