New Ford crossover launching in South Africa – pricing and features
Ford has confirmed that its compact crossover Ford Puma SUV is coming to South Africa in October 2023 – with a starting price of R569,900.
This new crossover is replacing the now-discontinued Ford Ecosport and is expected to rival other popular crossovers, such as the Hyundai Venue, Mazda CX-3, and Volkswagen T-Cross.
The Puma fuses distinctive coupe-like styling with a 1.0l turbo EcoBoost turbo engine and has become a favourite in Europe’s compact SUV segment. The Puma will capitalise on the rapidly growing compact crossover category, says Doreen Mashinini, GM for marketing at Ford South Africa.
Features
The new Puma is well-equipped as standard with the entry-level Titanium offering:
- “canoe-shaped” LED lights and daytime-running lights;
- LED fog lamps;
- 17-inch alloy wheels;
- Chrome elements for the grille, side skirts, and fog lamps;
- A metallic grey rear diffuser and skid plate; and
- high-gloss black window surrounds.
Also standard is a leather steering wheel, wood-effect appliques for the cluster bezel and instrument panel, fabric inserts for the door interiors, and cloth seats with Metal Grey stitching.
Regarding technology, the entry-level Puma will also include:
- A wireless charging pad, an 8-inch infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto,
- Satellite navigation and keyless entry; and
- FordPass Connect support enables a range of functions, such as a vehicle locator, vehicle status checker, remote door lock/unlock, and remote start via a smartphone.
The range-topper ST-Line Vignale then adds adaptive LED lights, a matte-black grille, high-gloss fog lamp surrounds, signature lower wing elements, a functional roof spoiler, puddle lights on the wing mirrors that illuminate the ground with the Puma logo, unique 18-inch wheels, and sports suspension with specially-tuned springs and shock absorbers.
The ST-Line Vignale provides additional features like a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, keyless start, front seats with lumbar massage and a “slim-back” design for more rear knee-room, an adjustable driver seat, a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, and a hands-free tailgate.
Ford also provides an optional Driver assistance pack, which offers adaptive cruise control, blind-spot information with cross-traffic alert, front parking sensors, a rear wide-angle camera, active park assist with perpendicular parking, and a driver impairment monitor.
Performance
the Puma line-up is fitted with a 1.0-litre, turbo-petrol engine – providing 92kW and 170Nm, via a seven-speed automatic shifter.
This configuration provides five Selectable Drive Modes, namely Normal, Eco, Slippery, Trail, and Sport, as well as an auto start-stop function.
Although the official consumption and acceleration figures for the Puma have not been revealed, Ford guarantees that it strikes the perfect balance between fuel efficiency and performance.
Pricing
The South African pricing and model line-up for the new Ford Puma are as follows:
- Ford Puma Titanium – R569,900
- Ford Puma ST-Line Vignale – R613,900
Each purchase is accompanied by a 4-year/120,000km warranty and four years of roadside assistance.
Ford Puma ST-Line Vignale
Read: SUV showdown – the top 12 models you can buy under R600,000 in South Africa
Ford is set to release a new compact SUV in South Africa next month.
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