Wednesday 13th June 2012

PH Blog: Ford's secret launch weapon

Why a reincarnated Puma is still at the heart of every Ford product launch

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Ford's reach extends a long, long way beyond the UK and while the new Focus ST is the brand's first 'global performance car' there's no hiding the sense, official or not, that the spiritual home of this kind of fast Ford remains in the UK. True, the development chief is a German and the ST will be sold in 40 countries. But the team organising the international launch for the car in Nice are Brits. And the car they choose out of the whole Ford stable for scoping out suitable test routes is ... an old Puma press car!

Wondering why exactly there was a Brit-registered, left-hand drive Puma lurking in the wings on a new product launch I asked about and ended up directed to launch organiser Steve Woolmington. So, Steve, why the Puma?

Steve loves the Puma, so why use anything else?

"We've all got a favourite fast Ford and this is mine," he grins, his role as launch route man coinciding with the arrival of the Puma back in the 90s. "It's actually an old press car that got used on the launch and spent a bit of time in the States, where it got crashed. They sent it back for us to scrap it but we looked at it and thought 'we can get that going again' so we did and it's been around ever since! We used it as a support vehicle on launches and after a while you just develop an affection for these kind of things."

Which means wherever Steve goes to recce launch routes around Europe the Puma goes with him, its simplicity, scrappy, seat-of-the-pants enthusiasm and chuckability just the thing for zipping back and forth along roads like the Col De Vence and leaving the launch cars free for the hacks.

The gleaming paintwork and immaculate condition attest to the affection in which it's held, the Puma still the pick of the fleet for Steve thanks to its simplicity. "It's got rain sensitive wipers - I switch them on when it rains - and the road sign recognition works as well as it does on the new cars ... I read them as I'm driving along and I know what the speed limit is!" he winks. "Seriously though, it reminds us of how far we've come. The steering is great but the low-speed ride is shocking which means it's great for assessing the state of the roads. I still love it and we still thrash it. I could use anything but I just like it!"

Fair play. And it's one of those little hints about the mindset of the guys at Ford that underlines that they're on our wavelength, like the after-hours Puma project that also came up in conversation over lunch. A 300hp four-wheel-drive mule running Focus WRC running gear nobody can quite recall what became of it. Sounds like a right giggle though...

Dan

[mat205125]

Still looks great after all these years.

Still looks at least an inch too high after all these years!

[Jobbo]

Perhaps the low speed ride would be less shocking if they reverted to the original 15" alloys, not 16" Sportka wheels.

[Dion20vt]

Always had a soft spot for the Puma! They're getting quite cheap now too!

I remember seeing a Racing Puma few years back and thought it was a good looking car, 150bhp(ish?) and alot of fun!! I bet they're quite rare these days?!

[Slurms]

I had one of these in Blue, it was brilliant - great fun to drive.

Why Ford has never made another I don't know.

[RobCrezz]

I wonder why they havent succeeded the Puma? The new Fiesta ST 1.6 Turbo would be a great base for a new Puma, the old one was a really big seller!

[0a]

RobCrezz said:

I wonder why they havent succeeded the Puma? The new Fiesta ST 1.6 Turbo would be a great base for a new Puma, the old one was a really big seller!

They should use a tweaked version of the new 1.0 ecoboost engine based on the 125bhp Focus one to make a fun economical car.

[Chrisw666]

Jobbo said:

Perhaps the low speed ride would be less shocking if they reverted to the original 15" alloys, not 16" Sportka wheels.

My guess is those wheels are covering better than standard brakes, but whenever I see a Puma on 16/17 inch wheels I feel a bit sad for the poor thing.

[rhinochopig]

I have a pic of that WRC Puma somewhere - or a similar set-up. Last I heard of it, if it was the same car, was that it was competing in the likes of the track-rod rally. Proper little rocket-ship it was.

[Limpet]

Keep trying to persuade the other half to get rid of her mk4 Golf and get a Puma. Problem is, I think she realises I would keep "borrowing" it.

[TheRacingSnake]

I think maybe the reason that the puma didn't do as well as it should have is it's image problem. It's seen as very much a girls/hairdressers car. Much the same as the MX5 also suffered although I think the MX5 has managed to get rid of this image problem to a large extent due to it's brilliant drive and sites like PH extolling it's virtues. I hope the same happen for the puma, I had one on loan from my garage for a couple of days and loved it. Cracking little motor.

[SSCooperS]

It'd be more original on the propellor alloys. I'm quite surprised it isn't, being a press car and all - it'd definitley sort the ride out. It's firm on standard wheels, but not uncomfortable - it's a very good compromise.

In comparison, the FRP is rock hard (I've owned both a standard 1.7 and FRP), and whilst the FRP is fun on smooth roads, on bumpier surfaces the standard car is actually better - it's much more compliant.

[thewheelman]

I found the Puma to be rather over rated, it handled well granted. Other than that it was slow & the interior was terrible. I know it was based on the Fiesta, but Ford could have made more of an effort on the interior styling.

[Frp']

A great blend of everything in a car.

My Racing Puma is of course something else entirely but the Puma always holds a place in the heart. Fantastic car from Ford and based on the Fiesta chassis is was always going to be a superb drive.

I've had more fun in a 1.25 MK5 Zetec Fiesta than i've had in way more expensive cars... maybe except the brakes!

Enjoy it for what it is and you'll love it.

[ukaskew]

Having been shopping around for a while it's such a shame rust is a massive issue on these. So many are scrapped because of it, it's seemingly impossible to control. Pretty poor for a car that is only just a decade old.

[mwstewart]

This Fiesta chassis is still one of the best handling platforms that Ford has made to date. The Focus RS may be more capable, but lacks the overall poise of this car.

[trickywoo]

The bizzare torque limiter on first coupled with the useless traction control, cripplingly uncomfortable seats, and woeful brakes runied an otherwise excellent car.

[10 Pence Short]

Mum had a 1.7 from new. It was a fantastic, flowing car with just the right blend of fun without having to drive particularly quickly.

[J4CKO]

I think the Puma will start to modestly go up in value such is the regard it is held in and such is the quality of the metalwork that they are dying left right and centre. I know the Tigra sold quite well but how did Ford get this car so right and Vauxhall produced something nowhere near as good to drive.

[Richard-G]

Frp' said:

A great blend of everything in a car.


I've had more fun in a 1.25 MK5 Zetec Fiesta than i've had in way more expensive cars... maybe except the brakes!

Enjoy it for what it is and you'll love it.

Same here, i had a 1.25, standard apart from a 15 mm drop on stiffer springs and a pipercross and it was sooo much fun on the twistys. Snap too on the poor brakes, single piston non vented fronts with drums on the rear

[soad]

mat205125 said:

Still looks great after all these years.

Still looks at least an inch too high after all these years!

Certainly does.

Agree with the second point too.