Ford is set to launch the exciting Puma in southern Africa in October 2023, introducing its vibrant SUV-inspired compact crossover to local customers. The Puma fuses an unmissable silhouette, uncompromised load space and interior comfort, along with Ford’s multiple award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine.
The Ford Puma has become a firm favourite in the compact SUV segment in Europe thanks to its charismatic styling cues, including distinctive wing-top-mounted headlamps and athletic, aerodynamic lines. Under the skin, the compact crossover proportions deliver a raised ride height for a confidence-enhancing driving experience, while supporting an uncompromised luggage capacity of 456 litres.
This is complemented by an extensive range of high-end features. These include a large fully digital instrument cluster, wireless charging, premium B&O sound system, lumbar massage seats, powered tailgate, sport suspension, Selectable Drive Modes and advanced driver assistance technologies (depending on model).
The Puma will be available with two distinctive personalities, comprising the sporty Puma Titanium and the stylish range-topping Puma ST-Line Vignale, reflecting individual customers’ preferences.
“The Ford Puma is a sophisticated urban compact SUV that combines a sporty design matched to exceptional interior functionality and unsurpassed connected technology to meet the demands of dynamic young individuals and professionals,” said Doreen Mashinini, General Manager for Marketing at Ford South Africa.
“As a new addition to our local line-up, the Puma builds on Ford’s reputation for producing trend-setting sports utility vehicles. It will capitalize on the rapidly growing and very competitive SUV segment, and the compact crossover category in particular, which has become immensely popular,” Mashinini says. “The Puma has been a huge success in Europe, and we are delighted that we will soon be making it available to our South African customers.”
Evocative design meets superb practicality
Stylish, sporty, and seductive, the new Ford Puma relies on Ford’s B-car architecture, using an optimised wheelbase and track to deliver head-turning SUV proportions.
Puma features a low, sloping roofline for a dramatic, instantly recognisable silhouette, and bucks the trend for wedge-style crossover side profiles with a flatter beltline to deliver balanced proportions. Ford’s design team created highly emotional surfacing over the distinctively proportioned stance of the vehicle and, alongside the engineering team, delivered uncompromised style, access and load-space.
Sensual surfacing continues along the sides of the Puma, with pronounced wheel arches amplifying the sporty character. The expressive front-end features intricately designed “canoe-shaped” headlamps that sit high on the wings, while the LED fog lamps are positioned directly below, integrated into the front air curtain inlets that guide airflow across the front wheels. Extending forward to the instantly recognisable front grille, the LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights give Puma a bold, aerodynamic front design and an approachable face. On the ST-Line Vignale, adaptive LED lights are standard which optimise visibility when cornering.
The amplified proportions of Puma are further enhanced by a unique “floating” A-pillar design. This uninterrupted connection of belt line to cowl positions the visual mass of the cabin further rearward, delivering a powerful yet distinctly elegant silhouette.
The Puma range starts off with the Titanium, which features unique black-machined 17-inch alloy wheels, and chrome elements for the grille, side skirts and fog lamps. The rear diffuser and skid plate are finished in metallic grey, and the window surrounds in high gloss black. Inside, Puma Titanium is offered with a leather-trimmed steering wheel, wood-effect appliques for the cluster bezel and instrument panel, and distinctive fabric inserts for the door interiors.
The sporty Puma ST-Line Vignale is offered with black 18-inch machined alloy wheels and a sports suspension. At the front, the ST-Line grille features matt black elements and a high-gloss surround, high-gloss foglamp surrounds, and a larger, functional roof-spoiler.
Bold signature ST-Line lower wing elements direct air to the air-curtain inlets. Inside, the Puma STLine features a flat-bottomed steering wheel and signature red stitching. Alloy pedals, an aluminium gear shifter and signature black headliner further heighten the sporty character. Owners are greeted with a warm welcome each time the doors are unlocked thanks to the eye-catching puddle lights that illuminate the ground with the Puma logo.