Ford Puma ST joins Ford Peformance ranks as a 197bhp hot crossover

Ford has confirmed that it will launch a performance version of its Puma compact SUV, offering Fiesta ST levels of performance from the small crossover.

The Ford Puma ST is the first SUV produced for Europe by the Ford Performance team, and uses the same 197bhp 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine as the Fiesta hot hatch.

Tweaked with a unique air intake and free-flowing exhaust, the turbocharged three-cylinder petrol will shift the larger Puma to 62mph in 6.7 second - just 0.2 seconds slower than the Fiesta. Torque for the Puma ST has been boosted to 236lb ft (up from 214lb ft) to improve responsiveness.

To make sure the Puma ST handles like an ST car should, it has undergone some serious toughening up beneath the surface. The rear twist beam is 40 per cent stiffer than the Fiesta ST’s and 50 per cent stiffer than the standard Puma’s in order to compensate for its higher centre of gravity. The force vectoring springs and anti-roll bars have also been specially tuned to maximise the Puma’s handling abilities and the steering response is 25 per cent faster than the standard car.