Image: Ford
Ford continues to exhibit a dedication to diversifying its EV lineup in Europe — a dedication that, frankly, I wish could also be applied here at home — with the reveal of the new, all-electric Puma Gen-E.
The Puma is a familiar nameplate in Europe, as the automaker’s best-selling vehicle there since it surpassed the Fiesta in salesin 2021. Now, it’s getting a fully electric powertrain to complement the hybrid EcoBoost options that were added four years ago.
The small, sporty Mustang Mach-E-looking subcompact crossover will get 376 km (233 miles) on a full charge, can charge from 10 to 80 percent in 23 minutes when hooked up to a 100kW DC fast charger, and will accelerate 0-100km/h in a not-totally-disappointing 8 seconds.
Storage is a key selling point for the Puma Gen-E, with Ford promising extra space in the extremely compact trunk thanks to something the company is calling the “GigaBox.” It’s basically an extra storage space underneath the floor of the trunk for additional items, a feature found in most EVs today but of added relevance to the Puma thanks to its small stature.
Ford says the GigaBox can hold 145 liters (5 cubic feet) of storage, which is a bit more than what most vehicles offer and certainly bigger than the 2.8 cubic feet of space offered by the gas-powered Puma’s under-storage.
How small are we talking for this subcompact? The Puma Gen-E is 4214 millimeters (165.9 inches) long, 1930 mm (75.9 inches) wide, and 1555 mm (61.2 inches) tall. That’s smaller than the 2023 Chevy Bolt EV and by far the smallest vehicle in Ford’s lineup.
To compensate, Ford is giving its electric Puma a facelift in a variety of ways, including a very literal facelift with a new Mustang Mach-E-inspired shield design replacing the traditional grille. It’s also getting “unique alloy” wheels for an added “electric vibe” that come in two sizes: 17 inches for the standard trim, or 18 inches for the Premium version.
Image: Ford
Inside, a 12.8-inch center display will run on Ford’s Sync 4 operating system (no Android-based Digital Experience in Europe yet) and supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Ford is clearly hoping that the small, sporty, Bumblebee yellow Puma Gen-E can lift its sagging fortunes in Europe after the company was forced to idle the plant in Cologne where it makes the electric Explorer and Capri. The company also recently laid off 14 percent of its workers in Europe, with most of the cuts affecting operations in Germany and the UK.
Ford says the Puma Gen-E will go into production at its assembly plant in Craiova, Romania, using electric drive units built in Halewood, UK. The new EV is available to order today and will begin to make deliveries in spring 2025. Pricing has not been announced yet.