The Ford Puma ST was spied testing in pre-production form at the Nurburgring this week, ahead of its premiere that’s expected to take place later this year.
Sitting at the top of the Puma range, it will challenge the likes of other sporty small crossovers, such as the Volkswagen T-Roc R and Hyundai Kona N, and will pack enough punch to inject its occupants with a decent shot of adrenaline.
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Essentially a Fiesta ST on stilts, it will use the same 1.5-liter turbo-three, with 197 HP (200 PS / 147 kW) and 214 lb-ft (290 Nm) of torque. Power will be directed to the front axle via a six-speed manual transmission, and hopefully, it will retain at least some of the driving characteristics of its hot hatch sibling, which is one of the best cars in the segment.
Details surrounding the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time and top speed are unknown yet, but the Fiesta ST can do the sprint in 6.5 seconds and tops out at 144 mph (232 km/h). The Puma ST will be slightly heavier, so it’s reasonable to be a bit slower.
As for its looks, beefier front and rear bumpers, a small apron, a big roof spoiler, dual exhaust pipes, and sporty wheels combined with the upgraded brakes and lower sports suspension will draw the imaginary line between the Puma ST and the rest of the range.
Finally, the interior will include Recaro sports seats wrapped in the model-specific upholstery with contrast stitching, as well as the ST branding on the gearshift lever and steering wheel.
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