2023 Ford Puma ST Powershift coming

Ford of Europe will soon introduce the 2023 Ford Puma ST Powershift that will offer buyers the combination of a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol engine.

The new pint-sized 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine boasts a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that increases total power and torque from 92kW/170Nm to a more muscular 126kW and 248Nm of torque.

Those figures are enough for a 0-100km/h dash of 7.4 seconds, although still 0.7sec off the current Puma ST which comes with a larger 147kW/320Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo and, crucially, only a six-speed manual transmission.

This lack of an auto is a key reason why the faster small Ford SUV hasn’t been offered Down Under, but the warmer Powershift version could change that.

Enhancing its appeal, the smaller mild-hybrid 1.0-litre turbo features a belt-driven starter/generator that claws back energy under braking and can provide an added 7kW of power when needed.

As well as enabling peppier acceleration, the latest Puma can average 6.3L/100km while emitting 144g/km of CO2 – a modest, but still useful improvement over the Puma ST 1.5.

Contributing to the sporty feel, the new 1.0-litre turbo gets the more powerful ST’s active exhaust tech that alters the note emitted from the dual pipes depending on the driving mode.

In Sport mode, the seven-speed dual-clutch also holds gears longer, while a pair of steering wheel-mounted paddles add an extra level of engagement and allow triple downshifts when needed.

Improving agility, the Puma ST Powershift shares the regular ST’s uprated sports chassis that includes twin-tube dampers, thicker anti-roll bars, quicker steering rack and new suspension components that allow torque vectoring.

The new junior member of the Puma ST family also gets the more powerful car’s big brake package that features front discs that are 17 per cent larger than the standard version.

Externally, the Puma ST bags the familiar Ford Performance-developed splitter within the front bumper, a large rear roof spoiler and a rear bumper that integrates a diffuser. Large 19-inch rims are standard.

The Puma ST Powershift introduces a new Azura Blue paint for the range and is available with a gloss back finish on the roof, grille surrounds, mirror caps and rear roof spoiler.

Inside, there’s faux-leather sport seats, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a wireless charging pad, heated front windscreen, front and rear parking sensors and Ford’s SYNC 3 8.0-inch infotainment system.

European pricing has yet to be announced.

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