Ford puma

The idea of ​​creating a sports car of a small class arose at the end of 1993. The designers built a sports coupe on a mass platform, the design of which was completely developed on a computer in 135 days. For comparison, the usual term was at least a year.

Ford Fiesta IV was taken as the base, which was lengthened, the body was completely changed, the suspension was modified to sports, the springs were strengthened, a more powerful anti-roll bar was added at the front, the stiffness of the twisted beam at the rear was increased by 30%, the overhangs and the angle of the windshield were increased. In general, an interesting car in the corporate style of New Edge turned out, and the creation of the Ford Puma cost the company more than $ 66 million.

White dashboards and aluminum inserts are installed on the dashboard and dashboard. The front seats are comfortable, with lateral support, but the back seat was small, even for people of medium height.

Ford Puma was equipped with a 4-cylinder 16-valve Zetec SE injection engine with a volume of 1.4; 1.6 and 1.7 liters., Power from 90 to 125 hp (Forced 1.7 liters., Standing on the Racing Puma was a power of 155 hp). The volume was increased by the bore of the cylinders (diameter 80 instead of 76 mm) and elongation of the piston stroke (83.5 instead of 76.5 mm). For the first time, Ford used a variable valve timing mechanism developed in conjunction with the INA Motorenelemente Schaeffler KG in an engine. It is worth noting the 5-speed mechanical short-speed gearbox, which produced a flat torque characteristic, 85% of which is provided in the range of 1500-6750 rpm. The front-wheel drive axles were of equal length, which improved the stability of the Ford Puma under sharp accelerations, especially in corners and when changing lanes. The clutch is hydraulically driven. Fuel consumption was 7.4 l / 100 km.

The designers paid special attention to the stability of Puma on wet surfaces at high speeds. Between the extreme positions of the steering wheel is 2.9 turns, the turning diameter is 10 meters. Ventilated disc brakes in front, drum left behind. Low-profile tires on wide discs are available in only one size - 195/50, and four-channel ABS is standard.

Trunk volume is 240 liters, and with the rear seats folded down - 750 liters.

Engines

Millennium

Years of production: 1999 (V) - 2000 (X)

• Quantity (produced): 1000
• Peak amount recorded in DVLA (UK): 899 (2001 Q4)
• Quantity registered in DVLA (UK): 249 (plus 180 SORN) as of Q1 2017

The Millennium Edition cars were released in honor of the Design Council's Millennium Products Award in 1999 for being “the first Ford in the UK to develop computer-only and record-breaking time” . Zinc yellow paints and leather interior Alchemy Blue (dark / dark blue) with Recaro seats were presented. A numbered badge and keychain were available upon purchase. Ford Ka & Focus also received this award, and were also made in the same quantity and with the same equipment (paintwork, but with a black leather interior).

Black

Thunder

Ford Racing Puma

Puma was sold in Europe until 2002, and Ford decided not to replace this model with another brand of a small coupe, but simply modified it to a two-seater Ford StreetKa , based on the Fiesta, just like the Puma that inherited the Ford Puma suspension and transmission.

There were rumors of a new generation of Ford Puma in 2009, a year after the 2006 Fiesta showcased the new generation Fiesta based on the Reflex concept car at the 2006 North American Auto Show . A new generation of Capri was due out in 2010.

• Top Gear ( BBC ), called the 1997 Ford Puma a car for handling and an indescribable driving experience.
• In 2001 - As the Best Sports Car of the Year - Ford Puma 1.7.
• In 2004 - As The Best Sports Car of the Year For £ 10,000 - Ford Puma 1.7.