Ford has launched the Puma in South Africa, a compact crossover with a sporty design, high-end features, and award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine. The Puma is available in two models, the sporty Puma Titanium and the stylish Puma ST-Line Vignale, reflecting individual customer preferences. It offers uncompromised load space, interior comfort, and a raised ride height for a confidence-enhancing driving experience. The compact crossover has a luggage capacity of 456 litres and is complemented by a large digital instrument cluster, wireless charging, and advanced driver assistance technologies. It is a sophisticated urban compact SUV that combines exceptional interior functionality and unsurpassed connected technology to meet the demands of dynamic young individuals and professionals. It builds on Ford’s reputation for producing trend-setting sports utility vehicles and will capitalize on the rapidly growing and competitive SUV segment.
- Puma’s local launch builds on the great success of the model in Europe. The Puma’s availability will capitalize on the rapid growth of the SUV segment, and compact crossovers in particular.
- Evocative styling matched to exceptional practicality and advanced technologies.
- Puma is available in two specifications: sporty Titanium and stylish ST-Line Vignale
- Powered by multiple award-winning 1.0L EcoBoost engine delivering 92kW and 170Nm, matched to seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.
- Five Selectable Drive Modes: Normal, Eco, Slippery, Sport and Trail.
The Ford Puma is a stylish, sporty SUV with an optimized wheelbase and track, delivering head-turning SUV proportions. Its low, sloping roofline and wedge-style crossover side profiles are complemented by a flatter beltline, resulting in balanced proportions. The vehicle’s design team created a bold, aerodynamic front design with canoe-shaped headlamps and LED fog lamps. The Puma range includes the Titanium, ST-Line Vignale, and ST-Line Titanium, each with unique features. The Titanium features black-machined 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome grille, side skirts, and fog lamps, while the ST-Line Vignale has black 18-inch machined alloy wheels and sports suspension. The Puma offers five vibrant exterior colors and offers uncompromised load space and rear luggage capacity of 456 litres. The optional Ford MegaBox provides a deep, versatile storage solution, capable of accommodating two golf bags in an upright position. The storage solution is easy to clean with water.
“Our 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has already proven that fuel efficiency and performance can go hand-in-hand. As a three-time International Engine of the Year, and five-time winner of the sub-1-litre category, it’s a superb package that is perfectly suited to the Puma,” Mashinini says.
The 1.0L three-cylinder EcoBoost engine is common to both derivatives of the Puma. It produces 92kW of power at 6 000 r/min matched to 170Nm of torque across a broad range from 1 500 to 4 500 r/min.
This impressive engine incorporates Ford’s cylinder deactivation system, which automatically switches off one of the engine’s cylinders when full capacity is not needed, such as when coasting or cruising. The system can disengage or re-engage the cylinder in 14 milliseconds, guaranteeing a perfect balance between fuel efficiency and performance. Auto Start-Stop is standard to further reduce running costs.
Power is delivered to the front wheels via an advanced seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which provides seamless performance allied to fast shifts for sporty driving.
The driver has access to five Selectable Drive Modes to suit the conditions, comprising Normal for everyday driving, Eco which optimises fuel economy, Slippery for low-traction surfaces, Trail for more challenging terrain, and Sport for moments when the driver wants to exploit the impressive dynamic attributes. The system adjusts various settings, including throttle response and steering feel, as well as gearchange behaviour. The instrument cluster also changes to reflect your chosen setting and includes a ‘quiet’ mode that displays only the most important information.
Puma further builds on Ford’s renowned B-car architecture that uses a stiff twist-beam rear suspension, large-diameter shock absorbers, stiff suspension bushes and optimised suspension top mounts to reduce friction and enhance stiffness throughout the chassis to support superb driving dynamics.
Customers who opt for the ST-Line Vignale benefit further from a sport suspension with specially tuned springs and shock absorbers. This is enhanced by larger diameter 18-inch alloy wheels and lower-profile tyres to enhance the grip, dynamic prowess and agility offered by this exciting new model.
The Puma offers a range of active safety features, including ABS, Electronic Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Control, Hill Launch Assist, Tyre Pressure Monitoring, Auto High Beam headlight activation, and Lane-Keeping System. It also includes Road Edge Detection functionality to prevent drifting off the road. Advanced technologies like Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Post-Collision Braking technology, and six airbags help drivers navigate busy urban environments safely. These features ensure a smooth ride and reduce the impact of potential collisions.
Both variants of the Puma are available with the optional Driver Assistance Pack that adds the following features:
- The Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert which provides a warning when vehicles that may be crossing behind the vehicle are detected during reversing. The system can apply the brakes to avoid or mitigate the effects of collisions if drivers do not respond to warnings.
- Front parking sensors and a rear wide-angle camera that captures a 180-degree view displayed on the eight-inch touchscreen – so passing pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles can be more easily seen when reversing out of parking spaces or driveways. Rear parking sensors are standard on both models.
- Active Park Assist with Perpendicular Parking which helps drivers find suitable spaces and park hands-free nose-to-tail and side-by-side with other cars.
- Driver Impairment Monitor which monitors the driver’s inputs and recognises fatigue or impairment. It creates visual and audible alerts on the instrument cluster if it detects the driver may be tired and will recommend a rest stop if necessary.
In addition, a 12.3-inch fully configurable digital instrument cluster on the ST-Line Vignale allows drivers to personalise and prioritise the display of information including driver assistance technology and satellite navigation notifications. The cluster uses free-form technology that allows curved upper edges for seamless interior design. The free-form panel features circuitry embedded across the display, enabling designers to mould it into shapes beyond the traditional rectangular design.
In addition, the 24‑bit “true colour” digital instrument cluster generates detailed, high definition, more intuitive images and icons displayed in the full colour spectrum, making them brighter, less tiring on the eyes and easier to read.
Pricing (includes VAT):
- Puma Titanium R569 900
- Puma ST-Line Vignale R613 900
Included as standard is Ford Protect comprising a four-year/120 000km warranty, four-year/unlimited distance Roadside Assistance and five-year/unlimited distance corrosion warranty. The recommended service interval is 15 000km or annually, whichever occurs first.
Customers have the option of purchasing service or maintenance plans up to eight years or 135 000km. The warranty can be extended up to seven years or 200 000km, while the Roadside Assistance can be extended for an additional one or two years.
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