Ford Puma

Ford Puma (1997-2002)

The Ford Puma was a small sports coupe of the U.S. Ford Motor Company, which was developed and built by the Ford -Werke GmbH in Cologne. The cougar is technically based on the Ford Fiesta of the fourth series and was produced by the summer of 1997 to early 2002.

Model history

Because the platform of the Puma was derived from the parallel made ​​Fiesta, he was largely built on the same production lines in the Cologne Ford plant. Only in the body shop, there were separate production lines, which has been resorted to manual methods. For example, the doors were largely handcrafted and assembled. In the production of the Puma, the share of manual labor production was around 40 percent. It was built in a quantity of up to 220 units a day.

The trademark on the name Puma Ford acquired in 1995 by Brazilian sports car manufacturer Puma.

The standard engine included only in-line four -cylinder gasoline engines of the Zetec -S series. They ranged from 1998 to 2000 built 1.4 - liter engine with 66 kW ( 90 hp ) over the 1.6 -liter engine, which replaced the 1.4-liter and built up to the attitude of the model in 2002 was, with 76 kW (103 hp) to the 1.7 - liter engine with 92 kW ( 125 hp ), which was available throughout the construction period of the Puma. In a limited number of 500 copies of the Ford Racing Puma with 1.7 liter displacement and an output of 114 kW ( 155 hp ) was offered. It is only to right-hand drive, which were only available in the UK.

The new 1.7-liter engine was installed only in the Puma. This engine was the first European engine from Ford, which had a variable camshaft control.

Motor overview

Specifications

From Bj.2000 slices in front (Ø 258 mm ), drum rear, ABS

Motorsport

From 1999 to 2002 was the Ford Puma Cup branded cup and thus the motor sporting showpiece of Ford, he solved so that the Ford Escort Cup from. The races were run under the Beru Top 10, went on a race duration of 25 minutes plus one lap and started with an Indianapolis start. Points were awarded for the 15 top-ranked riders, extra points there for the pole position and the fastest lap of the race. Hazards was with vehicles from the Puma Cup special series that were built in the years 1999 and 2000 at the Ford plant in Cologne, for each vehicle had to be mentioned as a sponsor Ford dealer.

The basis of the 1.7 -liter engine, which was amended by ACS on behalf of Ford served. The engine had to do without the variable camshaft control. Instead, modified pistons, camshafts and a larger throttle valve were installed, the map has been modified to increase the maximum speed of 7200 min -1. The exhaust system has been specifically designed and built by Remus. This included a header, a controlled metal catalyst and a designed for Group N diameter of the exhaust system. In Cup -trim the car reached, according to Ford by an output of around 107 kW ( 145 hp ) and maximum torque of 160 Nm at 5300 min-1 was on.

The chassis consisted of racing springs from Eibach, racing shocks by KAW Suspension, front wheel hubs reinforced and reinforced rear wheel bearing. Power transmission was via a 1 -disc racing clutch from Sachs The brake system has been revised on the front brake discs were fitted by the Mondeo V6 and at the rear of the Escort RS 2000, also the master brake cylinder was enlarged. On ABS has been dropped with the Cup cars, just like on a power steering. In order to perform pit stops faster, possessed the vehicles via an air lift system for the first time in the national mass sports was used. After connecting a vacuum hose automatically drove three stamp from under the car that raised the car. Inside, next to a welded roll cage, a 4 -point safety harness, a race seat with lateral head support and a fire extinguishing system was installed. No changes to the vehicles were not allowed.

Although the Ford Puma Cup was originally to be played only three seasons, Ford decided due to the continued high demand and high acceptance in motorsport circles to align a fourth season in 2002. A total of 52 race cars were built, which were offered at a price of 39,950 DM.

Advertising

In a television commercial you saw the actor Steve McQueen died in 1980 the Ford Puma drive. The scenes are from the movie Bullitt from 1968, in which Steve McQueen drove a 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 Fastback.

Swell

  • Kittler, Eberhard: German cars since 1990, Vol 6, engine book publishing house, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-613-02052-1, pp. 26-28.
  • Ford Germany and freely available information material to the vehicle
  • Data for FRP taken from there to show the all the vehicle's side www.Fordracingpuma.com
342223
de