The Ford Puma, the new compact crossover that has climbed the sales charts. Among the reasons to choose it: the advantages of the hybrid system, the design and the space.
Among the main reasons to choose it: the advantages of the hybrid system, fuel efficiency and a responsive, rewarding driving experience. This is how Ford explains the Italian success of the Ford Puma Hybrid, the compact crossover that, thanks to its mild hybrid propulsion system (so-called "light" hybrid), allows — depending on local municipal regulations — access to economic and tax benefits, as well as entry into low-traffic zones. Second place in the ranking of best-selling hybrids in Italy in the first half of the year, according to Unrae, the Ford Puma — which may remind some people of a small coupé that was popular in the 1990s — is today something else entirely. As mentioned, it is a crossover: an SUV with more road-oriented characteristics, practical, spacious and, at least in this case, sized to suit city driving as well. Two engines are available, with outputs of 125 or 155 horsepower. It is a fact that this represents the entry point to electrification, and is therefore less efficient than full hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. It is equally a fact that, partly thanks to less costly technology, the entry price is considerably more affordable, from around €22,600, while still retaining some of the benefits of a hybrid.
Under the bonnet of the Ford Puma Hybrid sits a petrol engine that has already received numerous accolades for its efficiency, having been awarded the International Engine of the Year prize six times. It is a small-displacement engine — just "one thousand" cubic centimetres — with 3 cylinders. Its efficiency is further enhanced in this case by a second electric motor/generator powered by a 48-volt lithium-ion battery. Belt-driven, this system replaces the traditional alternator, enabling energy to be recovered and stored during the vehicle's deceleration phases and recharging an air-cooled battery pack. The electric motor never drives the wheels directly. And there is no fully electric range. There are other advantages, however: during braking and descents, the hybrid element of the Ford Puma recovers energy, recharging the battery and thereby powering the car's electrical components.
Using the recovered electrical energy, the hybrid component adds power to the combustion engine, producing livelier acceleration — in this case comparable to a 1,500 cc engine. Naturally, when the vehicle is stationary, at a traffic light or in a queue, the engine switches off automatically; a particularly efficient system in the city, where it helps reduce both consumption and emissions. Add in the appealing performance, the successful exterior design and an acceptable price, and you have the reasons for the success seen during the first months of the year. "Since its launch, Puma has excited customers because it combines a design with flowing lines with an intelligent approach to space and an innovative powertrain," said Fabrizio Faltoni, president and managing director of Ford Italy, on the Italian sales success of the Puma Hybrid.
The other aspect that, again according to Ford, contributed to the Puma Hybrid's sales success is driving pleasure and the ability to adapt several operating modes to one's own style or to road conditions. Ford calls it Drive Modes: a system that allows the driver, by pressing a button, to adapt the throttle, steering and traction control to the type of need at hand. Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery (low grip) and Trail (off-road) are the five available options, identified graphically on the instrument cluster in front of the driver's seat — a practical aid to making the most of the Puma Hybrid's efficiency and a contribution to the adoption of more sustainable driving styles.
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