The cute Ford Puma could receive a performance-oriented ST variant, Autocar reports.
While recently speaking with the British publication, Ford global development boss Hau Thai-Tang said that the Puma “would be a good place for us to look” as it expands the ‘ST’ range from the Fiesta and Focus models currently on sale.
“We look at creating STs by very objective measures to make sure it is credible as an ST,” Thai-Tang said. “Do we have the right building blocks [on which to base it]?”
If Ford does the green light to a Puma ST, the small crossover would likely be powered by the same 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine as the Fiesta ST, pumping out an identical 197 hp. This engine would transit its power to the pavement through the front wheels and could be offered with a limited-slip differential, launch control, and selectable drive modes.
Just days after the new Ford Puma was unveiled towards the end of June, a series of renderings showing the car in ST and RS forms surfaced. The fit of these renderings depicted the Puma with some subtle styling modifications including the fitment of bespoke wheels. A rendering showing an eye-catching Ford Puma RS model also came to our attention but it is extremely unlikely Ford will decide to build such a crossover.
If a Ford Puma ST does see the light of day, it probably won’t arrive for quite some time and most likely not within the next two years.