Ford has already revealed the Puma compact Crossover to the world, but at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, the company has showcased the top-spec Titanium X Trim. The top-spec trim comes with premium comfort and convenience technologies, and the new Puma Titanium X is the first Ford to feature removable and washable seat covers, and segment-first lumbar massage seats. Operated with the push of a button, the electronically adjustable seats feature a three-bladder massage system with adjustable rolling directions and three levels of intensity. The inflatable bladders also enable the upper, central and lower seat back contours to be adjusted incrementally - helping driver and front seat passenger fine-tune their seating position for greater comfort.
There's also wireless charging for smartphone devices, segment-first hands-free tailgate, and a premium B&O Sound System. The exterior of the Puma Titanium X sees pronounced wheel arches - resulting from optimisation of the Ford B-car architecture wheelbase and track - and it gets exclusive 18-inch, 10-spoke Pearl Grey alloy wheels. There are high gloss black finishes and chrome highlights for the honeycomb grille, and for the fog lamp bezels that are integrated into the functional front air curtain inlets.
The Ford Puma Titanium X rides on 18-inch wheels, 10-spoke alloy wheels
The same treatment features for the side-skirts, while the rear diffuser element and skid plate feature metallic grey highlights. Body-coloured, heated wing mirrors include integrated indicators and puddle lights that illuminate the ground adjacent to the door when opened.
On the inside, it gets a leather-effect steering wheel, wood-effect appliques surrounding the cluster bezel and instrument panel, and contemporary fabric inserts for the door interiors. It comes with Ford SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system while using wireless charging, allowing Puma drivers to control audio, navigation and connected smartphones using simple voice commands. There's Apple Carplay and Android Auto too. There's more for those wanting additional comfort. It gets dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control, rain-sensing windscreen wipers and rear parking sensors.
The Ford Puma Titanium X sees high gloss black finishes and chrome highlights for the honeycomb grille
The Puma is among the first to benefit from Ford's sophisticated mild-hybrid architecture. It gets the EcoBoost Hybrid technology for the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine with an 11.5 kW belt-driven integrated starter/generator (BISG), which enables recovery and storage of energy usually lost during braking and coasting to charge a 48 volt lithium-ion air-cooled battery pack.
The BISG also acts as a motor, seamlessly integrating with the low-friction, three-cylinder engine and using the stored energy to provide torque assistance during normal driving and acceleration, as well as running the vehicle's electrical ancillaries.
Offered in 123 bhp and 151 bhp variants, the self-regulating mild-hybrid system can utilise the stored battery charge to deliver torque substitution - reducing the amount of work required from the petrol engine for a fuel efficiency improvement of up to 9 per cent, based on WLTP analysis; or torque supplementation - increasing the total torque available from the powertrain for optimised performance.
Standard driver assistance technologies designed to make the Puma Titanium X driving experience more comfortable, less demanding and safer include Ford's Lane-Keeping System, further enhanced with Road Edge Detection functionality. The system can now recognise where a paved road transitions to an impassable surface, such as a soft verge, gravel hard shoulder, or grass, and apply torque to the steering wheel to prevent the vehicle from drifting off the carriageway.
In addition, standard Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection can detect people who are in or near the road ahead, or who may cross the vehicle's path. The system is designed to reduce the severity of some frontal collisions involving vehicles and pedestrians, or help drivers avoid some impacts altogether. Puma features an enhanced version of the technology with a wider camera angle that helps better track pedestrian movements.
