February 12: A Ford forcast

Chevrolet Trax

Blame this funny little vehicle from Chevrolet for opening the doors to all sorts of small, little or tiny vehicles to feed the ever increasing demand for anything resembling an suv. Rugged? All terrain conquering? Not really. Good seller? Does a bear s___ in the woods? Ok, enough with the preamble.

To compete in this hot category, Ford looked around the world and saw that way out east (not Canada), really way out east, they had an innocuous little vehicle called the EcoSport, that could compete in this category over the short term.........

Like the Trax (and its Buick cousin), this little suv plays make believe, that it is a "real" rockin' and rollin' off roader. In reality, the only place it really rocks is on the showroom floor, where for the meagre amount of about $27K Cdn you can drive away and head to the off road adventures of your own driveway. Perceive yourself to be a high roller? Ok, then for only about $34k Cdn, you can get the Titanium edition. Titanium?
You bet, Bucko, as this one adds leather, a heated steering wheel, sunroof and navigation. Loaded to its little gills with driver pleasures.

Time to get serious. Ford can do better and if one looks across the Atlantic, they have just introduced a small soft roader, that could well replace the marginal EcoSport. Should replace the EcoSport. Enter the 2020 Puma.....

The Puma name had been used by Ford Europe in the past, but has now been dug out of the graveyard, where old car names go to rest until they can be brought back to life. Remember the Maverick? Expect to see it back later this year on another small suv, but with more of a Jeep type look.

Does Ford need another small suv? Again with that bear cliche. By 2022 they will have dropped most of their cars, so there is room on the showroom floor for new nameplates, even if they are old ones. Also, Ford's recent financials show that they are begging for new and saleable products. So my readers, the Puma makes perfect sense, even if Ford adds it to their line up without replacing the old EcoSport. It could slot in painlessly.

The name? Good question. The Escape is called the Kuga(?) in Europe, so maybe changing the Puma to something else over here is an option. The Puma name means nothing to North American buyers, but it's a good name, unlike the unfathomable Kuga. Google that name, there ain't nothing there. Maybe Ford could bring back the good ol' Pinto? Do you think they have a sense of humour?

Whatever this for now Europe only suv ends up being called, I'll stake this blogger's small reputation on predicting that the Puma will end up over here within two years. I was correct about the Hyundai Venue, so maybe lightening strikes twice? See if your local dealer will put your name on a waiting list.

Until next time.......