We recently broke the news that the Ford Puma is coming to South Africa. Now we’ve unearthed fresh details, including the local line-up at launch and an idea of pricing…

As Cars.co.za exclusively reported earlier this week, the Ford Puma subcompact crossover is set to arrive in South Africa soon. Now we’ve managed to uncover fresh details, including the make-up of the local range at launch as well as an idea of pricing.

As a reminder, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) would tell us only that the Puma is “under consideration” for a local launch and therefore “not confirmed for South Africa”. However, our information suggests the Romanian-built crossover will roll onto dealership floors in the opening week of October 2023.

The Puma ST-Line Vignale in blue and the Titanium in red.

So, what do we know? Well, according to our source, the local Puma line-up will comprise 2 derivatives at launch: a 1.0 EcoBoost Titanium and a 1.0 EcoBoost ST-Line Vignale (or ST-Line V, for short). For context, in markets such as the United Kingdom, the Titanium grade plays the entry-level role, while the ST-Line Vignale is the range-topper – if you don’t include the full-fat 147 kW/320 Nm Puma ST, that is (a model that seems unlikely for our market considering theST versionof the 7th-generation Fiesta – which employed the engine – didn’t ever make it to SA ostensibly due to fuel-quality concerns).

In South Africa, the Puma will launch with a single engine option in the form of the Blue Oval brand’s familiar turbocharged 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine (likely with peak outputs of 92 kW and 170 Nm). We now understand both the Titanium and ST-Line Vignale variants will ship standard with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, which means there will be no option of a 6-speed manual gearbox (at first, anyway).

The Puma ST-Line Vignale ships standard on sport suspension.

The Puma ST-Line Vignale – which scores a sportier suspension set-up than standard, dropping the ride height slightly (from 166 to 164 mm) – is set apart by exterior styling details such as a satin aluminium grille (and surround), an ebony-coloured lower air intake, a body-coloured lower rear bumper and a larger rear spoiler. The Puma Titanium, meanwhile, is easily identified by the black plastic cladding affixed around the lower part of its body.

While detailed local specifications have yet to come to light, we expect the flagship ST-Line Vignale derivative to boast features such as a 12-inch digital cluster, wireless smartphone charging, a premium sound system, keyless entry, leather seats (with a massage function up front), a powered tailgate and 18-inch alloy wheels.

A look at the rear end of the Puma Titanium.

What about pricing for the Ford Puma? Well, though these figures are by no means official nor confirmed, our source says we can expect a starting price of “between R580000 and R630000”.

As a reminder, the Puma measures 4 186 mm long in standard guise (and 4 207 mm in ST-Line form), with a wheelbase of 2 588 mm. That means the Ford is slightly shorter from nose to tail than the likes of the Volkswagen T-Cross (currently priced from R399000 to R541900), Renault Captur (R469999 to R499999) and Peugeot 2008 (R464900 to R554900).

Based on the above pricing estimate, the Puma may well find itself competing with slightly larger models such as the Honda HR-V (R499900 to R599900), though perhaps its most natural rivals will be the Opel Mokka (R489900 to R539900) and Hyundai Kona (R509 900 to R641900, excluding the “N”), to which it is closer in size.

We expect the Puma ST-Line Vignale to ride on 18-inch alloys.

Though the Puma seems unlikely to be positioned as a driver of significant volumes, the Dearborn-based company’s local division will nevertheless surely be glad to add a fresh-to-SA model (even one revealed as long ago as mid-2019) to its passenger-vehicle line-up.

Why? Well, production of the EcoSport hasofficially endedat both the Chennai facility in India and the Craiova plant in Romania, and local stock is starting to run dry (just 20 units were registered in South Africa inJuly 2023). Though it won’t serve as a direct successor to the more budget-friendly EcoSport, the Puma will at least bolster apassenger-vehicle line-upthat has effectively been reduced to the outgoingMustangandnew Everest. As a reminder, theFiesta was discontinued locallyin March 2022 (before Ford pulled the plug globally), with theFigofollowing soon thereafter.

More details on the Puma when we have them…

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