All-new 2021 Ford Puma ST revealed

KUALA LUMPUR: Finally, after months of speculations, teasers, and countless rumours, Ford has unveiled the 2021 Puma ST. Note the car, for now, is limited to the European market.

Powering the Puma ST is the same Fiesta ST's tried and tested 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. It makes a maximum power of 200 PS and a peak torque of 320 Nm from 2500 to 3500 rpm. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, enabling the hot hatch cover 0 to 100 kmph mark in 6.7 seconds - 0.2 seconds slower than the related vehicle. As for the top speed, a shorter final drive ratio is seen to be the reason for the fall in the figures - it's 232 kmph in Fiesta ST, and 220 kmph in the less aerodynamic and heavier Puma ST.

The 2021 Ford Puma ST fuel economy figure rests at 16.66 kmpl, thanks to the cylinder deactivation technology that can shut off/restart a cylinder in 14 milliseconds.

Ford is offering the Puma ST with four drive modes - Eco, Normal, Sport, and Track, that vary the throttle response, sport exhaust's variable valve, stability control, engine mapping, power steering weight, and traction, depending on the mode selected.

In the European market, Ford will also be offering the Puma ST with a Performance Pack that would bring Quaife limited-slip front differential and launch control to the table.

The 2021 Ford Puma ST exterior, in many ways, is different from the standard Puma ST-line model. It gets an ST-badge grille, black front spoiler, gloss black front air intakes, larger rear roof spoiler, 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres, and a new lower rear diffuser.

On the inside, the model benefits from ST-embossed heated Recaro sport seats, ST-badged gear knob, flat-bottomed leather-wrapped steering, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and 8.0-inch Sync 3 infotainment display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Further included in its feature list is wireless smartphone charging, rain-sensing front & rear wipers, heated windscreen, 80-litre storage space underneath the 456-litre boot floor, and an optional Band & Olufsen sound system.

Part of its safety kit is rear cross-traffic alert with braking functionality, autonomous emergency braking, a speed limiter, automatic parking, and FordPass Connect App support that allows the owner to unlock/lock their Puma ST from a remote location.

Tell us, what do you think about the new Puma ST, and would you like to see it making its way to the Malaysian market?

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