Review
Except this observation misses one crucial point: in terms of driving dynamics, the Fiesta is no common or garden supermini set the task of ferrying its passengers around with the minimum fuss or involvement. With accurate steering, semi-independent rear suspension and fine ride quality the Fiesta was born to be modified - and Ford's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) Team soon grabbed the opportunity to fettle the formula and the Puma was born.
With a wider track, lower ride height and stiffer bodyshell, the Puma's ride and handling characteristics were so far ahead of the humdrum Probe it was hard to believe there was a blue oval on the bonnet. And to boot, it's the best-selling car in its class with 10,848 registered sales last year, twice that of its nearest rival, the Vauxhall Tigra.
But now there's an even more enticing prospect available in the shape of the Racing Puma. As the name suggests, this is a car born out of the race-to-road-car school instigated by the Subaru Impreza Turbo, Mitsubishi Evo VI and Honda Integra/Accord Type R.
First impressions reveal that the final Racing version is little removed from the ST160 concept first displayed at the Geneva Motor Show last year: pumped-up wheelarches, a pronounced front splitter and rear apron, huge 17in Speedline alloy wheels shod on extra low-profile 215/40 rubber and Ford's wild Racing Blue paintwork give the game away, but it's still surprising how different it looks to the standard Puma. If the brief was to toughen up its 'cute' image, then Ford's engineers have done a fine job, particularly in side profile as the bigger wheels now squeeze in under the arches.
But the biggest changes are under the skin. The 1.7-litre 16v VVT engine gets a 30bhp boost to 153bhp at 7000rpm and 40% more torque with 162lb-ft at 4,500rpm - plus new camshafts, inlet manifold and a tuned exhaust. To handle the extra power channelled through the front wheels, Ford has uprated the springs, dampers, brakes and widened the front and rear track by 35mm and 45mm respectively.
All the conversion work is carried out by Tickford Engineering, which is set to produce just 1,000 examples for the UK market only. Ford taught all its rivals a valuable lesson when it launched the '97 version, because the Puma isn't just about posting the best acceleration or maximum speed times, but reaching your destination with the biggest smile on your face. And one look at the performance figures justifies this argument: 0-60mph takes 7.9secs (down from 8.6secs) and top speed is only 4mph faster at 126mph.
Thankfully, the engine tweaks allow for better breathing and as a consequence the Racing Puma is immensely tractable at low revs, pulling cleanly and smoothly right to the limit. There's no doubt you have to push the Racing Puma to get the best from it, but with its rorty exhaust note, sharp steering and close-ratio, snappy gearchange this is a thrilling experience and it's actually deceptively fast in return. On the one hand, the stiffer suspension firms up the ride to such a point that even the smallest bump comes crashing through the cabin - rumble strips particularly are an uncomfortable experience - but the pay-off is glue-like grip and with the level of body stiffness that's more akin to a race car, cornering roll is non-existent.
Ironically, even though the Racing Puma is destined only for these shores, the car's extraordinary ability to eat up fast B-roads means it is, sadly, a little too accomplished for most UK roads given the number of congested or poorly maintained routes around the country.
Inside, the electric blue exterior hue has been carried over to the Alcantara suede-trimmed Sparco racing seats, door panel inserts and steering wheel rim. But this is no stripped-out racer: single-slot CD, air conditioning, Quickclear windscreen, electric door mirrors and twin airbags are all standard features and for another £250 there's a Track Pack kit which adds a limited slip differential for added stability and traction.
But for all its agility and devilish styling, it must be said that the Racing Puma is one very expensive conversion. At £22,750, it's almost £8,000 more than the standard car and you'll need to be a very keen driver to be convinced that the Racing Puma delivers £8,000 worth of extra enjoyment. But it's definitely fun trying.
