The Ford Puma ST is the Fiesta ST CUV that America can't have even though Ford says America can only have CUVs

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein) 10/08/2020 at 11:35 • Filed to: None

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Remember when Ford said it was going to stop selling all cars in America unless those cars are Mustangs? Well, Ford sells a subcompact CUV in Europe called the Puma, which is nicer/less-shitty than the EcoSport, Ford’s entrant in that segment in the US. The Puma is based on the Fiesta, and now Ford decided to make an ST version. Too bad it’s not coming here.

Similarly to how many people here in America have whined about Ford putting the ST badge on CUVs, people in Europe are less than thrilled that the Puma is now a CUV, because the Puma !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Apparently, giving the Puma back doors and a little more ground clearance and positioning it as slightly larger than the Fiesta rather than smaller than the Fiesta, is sacrilege to fans of the original.

Personally I think all this fuss about Ford diluting brands like ST and Puma is silly because none of these brands are that well established. We got one generation of Fiesta ST and Focus ST here in America and yet the howls of disapproval when the Edge ST and Explorer ST arrived were deafening.

So, the Puma ST is a dual-vortex snortado of FORD HAS RUINED THIS BRAND BY MAKING IT A CUV energy. Relax, folks. At least Ford isn’t trampling on your childhood as badly as Mitsubishi did to Eclipse fans.

Some of you might be saying, “wait, this is EXACTLY what Mitsubishi did to Eclipse fans,” but you’re wrong. The Eclipse Cross is a thoroughly mediocre CUV with no sporting pretenses whatsoever. Well, the back end is chopped off, so it’s technically a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! like the BMW X6.

The Puma ST ain’t bad, because in spite of it nominally being a CUV, it’s just barely a CUV, and at least on paper, it’s actually pretty good. It has all the goodies from the Fiesta ST but in an ever-so-slightly larger package. Seriously, all Ford did to create the Puma ST was take this...

...and make it look like this.

Is that so bad? Did the Puma ST give you a boo boo? It’s so happy and green and can be had with a panoramic sunroof and doesn’t even have ugly un-painted body cladding. Just think of the painted cladding as racecar fender flares to soothe your nerves.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !

1.5 liter inline-3 making 200 hp & 236 lb/ft

Active valve exhaust

FWD, 6-speed manual transmission w/ optional Quaife helical LSD

Brake-based torque vectoring

Stiffer suspension with Hitachi twin-tube frequency-reactive dampers (think of these as mechanical sorta-adaptive dampers), Ford’s “force vectoring” springs, and a 40% stiffer rear torsion beam than the Fiesta ST to supposedly counteract the higher center of gravity

Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires

Stiffened engine mounts

Super-quick 11.4:1 steering gear ratio

Bigger brakes

Selectable drive modes

Launch control

Recaro seats

Weight hasn’t been published yet but the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!  

All of this sounds like a perfectly good recipe for a hot hatch on the smaller end of the size range for hot hatches. This one just happens to be marketed as a crossover and is slightly bigger than another nearly-identical version of the same car. Overall dimensions (length/wheelbase/width/height) are:

Fiesta ST 5-door: 160.2"/98.1"/68.3"/57.8"

Puma (non-ST): 164.8"/101.9"/71.1"/60.5"

Oh, and the listed weight for the Fiesta ST is the exact same 1205 kg/2651 lbs as the non-ST Puma. So I’d imagine the Puma ST weighs only a smidgen more than the Fiesta ST.

Here, let Stefan Meunzinger, head of Ford Performance in Europe, lull you with his dulcet tones describing the Puma ST.

I’m here to declare that the Puma ST is good and fine and if anything I’d take it over the Fiesta ST to get that sweet sweet pano roof and a little more room to spread out inside. That is, if Ford sold any of these cars in America, which they won’t. Because they feel the EcoSport is all America needs in the subcompact CUV segment.

Womp womp.

Here’s more pics of the Puma ST.

onlytwowheels > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 11:50

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So, is this Ford’s Mini Countryman?

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 11:56

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Agreed(ish). The Puma ST is OKish, as even though it takes a dump all over the coupe history of the name it at least looks interesting and seems to be pretty much just a fractionally  larger, different looking Fiesta ST. The EcoSport is a slap in the face. Its ugly, it's gutless, it has shit dynamics, it doesn't have as much usable interior space as the shape would suggest, and on top of all that it's kind of expensive. 

Textured Soy Protein > onlytwowheels 10/08/2020 at 11:58

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The closest comparison that comes to mind is the Puma ST is like the GLA 45 AMG to the Fiesta ST’s A 45 AMG.

412GTI > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 11:58

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I think it’s fine too. People get really upset at bringing back brand names that barely have any equity in them as is. Like who’s been thinking of Puma’s before this thing came out. And the reality is..people will buy this. Not a small, compromised coupe. Of course, if they did bring back something like the original we’d still find something to bitch about when the sales come back low.

The idea of a small, fun CUV is one I kind of like. Can bomb around without having to worry about bad road surfaces as much. I always liked driving the GLA45 AMG for that reason and why I wish they brought out a hotter version of the Alltrack. 

Textured Soy Protein > 412GTI 10/08/2020 at 11:59

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Funny you mention the GLA 45...

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/1845313004

412GTI > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 12:01

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Yep, exactly! I think the T-Roc R would be similar too (although a lot more powerful).

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 12:05

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Except the (new) GLA45 is going to have 400 horsepower...

But yes.

Jim Spanfeller > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 12:06

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GM: We’re bringing back the Blazer!

Enthusiasts: Good! Now take a page out of Ford’s book and make a vehicle that respects the original’s legacy.

GM: Like the Ford Puma?

Enthusiasts: Not that page!

GM: Too late...

Joking aside, I agree this vehicle looks fun. Why do we have to have the garbage EcoSport instead of this? Why does the EcoSport even exist when the Puma exists? The EcoSport looks dumpy, whereas the Puma looks interesting and cute and fun, and interesting-looking crossovers actually sell well in America! The Puma would probably sell a lot better than the EcoSport! And if anything, to an enthusiast it just looks like a lifted Focus. In other words, better for rallying! Why, Ford? Why?

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 12:08

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What in Sam Hi ll is a puma! ?

@1:55 if you're unaware.

Textured Soy Protein > Jim Spanfeller 10/08/2020 at 12:14

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T he EcoSport was designed in and intended for developing markets like Brazil and India. The Puma is only sold in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The EcoSport is built all over the world. In addition to Brazil & India it’s also made by factories in China, Vietnam, Thailand, Russia, and Romania. The Puma is built only in that Romania factory, which I think is also the source of US-market EcoSports.

I’d wager the EcoSport is much cheaper to build than the Puma. The subcompact segment in the US (even crossovers) is kinda brutal for profit margins. If I were to guess, only a select few models have decent margins, namely the Honda HR-V, Toyota CH-R, and maybe the Mazda CX-30 but it costs a lot more and is more premium.

flatisflat > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 12:15

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All the pros you point out about how this “isn’t that much of a CUV” are likely the demerits against Ford deciding to bring it here.  Mazda seems to be the most willing to toe the “hardly a CUV but call it one anyway” line, whereas all others seem more inclined to stretch that height measurement a couple more inches to appease our fat masses...

CompactLuxuryFan > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 12:16

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The Puma is only available in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand while everybody else gets the odious EcoSport. The regular Puma adds a mild hybrid system to the 1.0L EcoBoost for 153 hp and 180 lb ft. What the heck is Ford doing?

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 12:20

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Th e CH-R actually has nice materials on the inside. It’s still terrible at being a car because it seems to have significantly less practicality than a two door hatchback while also being ugly on the inside and outside but it didn’t strike me as cheaply made for its price point.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 12:21

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It’s less than two inches taller than a normal Fiesta. It’s a hatchback.

Svend > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 12:22

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As a European, it is sacrilege, while the Puma wasn’t an amazing car, it was simply a Fiesta made into a coupe, people had fond memories of having one, growing up seeing them and watching them racing.

Going from this,

To this,

To these.

If you want the CUV Puma, you can have it.

The Fiesta and Focus (previously Escort), we all grew up with them.

The Fiesta is in it’s seventh-eighth gen (depending who you ask).

The Focu s on it’s fourth gen, each of the first three gens had facelifts. While the vehicle it replaces, the Escort, which had seen six-seven generations since 1968.

These cars people grew up in, we're their first cars, etc... there were RSs, then later STs and RSs, so to see those ST badges on CUVs and SUVs, is sacrilege. In the U.S. the ST badge just means it's faster, sportier, etc... is just wrong, but that's modern day manufacturers and the way customers are, they don't want to know the history or evolution of it, just as long as it's a faster version of what others have, bigger, faster, rather, etc... 

Textured Soy Protein > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/08/2020 at 12:48

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Right, I mentioned the CH-R because Toyota and Honda can charge more, and dealers have to discount less,  by virtue of being Toyota and Honda. The HR-V is a better vehicle in every way, but Toyota people are brand loyal. 

Textured Soy Protein > CompactLuxuryFan 10/08/2020 at 12:48

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Because profit margins.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/1845313225

Textured Soy Protein > flatisflat 10/08/2020 at 12:54

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I’d say only really the CX-3 and CX-30 toe that line you’re describing. The CX-5 is Mazda’s best seller and it’s definitely a CUV. My wife drives one. They’re everywhere here in the DC area. It’s a better-than-average handling CUV, but calling it a tall hatchback is a stretch. 

She chose it because she felt the CR-V was too unweildy. Not that it’s big but the cowl is super high and it feels like you’re looking up out over the hood. The handling is fine but not especially fluid in turns. It kinda leans over, then takes a set and finishes the turn. The CX-5 has tidier dimensions, the hood is still big but the cowl is lower, and the handling, while not a performance car, is more natural feeling. So even though she’s far from “I need the sporty one!” it was more to her liking.

flatisflat > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 13:07

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Right, and the CX-3 and CX-30 are two toes more than the other manufacturers.  ;) 

Ssfancyfresh > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 13:24

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I was all in until i scrolled down to see the ST placement on the rear.

I’m out. Burn it. Burn them all. 

Textured Soy Protein > Ssfancyfresh 10/08/2020 at 13:27

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Lol that’s the hill you chose to die on? 

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 13:29

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I’m still holding out hope that the next gen Ecosport will be the Puma 

Textured Soy Protein > Svend 10/08/2020 at 13:30

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I get that, but judged on its merits as a car, the Puma ST seems fairly good. 

What if instead of Puma ST, Ford called it the FiestaCUV+ ST?

Ssfancyfresh > Ssfancyfresh 10/08/2020 at 13:31

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I’m petty, right . But I didn’t have a dog in this fight either way. Is it cute? Sure. Would I buy it if it was offered here? No.

Doesn’t the ecosport take up oxygen in this segment? Is it due for a replacement soon? Maybe some version of this will get here eventually.

Hopefully they fix the badge.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 13:34

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It has a shockingly claustrophobic back seat. Ever sat in the back of one? Don't. Ever tried to see out of one? You can't. It's just a terrible car at being a car. 

Svend > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 13:42

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How about similar but different to Fiesta, like Siesta!?

Textured Soy Protein > Ssfancyfresh 10/08/2020 at 16:04

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The EcoSport is the only Ford option in this segment for much of the world. It’s designed to be cheap and easy to manufacture in developing countries. Only Europe, Australia & New Zealand get the Puma. My guess is Ford sells the EcoSport rather than the Puma in the US because they don’t feel they’d earn big enough profit margins on the Puma.

SpeedSix > Svend 10/08/2020 at 17:36

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That just means Ford has to take the new Puma racing.

Since the subcompact (B-segment) market is withering compared to similar-sized CUVs, the FIA World Rally Championship should make a class for CUVs to race in.

Kar Wai Wong > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 18:54

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I still hate that they called it a Puma, it’s obviously not targeted at people with fond memories of the original , all it does is make them hate what is other wise probably a very good car. And most of the target audience don’t know/care for the original Puma. Compared to giving it a new name, it’s a lose-lose situation! I wish they just evoked the Puma name, like did what they did with the Ford Cougar  Ford Kuga, or the VW Scirocco  VW T-Roc. Call it the Ford Boomer! No?

Having said that I did warm up a bit to the name a bit when I read somewhere that said that the original Puma was a Fiesta based car aimed at a more trendy audience, and the new one is a Fiesta based crossover aimed at a more trendy audience. Also I do kinda see a resemblance, with the headlight shapes and the blank space between them. I can somewhat buy that the design team were at least partly inspired with the original. And I actually like that this is getting an ST version, to help tie into the original’s sportiness, as opposed to the Edge ST, which was just a warmed-over Edge Sport, or the soccer mom’s massive 7 seater Explorer . So yeah, conflicting car for me.

carcrasher88 > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2020 at 19:43

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How about Maverick? It’s already been used on three previous SUVs, why not another? Plus, it fits better with nameplates like Escape and Explorer.

Textured Soy Protein > carcrasher88 10/08/2020 at 20:11

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Maverick’s taken.

https://www.motor1.com/features/437597/2022-ford-maverick/

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > Svend 10/10/2020 at 03:01

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Didn't they name it Puma because it's a smaller Kuga (Cougar)? I'm not saying that it's still not sacrilege but for once they're being consistent in their naming. 

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > Textured Soy Protein 10/10/2020 at 03:04

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I like them and I wish they sold them here in the US. Every time I show it to a Ford salesman they all say that it would be a lot easier to sell than the EcoSport. I still don't know how Ford looked at the EcoSport and the Puma and picked the former for the US

Svend > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 10/10/2020 at 05:18

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That’s giving Ford too much credit for ingenuity. Lol.

What’s next a Ford Probe or Ford Proob?

The irony is the Puma was a good car that they ruined the name of with this new car , while the Cougar was a piece of shite brought to Europe that didn’t sell well, but as the Kuga SUV, is selling quite well.