Puma leaps into the electric jungle

Ford is undergoing some of the biggest changes in its history. In 2023, it axed one of Britain's favourite cars, the Fiesta, to move its attention towards an electrified SUV future. But the smallest car in its model lineup, the Puma, shares its underpinnings with the Fiesta and was the UK's bestselling car last month.

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To further boost its appeal, Ford has fitted it with an electric drivetrain. Here's the Puma Gen-E.

WHAT'S NEW?

All the changes lie under the bonnet, with the car now powered by electricity. There have been some subtle styling tweaks and a few new exterior paint schemes.

Also, the car comes with lots of interior storage features and there is a redesigned centre console too.

WHAT'S UNDER THE BONNET?

There is just one option available, and that's a 43kWh battery pack with a single electric motor.

It produces a total of 165bhp and 290Nm of torque, while 0-60mph is dispatched in eight seconds and the car will run out of steam at 99mph.

Ford claims it can travel up to 233 miles on a single charge and that 100kW DC rapid charging will get it from 10% to 80% in 23 minutes.

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

The character from the original car has not been lost. Around town, the one-pedal drive mode makes driving effortless, and its compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre.