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The Ford Puma was a small coupé produced by the Ford Motor Company from 1997 to 2002, for sale in Europe. Puma was built only at Ford's Niehl plant in Cologne.
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Technical Details
All Pumas were front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 3-door (driver, passenger and rear hatchback) coupés with 2+2 seating. Typically they had 15-inch alloy wheels, and front disc and rear drum brakes.
Puma came in four versions over the years: 1.4 (90 bhp), 1.6 (103 bhp), 1.7 VCT (125 bhp), and 1.7 Ford Racing VCT (155 bhp), each of which powered by Ford's 16v Sigma engines branded as Zetec-SE. The car was based on the Ford Fiesta with new engines (from Yamaha), a new body and modified suspension, as well as other changes. 1.7 Pumas came with Ford's Variable Camshaft Timing (VCT) system, and both low speed TCS (traction control system) and ABS (anti-lock brakes system), 1.4 Pumas had an option of anti-lock brakes. Weighing approximately 1,050 kg (2,293 lb), the relatively decent amount of power was sufficient to give the car exciting performance. The 1.7 version accelerated from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in 8.6 seconds, and could accelerate from 30 to 70 mph (48 to 112 km/h) in 8.8 seconds.
Ford Racing Puma
The Ford Racing Puma was created by the Ford Rally specialist team at Boreham. It was produced in a limited run of just 500 cars, with the conversions being carried out by Tickford, Daventry UK. The vehicle featured a modified version of the 1.7 Zetec-SE engine as well as other modifications including wider bodywork and track front and rear, disc brakes to the rear and larger race-spec Alcon discs/4 pot calipers up front, Sparco bucket seats, blue Alcantara trim, 17" Speedline rims. This version was only sold in right hand drive format to the UK market. All 500 cars were produced in Ford Imperial Blue, which was not otherwise available on Pumas to the UK market.
Kit Car Variant
Ford also produced a Ford Puma Kit Car which was designed to be competed in rallying. The Puma's technical details: Engine Zetec SE all alloy, 4 cylinders, 16 valves, 1596cc. Power Over 200bhp at 9000rpm. Transmission Front wheel drive via Hewland 6-speed sequential gearbox. Limited slip differential. Suspension Front: Dynamic suspension MacPherson struts with adjustable spring platforms. Rear: Ford Racing trailing arm beam with adjustable dynamic suspension Brakes Front: Alcon 355mm diameter ventilated discs with 4 piston callipers Rear: Alcon 260mm diameter solid discs with 2 piston callipers.
Body Shell Welded steel safety roll cage. Front and rear wheel arches and bumpers in composite. Fuel Tank 55 Litre capacity FIA ‘bag’ tank located beneath rear floor. Wheels Tarmac: 7” x 17” aluminium wheels. Gravel: 6” x 15” aluminium wheels. [1] 2008 will see Luke Pinder contest the R2 class of the British Rally Championship in a Ford Puma [2]
Style and Advertising
Stylistically, the Puma followed Ford's New Edge design strategy, as first seen in the 1996 Ford Ka. While not as controversial as the Ka when it first appeared, the Puma did achieve critical acclaim for its well-proportioned and cat-like design cues. The Puma was memorable for its launch campaign that featured Steve McQueen. The original UK television advertisement used clips from the movie Bullitt and cut McQueen into the modern setting of a Puma in San Francisco. In late 2004, Ford once again used the McQueen footage for the first 2005 Ford Mustang commercial in the U.S.
Discontinuation
The Puma was only sold in Europe and was discontinued in 2002. Ford did not replace it with another small coupé, and instead introduced the Ford StreetKa, a two-seater convertible based on the Fiesta just as the Puma was. The StreetKa also borrowed the Puma's transmission and suspension. The discontinuation of the Puma seemed to herald the end of the small coupé market in Europe, with the Opel Tigra entering a short hiatus later on, as well as similar models from other manufacturers.
Next Generation
A new Ford Puma is rumored to be launching in 2008, a year after the new Fiesta based on the Reflex concept car shown in the Detroit Motor Show in 2006.[3]
Awards
- Puma was named Top Gear's car of the year for 1997 for the incredible feeling and driving sensation. [4]
- 2001 - What Car's Used Sports Car Of The Year- Ford Puma 1.7
- 2004 - What Car's Best Used Sporting Car of the Year Under £10,000 - Ford Puma 1.7[5]
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ Luke Pinder web site
- ^ Auto Express article - "Reborn Puma Set To Pounce"
- ^ Video: Top Gear Car Of The Year 1997 feature MPEG video featuring Tiff Needell driving a Ford Puma
- ^ What Car: Best Used Sporting Car of the Year 2004
External links
Owners' and Enthusiasts' Clubs
- RPOC Ford Racing Puma Owners Club
- ProjectPuma European Ford Puma Owners Club
- Pumapeople European Ford Puma enthusiasts club
- www.puma-team.eu Puma Team Europe
- Ford Puma Tribute Ford Puma International
- Fun-Cars Russian Ford Puma enthusiasts club
- Pumapeople.gr Hellenic Ford Puma Owners Club
- PumaFrance French Ford Puma Owners Club
- Pumadrivers Dutch & Belgium Ford Puma Club
- PumaCzech Czech Ford Puma Owners Club
- Ford Puma Club Italian Ford Puma Club
- Puma Club Belgium Ford Puma Club
- Club Pumy Polish Ford Puma Club
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