Mild-hybrid power option

FORD is on a big electrification push A division is part of it, with the big-selling Puma ST now available with an electrified, mild-hybrid powertrain mated to a sevenspeed automatic gearbox.

- Sean Carson

Both are firsts for the Puma ST, which has been manual-only up to now. The engine is the most powerful of Ford's MHEV-equipped 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost units and features a 48V electrical system and a small, belt-driven starter/generator fed by a compact lithium-ion battery to deliver 168bhp and 248Nm of torque.

This results in a 0-62mph time of 7.4 seconds, 0.7 seconds slower than the more powerful 197bhp 1.5-litre model. This puts it on par with warm SUV rivals such as the DSG-equipped VW T-Roc 1.5 TSI 150 R-Line. Ford's mild-hybrid tech delivers claimed fuel consumption of 44.8mpg and 144g/km of CO₂ emissions in the new Puma ST Powershift variant.