Ford launches new Puma SUV, to be made in Craiova

Ford today unveiled the new Ford Puma – an SUV-inspired compact crossover that will be made in the Craiova plant in Romania.

The new Ford Puma introduces a new chapter in Ford’s design identity with charismatic styling cues including distinctive wing-top mounted headlamps and athletic, aerodynamic lines.

The new Puma joins Ford’s expanding line-up of SUV and SUV-inspired crossover models in Europe, including the Fiesta Active, Focus Active, EcoSport, Kuga, Edge, and the all-new Explorer Plug-In Hybrid. SUVs now account for more than one in five Ford vehicles sold in Europe, and sales rose more than 19 per cent in 2018.

Puma will go on sale at the end of the year, and will be produced at Ford’s Craiova Assembly Plant, Romania, following nearly 1.5 billion Euro investment since 2008.

Ford Puma uses the EcoBoost Hybrid 48-volt technology. The mild-hybrid powertrain seamlessly integrates electric torque assistance with a low-friction, three-cylinder 1.0‑litre EcoBoost petrol engine to deliver up to 155 PS.

Advanced driver assistance technologies delivering a simpler and less stressful driving experience include:

• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Speed Sign Recognition and Lane Centring, for effortlessly negotiating highway and stop-start traffic
• New Local Hazard Information, which can inform the driver of hazardous situations in the road ahead before they become visible to the driver or vehicle sensors

Puma is also the first vehicle in its segment to offer hands-free tailgate and Lumbar Massage Seat comfort and convenience technologies.

A palette of 10 vibrant exterior colours includes Blazer Blue, Frozen White, Race Red, Solar Silver, Agate Black, Lucid Red, Grey Matter, Desert Island Blue, Magnetic and Metropolis White.

Puma’s 125 PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine will deliver 131 g/km CO₂ emissions and 5.8 l/100 km fuel efficiency. A diesel powertrain option and seven-speed automatic dual-clutch transmission will join the line-up after launch.

Puma’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost and EcoBoost Hybrid powertrains also feature Ford’s industry-first cylinder deactivation system for a three-cylinder engine, which automatically switches off one the engine’s cylinders when full capacity is not needed, such as when coasting or cruising. The system can disengage or re-engage one cylinder in 14 milliseconds.

For the first time on a B-segment Ford, a rear wide-view camera captures a 180-degree view that can be displayed on a touchscreen inside the car – so passing pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles can be more easily seen when reversing out of parking spaces or driveways.