Spy shots and video of the 2020 Ford Puma ST

Ford has unveiled a new subcompact crossover based on the same running gear as its latest Fiesta. And like the hatch on which it is based, it is not headed here either.

The new crossover is named Puma, and a prototype of the future sporty ST version has been spotted without camouflage. In other words, its debut is imminent.

The dual-tip exhaust, lowered suspension, and sporty wheels indicate that this prototype is for the Puma ST.

The ST version of the latest Fiesta is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline 3-cylinder producing a peak 197 hp. This hot hatch reaches 60 mph in just over 6.0 seconds, and similar powertrains and performance are expected for the Puma ST.

Other ST upgrades include a driving mode selector, a brake-based torque vectoring system, and electronic stability control.

The standard Puma is equipped with a mild hybrid powertrain that combines a 1.0-liter inline three-cylinder turbo with a belt-driven motor/generator that produces 152 hp. The standard Puma is front-wheel drive, which should also apply to the ST version.

The Puma is produced at Ford's plant in Craiova, Romania. At this plant, Ford manufactures the EcoSport for the European market and the 1.0-liter engine.

The Puma will complement the Ecosport not as a successor to it, as previously thought, but as a more stylish urban runabout. On top of these two subcompacts will sit the upcoming Baby Bronco and Escape in the compact segment.

The Puma's rivals include the Chevrolet Trax, Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-3, and Volkswagen T-Cross.