Ford Puma
02-17-21, 09:32 AM
#16
Ford boss Jim Farley wants to see the 200-horsepower Puma ST in America
Ford entered 2021 sedan-free, which leaves room for more crossovers to join its American range. Company boss Jim Farley wrote that he hopes one of them will be an Americanized version of the Puma sold in Europe.
"[I] wish this came to North America and other markets," Farley wrote on his personal Twitter account. He quoted a 15-second video advertising the recently-launched Puma ST that was posted by Ford's British division.
Released in June 2019, and closely related to the Fiesta under the sheetmetal, the second-generation Puma is positioned near the bottom of Ford's crossover lineup across the pond. It slots between the EcoSport and the Kuga, which is known as the Escape in America. It's a design-led model that's available with a gasoline- or a diesel-burning engine, and the range includes a 200-horsepower ST variant (pictured) with a sportier design.
Could the Puma pick up where the Fiesta left off? It's not inconceivable, at least on paper. It stretches 164.8 inches long, 71.1 inches wide, and 60.5 inches tall, dimensions that make it about seven inches shorter than the Toyota C-HR and around seven inches longer than the EcoSport. It's wider and lower than the C-HR. In Europe, one of its most direct rivals is the second-generation Nissan Juke, which is not available in the United States.
Farley is the big boss, but it takes more than a tweet to bring a car here. Even assuming the Puma can pass an American crash test, it's likely too small to succeed in a market dominated by much bigger models.
Farley isn't the first CEO of a major carmaker to voice a desire to see European-market cars sold in America. In 2013, then-General Motors boss Dan Akerson said Opel's Cascada and Adam were on his wish list. Buick ended up getting the Cascada convertible for the 2016 model year, though production ended in October 2019 after a short and unremarkable career, and the Adam (which was aimed at the Fiat 500) never sailed across the Atlantic.
"[I] wish this came to North America and other markets," Farley wrote on his personal Twitter account. He quoted a 15-second video advertising the recently-launched Puma ST that was posted by Ford's British division.
Released in June 2019, and closely related to the Fiesta under the sheetmetal, the second-generation Puma is positioned near the bottom of Ford's crossover lineup across the pond. It slots between the EcoSport and the Kuga, which is known as the Escape in America. It's a design-led model that's available with a gasoline- or a diesel-burning engine, and the range includes a 200-horsepower ST variant (pictured) with a sportier design.
Could the Puma pick up where the Fiesta left off? It's not inconceivable, at least on paper. It stretches 164.8 inches long, 71.1 inches wide, and 60.5 inches tall, dimensions that make it about seven inches shorter than the Toyota C-HR and around seven inches longer than the EcoSport. It's wider and lower than the C-HR. In Europe, one of its most direct rivals is the second-generation Nissan Juke, which is not available in the United States.
Farley is the big boss, but it takes more than a tweet to bring a car here. Even assuming the Puma can pass an American crash test, it's likely too small to succeed in a market dominated by much bigger models.
Farley isn't the first CEO of a major carmaker to voice a desire to see European-market cars sold in America. In 2013, then-General Motors boss Dan Akerson said Opel's Cascada and Adam were on his wish list. Buick ended up getting the Cascada convertible for the 2016 model year, though production ended in October 2019 after a short and unremarkable career, and the Adam (which was aimed at the Fiat 500) never sailed across the Atlantic.
02-17-21, 11:06 AM
#17
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by article
Even assuming the Puma can pass an American crash test, it's likely too small to succeed in a market dominated by much bigger models.
Compact/subcompact crossovers are probably the fastest-growing segment of today's American auto market. Dealerships can't keep them in stock.
02-17-21, 12:17 PM
#19
Lexus Fanatic
02-17-21, 12:34 PM
#20
Lexus Champion
Personally I think this looks better than the EcoSport, and maybe the Escape too.
02-17-21, 07:02 PM
#21
Why wasn't this sold in the USA 2 years ago when it was introduced??? From what I've read its a much nicer car than the awful EcoSport. And I personally like the funky styling, its at least trying to be different. Figured it was too expensive, that's why its not sold here. Went to the Ford germany website, base price was about 18,000 euro, which in yankee units is about $21,700. So really about 23-24k in the mid-range trim like they'll all be equipped with on dealer lots. A mid level Escape has an MSRP of $27-29k, so pricing wise it SHOULD work. Federalizing it should be pretty easy, it earned top marks in the European crash tests which aren't that much different than the USA ones. Uses the same 1.0 3 cylinder turbo as the previous Fiesta, emissions shouldn't be an issue either.
02-17-21, 08:46 PM
#22
Lexus Fanatic
A strong argument can be made that the EcoSport was never really intended for the American market. As I understand it, it was developed in India, primarily as a city car in that country's enormous population. The Puma does look like it would be more of a fit here.
02-17-21, 11:52 PM
#23
I've also read that the EcoSport was developed with the 3rd world markets in mind, basically a small wagon with enough ground clearance/suspension travel/beefiness to tackle their crap roads without the cost of actually being a real 4wd truck. Sells for 799,000 rupees base price in India, $10,900 USD. Here they sell in the low $20,000 range, that's a damn insane markup considering the US spec cars are built in India and the design dates back to model year 2012. Ford probably makes just as much money selling 20,000 Ecosports as they would 200,000 Pumas here in the states lol.
02-18-21, 11:28 AM
#24
Lexus Fanatic
I've also read that the EcoSport was developed with the 3rd world markets in mind, basically a small wagon with enough ground clearance/suspension travel/beefiness to tackle their crap roads without the cost of actually being a real 4wd truck. Sells for 799,000 rupees base price in India, $10,900 USD. Here they sell in the low $20,000 range, that's a damn insane markup considering the US spec cars are built in India and the design dates back to model year 2012. Ford probably makes just as much money selling 20,000 Ecosports as they would 200,000 Pumas here in the states lol.
02-18-21, 11:51 AM
#25
Consider, though, the difference in the amount of both government-required and customer-required features on the American-spec vs. India-Spec EcoSport, and you will probably find much of that big difference in the pricing. And, with the exception of maybe some entry-level Subarus and Mitsubishis, you won't find much else in the U.S. besides the EcoSport available with AWD in the low-20s. As to what the Puma-pricing would be, we'll have to wait , of course, and see.
Ford EcoSport - $19,995
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport - $20,995
Subaru Crosstrek - $22,245
Nissan Kicks - $19,500
Chevy Trax - $21,300
Chevy Trailblazer - $19,000
Honda HR-V - $21,220
Mazda CX-3 - $20,790
Mazda CX-30 - $22,050
Jeep Renegade - $22,850
Hyundai Venue - $18,750
Hyundai Kona - $20,500
Kia Seltos - $21,990
02-18-21, 12:25 PM
#26
Lexus Fanatic
There are more than just Ford, Mitsubishi, and Subaru.
Ford EcoSport - $19,995
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport - $20,995
Subaru Crosstrek - $22,245
Nissan Kicks - $19,500
Chevy Trax - $21,300
Chevy Trailblazer - $19,000
Honda HR-V - $21,220
Mazda CX-3 - $20,790
Mazda CX-30 - $22,050
Jeep Renegade - $22,850
Hyundai Venue - $18,750
Hyundai Kona - $20,500
Kia Seltos - $21,990
Ford EcoSport - $19,995
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport - $20,995
Subaru Crosstrek - $22,245
Nissan Kicks - $19,500
Chevy Trax - $21,300
Chevy Trailblazer - $19,000
Honda HR-V - $21,220
Mazda CX-3 - $20,790
Mazda CX-30 - $22,050
Jeep Renegade - $22,850
Hyundai Venue - $18,750
Hyundai Kona - $20,500
Kia Seltos - $21,990
BY the time you add AWD, though, most of them are more into the mid-20s than low-20s. The Trailblazer, for example, also requires engine/transmission upgrades for AWD.
I specifically mentioned the Impreza (that's what I meant by entry-level Subie) because it comes with standard AWD at its base $18-19K price.
02-18-21, 01:04 PM
#27
BY the time you add AWD, though, most of them are more into the mid-20s than low-20s. The Trailblazer, for example, also requires engine/transmission upgrades for AWD.
I specifically mentioned the Impreza (that's what I meant by entry-level Subie) because it comes with standard AWD at its base $18-19K price.
I specifically mentioned the Impreza (that's what I meant by entry-level Subie) because it comes with standard AWD at its base $18-19K price.
back to the Puma. The design is growing on me, I even like that electric green paint on that ST. Silver is nice too
02-18-21, 03:10 PM
#28
Lexus Fanatic
back to the Puma. The design is growing on me, I even like that electric green paint on that ST. Silver is nice too
02-18-21, 03:12 PM
#30
Lexus Fanatic
By the way, Hoovey (or other moderators).......you might (?) want to merge this thread with one that I did last August, on whether or not the Puma should come to the U.S.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/car...o-the-u-s.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/car...o-the-u-s.html