The Ford Puma ST Gold Edition is the result of a query from the oval brand to its followers on social networks about how they wanted the most radical Puma to be. What makes this limited edition of the sports crossover special?
The Puma is the best-selling car in Europe with the blue oval badge and it makes sense that it is chosen to create an explosive version with the essence of the classic GTI utility vehicles but with an SUV body. With that intention was born Ford Puma STa true benchmark in a category where its main rival is the Hyundai Kona N.
The fan base of Ford’s sporty models is very large so it was a good idea consult your followers on social networks how they wanted the ideal Puma ST to be. Offering two options for each element, more than 275,000 people were able to choose the key features of its design and even the name of the edition.
The result is the Ford Puma ST Gold Edition, a black car with gold accents, racing stripes on the hood, and red brake calipers. Something that a priori it seems a bit badass, let’s not fool ourselves. In practice, the set is well resolved and attractive, or at least that’s what it has seemed to me in the days that I have been able to enjoy a unit.
Under the hood of the outgoing Puma ST Gold beats the same heart that animates the standard Puma ST I tested last year. There are no changes here and they are not missing either because it is a 1.5 Ecoboost three-cylinder petrol engine inherited from the Fiesta ST and has extraordinary performance.
develop 200 hp which are sent to the front axle and is linked to a six-speed manual gearbox. Despite being a three-cylinder engine the exhaust has a nice and sporty sound, with a serious tone that even sometimes some detonation is allowed. It’s a good soundtrack for a high-performance vehicle.
Ford’s urban crossover makes a bold statement that it can break the 100 km/h barrier from a standstill in just 6.7 seconds and keep pushing to 220 km/h. Despite its high performance, fuel consumption is moderate. Of course it depends on how many joys one wants to give with the accelerator but the usual thing will be around a reasonable 7.5 l/100 km.
At a dynamic level there are no changes except for the small note that the Gold Edition comes standard with the Performance Package, which is optional in the normal ST. This pack includes launch control and gear indicator lights as well as a limited slip differential that improves behavior when spirited driving is practiced. This system distributes engine torque between both front wheels to improve traction and reduce understeer in corners.
With that differential LSD and elements like the Launch Controlthe Puma ST looks beyond the road and invites you to be squeezed on the circuit during the track days. To make the most of its features, the crossover has four selectable driving modes: Eco, Normal, Sport and Circuit. This last program disables traction control and makes stability control more forgiving allowing a certain slippage of the rear to ensure a smile on the driver’s face.
The Puma ST is fun and drives very well, although, to be honest, not as well as a Fiesta ST. The utilitarian is perceived as more balanced in his behavior. In return, the crossover is a sports car with a great versatility of use thanks to its superior habitability and its large 456 liter trunk. This generous capacity is achieved with the ingenious Megabox, a compartment located under the floor.
Where the main novelties of this limited edition of the most powerful Puma on the market can be seen is at an aesthetic level. A sports car must have great performance but also it has to be visually appealing. Has to cool. And, let’s face it, the Puma ST Gold Edition cool.
The first thing that stands out is that the bodywork of Ford’s little rocket is dressed in Agate Black exterior color with large stripes in dark gray with gold trim that run along the hood and roof. I personally would have liked them to continue on the tailgate because the rear is identical to the conventional Puma ST.
A good suit must be combined with good shoes and for this very special Puma the community of Ford fans has opted for some 19-inch gold wheels which otherwise maintain their five-twin-spoke design as the regular ST. The additional touch is provided by the red brake calipers, a tone also chosen by the brand’s enthusiasts.
When one speaks of golden rims, the mythical rims that were mounted in the past by models such as the Subaru Impreza or the Renault Clio Williams immediately come to mind. On this occasion Ford has opted for a satin finish and a somewhat dull color so the result is relatively discrete. When they are given direct light, their yellow hue is more noticeable.
Behind the scenes there are also some exclusive elements. They highlight the superb sports seats from Ford Performance upholstered in black «Sensico» synthetic leather with two gold stripes. They are beautiful, very enveloping and surprisingly comfortable, not in vain are they AGR certified. The seat belt stitching is finished in gray instead of black.
Other specific details on this radical Puma are the door sill moldings with the inscription “Puma” instead of “Ford Performance”, the carbon fiber inserts that show off some parts of the dashboard and gold contrast stitching for the seats, steering wheel and dashboard.
As standard it is loaded with equipment with 12.3-inch digital instrument clusterBang & Olufsen sound system, keyless entry and start system, automatic climate control, SYNC 3 infotainment system with 8-inch touch screen or wireless charger for smartphones.
The icing on the cake of this collaborative design Ford is that it will be marketed in a limited series. Only 999 units will be built, each individually numbered, increasing its appeal both now and for its residual value in the future because it will be more coveted than the regular version. A exclusiveness which makes it worth paying extra to get the Ford Puma ST Gold Edition, available from 37,602 euros.