Ford has revealed a 1.0-litre hybrid Puma ST with an automatic gearbox

Ford has announced a slower, less powerful, mild-hybrid version of its really-very-good Puma ST. It is called… the Ford Puma ST Powershift.

As that name suggests, the new Fiesta-based SUV gets Ford’s seven-speed dual clutch gearbox (as opposed to the six-speed manual of the regular ST), allied to the most powerful version of the 1.0-litre three-cylinder mild-hybrid engine already available lower down the Puma range.

This beefed up little scrapper makes 168bhp and 183lb ft of torque thanks to a tweak to the car’s electronic brain, while the belt-driven starter-generator “engages energy recovery more quickly than in other applications” to enable even faster recharging of that 48V battery.

Naturally, it’s slower than the 197bhp three-pot Puma ST: 0-62mph in this downsized version takes 7.4s versus the 1.5’s 6.7s, though this car of course claims greater economy and fewer CO2s. Ford reckons on around 37mpg and 144g/km of CO2 for the baby ST, versus around 34 and up to 155g/km for the… other baby ST.

Numbers grinding your, um, automatic gears? Ford reassures us that this downsized ST still carries all the handling smarts of the more powerful version, including a much stiffer chassis, fancy springs and twin-tube dampers, a faster steering rack and bespoke front suspension componentry, and massive brakes.

Other carryovers from include the aero-enhancing front end – said to improve downforce by 80 per cent over a regular Puma – a rear diffuser and spoiler and the familiar ST accoutrements. No word on pricing as yet but expect it to come in a little shy of the 1.5-litre ST’s £31k.

Why, you may be wondering, would Ford Performance apply the ST badge onto a slower, less powerful mild-hybrid version of a really-very-good mini-SUV? “Responsive, rewarding, fun-to-drive Ford Performance dynamics are now set to be enjoyed by even greater numbers of SUV customers,” Ford said.

Find out why the regular Puma ST is a TG-rated 8/10 car here.