Ford Puma I (Coupe) gallery (1997–2002)

The original Ford Puma was a acclaimed front-wheel-drive compact sports coupe based on the Fiesta.

All photos 77 I (Coupe) 12 1997–2002 II (BX726) 48 2019

Right-hand drive car interior styled in dark grey and bright blue. The steering wheel features blue suede/alcantara inserts, and the seats have bright blue upholstery. The center console includes climate control dials, an OEM audio head unit, and air vents. An aluminum spherical gear shift knob and a branded badge are visible on the center tunnel.

Produced from 1997 to 2002 at Ford's Cologne plant, the original Puma was a compact coupe developed from the Fiesta Mk4 architecture. Renowned for its telepathic steering response and agile chassis tuning, its styling showcased New Edge design cues with cat-like headlamps. The cabin featured supportive sports seats and a solid aluminum gear knob.

Power came from high-revving Zetec-SE engines, topped by a 1.25-liter, 1.4-liter, and a bespoke 1.7-liter 125-hp unit with Nikasil cylinder plating co-developed with Yamaha. The ultra-rare Racing Puma (FRP) limited edition added wider steel wings, Sparco seats, and a tuned 155-hp engine. The lasting engineering impact of this generation remains a key benchmark in Ford's global model evolution history. Known for its dependable mechanical layout, the vehicle built a loyal customer base across diverse driving conditions. Offered with versatile feature packages, this iteration successfully balanced day-to-day usability with solid resale value.