2020 Ford Puma revealed as Nissan Juke rival

Ford has revealed its new Puma - a sporty crossover expected to be priced from around £21,000 when it goes on sale later in 2019.

The Fiesta-based crossover will sit between the EcoSport and Kuga in Ford's range, with the former likely to be repositioned as a budget offering. The Puma will be a desirable alternative to the SEAT Arona, Nissan Juke and Renault Captur.

It'll be offered with Ford's 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine with mild-hybrid technology. Buyers will be able to choose from 125PS and 155PS versions, with an 11.5kW belt-drive integrated starter/generator replacing the standard alternator. This allows the recovery of energy usually lost during braking and coasting, improving efficiency.

That means the 125 model is expected to return 52.3mpg, while the 155 version is capable of 50.4mpg. A diesel version will also be offered following the Puma's launch.

A sporty ST-Line model will feature 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, black highlights and a roof spoiler. Inside, it gets a flat-bottomed steering wheel and signature red stitching, alloy pedals and an aluminium gear shifter.

The Titanium, meanwhile, will have 18-inch alloys, chrome elements and wood-effect highlights inside.

An even sportier Puma ST is rumoured, and we could also see a Ford Puma Vignale model in the future.

The Puma's boot floor can be positioned depending on what items you're looking to carry, or removed entirely to offer an impressive 456 litres of boot space. A handy underfloor storage area dubbed the Megabox can transport dirty items with little mess, thanks to its wipe-clean lining and a drain plug at the bottom.

Technology includes Ford's lane-keeping system, which can now detect the edge of the road such as a soft verge, gravel hard shoulder or grass - applying torque to the steering wheel to prevent the car drifting off the road.

The Puma also features adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go, while a new Local Hazard Information functionality can warn drivers of a hazardous situation on the road ahead using its on-board modem connected to the cloud.

We'll find out more about the new Ford Puma when we see it in the metal for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. It's expected to go on sale soon after, with prices starting in the region of £21,000.