AMSTERDAM — It's almost time for the Puma to pounce.
Ford will launch its Puma crossover in Europe late this year. The vehicle has sporty styling and is designed to appeal to customers who want a less utilitarian small utility, the automaker said.
Ford released a teaser photo of the Puma last week after driving the vehicle across a darkened stage at its GoFurther product event here.
The Puma will be built in Craiova, Romania, alongside the EcoSport, Ford said.
The Puma will be positioned between the small EcoSport and the Kuga compact crossover, a new version of which was also unveiled here.
The Puma will be about 165 inches long, a Ford source said. The EcoSport is 158.2 inches long and the new Kuga, at 181.6 inches, is slightly longer than the outgoing version.
The Puma's dimensions put it at the top end of the small-crossover segment to rival vehicles such the Volkswagen T-Roc, Toyota C-HR, Hyundai Kona, Kia Stonic and upcoming replacements for the Renault Captur and Opel Mokka.
Ford did not disclose pricing nor many details about the Puma before its full unveiling in June, but the automaker did say the vehicle would have "class-leading" luggage space of16.1 cubic feet.
The Puma will offer a 48-volt mild-hybrid drivetrain based on the 1.0-liter Ford EcoBoost three-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine making 153 hp.
No production is planned for North America or China, although Ford in China has expressed interest in the vehicle, a Ford of Europe source said.
