2024 Ford Puma Electric Vehicle: Extended Range, Affordable Price

author: FutureCar Staff    

Ford of Europe is facing challenges in market share and profitability, but the automaker is determined to phase out all combustion-engined vehicles in the region by the end of the decade. The Puma subcompact crossover, manufactured in Romania, plays a crucial role in Ford's transition to an EV-only lineup in the European Union and the United Kingdom.

The Puma, introduced in 2019, takes its name from the small coupe produced between 1997 and 2002. Designed by a team led by Thomas Morel, this B-segment crossover serves as an indirect replacement for the Fiesta in Ford's European lineup. It offers a range of 1.0- and 1.5-liter turbocharged engines and is exclusively front-wheel drive. Ford plans to introduce an electric version of the Puma in 2024.

According to Auto Bild, a prominent German motoring publication, the Puma EV is expected to have a starting price of 36,000 euros, which is equivalent to $39,300 dollars. While this may seem high at first glance, it is in line with competitors such as Peugeot's e-2008, another B-segment crossover. The Puma EV is also priced nearly 6,000 euros lower than the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense, which offers a driving range of 402 kilometers (250 miles) on the WLTP combined test cycle.

The Puma EV is projected to have a WLTP combined range of approximately 400 kilometers, making it an attractive option in the increasingly competitive electric vehicle segment. Production of the Puma EV will occur alongside the combustion-engined versions of the vehicle. The combustion-engined Puma ST, for example, features a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with over 200 metric horsepower (197 horsepower).

Instead of developing a new platform, Ford has adapted the Global B-car vehicle architecture for the Puma EV. This platform is also used for the Transit Courier and Tourneo Courier, small vans that offer various engine options, including a 1.0-liter EcoBoost, a 1.5-liter EcoBlue four-cylinder turbo diesel, and a 136-ps (134-hp) electric drive unit.

The E-Tourneo Courier, a five-seater van with electric capabilities, was launched in May 2023, and deliveries are expected to begin in late 2024. It can add 87 kilometers (54 miles) of driving range in just 10 minutes of DC fast charging. Charging from 10 to 80 percent takes less than 35 minutes, while a full charge from 10 to 100 percent using AC charging requires 5.7 hours.

According to the press release for the E-Tourneo Courier, the Puma EV is set to debut by 2024, indicating that its launch is just months away. Like the E-Tourneo Courier and E-Transit Courier panel van, the Puma EV is likely to feature a one-pedal driving mode. However, Ford has not yet disclosed the battery capacity or WLTP combined range for either van.

FutureCar Staff