Ford has finally found a way back into Europe’s affordable small-car market by borrowing one of Renault’s smartest ideas.

Related: Renault Is Emptying Its Secret Vault And The Concept Cars Inside Are Unreal

The two automakers have announced a new strategic partnership that will see Ford launch at least two electric cars for Europe using Renault’s Ampr EV platform, the same architecture used in the Renault 4 and 5.

What’s Replacing the Fiesta?

One of Ford’s upcoming EVs is expected to become a spiritual successor to the Fiesta, a car Ford unceremoniously killed off in 2023 after eight generations and nearly five decades.

The new electric supermini is due to arrive in early 2028 and will be built alongside the Renault 5 at Renault’s ElectriCity complex in Douai, France.

The second model will likely be a compact electric crossover based on the Renault 4, potentially replacing the Puma Gen-E somewhere down the line.

Given Ford’s Explorer EV is based on VW’s ID.4 you might have expected Ford to borrow the upcoming ID.Polo and ID.Cross’s MEB platform for its new small cars, but instead it turned to Renault.

Crucially, Ford is insisting these won’t be lazy badge-engineering exercises. Unlike the new Nissan Micra, which is essentially a rebodied Renault 5, Ford says its new EVs will be “distinct Ford-branded vehicles” designed in-house.

Expect unique styling, bespoke interiors, and chassis tuning aimed squarely at delivering the driving feel Ford fans expect.

Under the skin, though, the shared EV hardware will be identical. That likely means front-mounted motors producing 121 hp (122 PS / 90 kW) in regular versions and 215 hp (218 PS / 160 kW) in a reborn Fiesta ST, plus battery options of 40 kWh and 52 kWh.

Can It Save Ford in Europe?

For Ford, time is of the essence. With Focus production ended, the Fiesta long gone and its Explorer and Capri electric SUV and crossover underperforming, the brand’s market share has cratered.

A Fiesta-sized EV priced close to the Renault 5’s expected €25,000 (£22k/$29k) mark could be exactly what Ford needs to regain relevance.

But a new lineup of subcompact EVs isn’t all we’ll see as a result of this partnership. The duo has also agreed to explore the possibilities of joining forces for new light commercial vehicles.

The Ford Puma returned in 2019 as a compact SUV, followed by a mid-cycle update in 2024 and the arrival of the fully electric Gen-E later that year. Now, Ford has introduced a subtly revised 2026 version of the EV, delivering a longer driving range and more advanced driver assistance features.

The standout figure is an improved WLTP range of 400 km (249 miles), up by 24 km (15 miles) from the outgoing model. Within the urban cycle, the 2026 Ford Puma Gen-E can manage up to 550 km (342 miles), which should mean fewer plug-in stops for most owners.

More: Ford Quietly Ends Focus Production After 27 Years Without Even Saying Goodbye

The added distance comes from an “optimised battery design” that maintains the same 43 kWh capacity. Ford hasn’t specified whether that figure applies to the base Gen-E with 17-inch wheels or the Premium trim on 18-inch alloys.

Power remains at 166 hp (124 kW) and 290 Nm (214 lb-ft) of torque, sent to the front wheels through a single electric motor.

That 400-km WLTP rating positions the Puma Gen-E well within its segment, closely matching rivals such as the Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica, Jeep Avenger, Fiat 600e, Opel Mokka Electric, Peugeot E-2008, Renault 4 E-Tech, and Mini Aceman. Even so, it still trails the Kia EV3 Long Range, which claims up to 604 km (375 miles) on the same cycle.

Hands-Free Driving

Starting from spring 2026, the smallest Ford in Europe will be available with the BlueCruise system, allowing hands-off highway driving as part of the optional Driver Assistance Pack. The technology is gradually spreading across the range, now confirmed for the Kuga and Ranger PHEV as well.

More: A Ford Bronco Just Took Google Street View Where No Camera Had Gone Before

Since its European debut in 2023, BlueCruise has expanded to 16 markets and covers more than 135,000 km (84,000 miles) of approved highways.

Any Visual Changes?

Predictably, there are no styling updates, with the Puma Gen-E retaining its grille-less design. The rest of the bodywork is shared with the facelifted mild-hybrid version.

The same goes for the interior, with the digital cockpit comprising a 12.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch infotainment. Another highlight of the Puma is the “Gigabox” storage compartment under the boot. The cargo capacity is 574 liters (20.3 cubic feet) at the back and another 43 liters (1.5 cubic feet) in the frunk.

The 2026 Ford Puma Gen-E is open for orders in the UK, priced from £26,245 ($34,500). That’s unchanged from the current model, though it now benefits from updated local incentives.

Ford

Ford is widening the reach of its “hands-off” driving tech, showing just how quickly features once kept for top-tier models are filtering into everyday vehicles. BlueCruise now targets the brand’s most accessible SUVs in Europe, giving buyers a taste of advanced driver assistance without having to climb the price ladder.

Besides the Puma and the fully electric Puma Gen-E, the system will soon be offered on the Kuga compact SUV and the Ranger PHEV midsize pickup as part of an optional Driver Assistance Pack.

The BlueCruise made its European debut with the Mustang Mach-E in 2023, before gradually expanding from the UK to 16 countries across the continent.

More: Ford Racing Is Readying A Secret ‘Road Car’ For January

Starting from spring 2026, Ford’s small and compact SUVs and its midsize pickup will also be offered with the hands-free system. That leaves only the VW-based Capri and Explorer EVs, the Transit/Tourneo range, and the ICE Mustang without access to the technology.

The BlueCruise, which is based on the Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, allows the driver to take their hands off the wheel while keeping their eyes on the road. It manages acceleration, braking, and steering, with cameras and sensors monitoring traffic, lane markings, and even the driver’s gaze and head position to ensure attentiveness.

More: Ford’s Ranger Street Truck Just Got Louder And Greener With New PHEV Punch

In Europe, the BlueCruise can be activated on over 135,000 km (84,000 miles) of highways, which are marked as “Blue Zones”. For example, one could use it to travel from Stockholm to Rome, covering 2,000 km (1,500 miles) across six countries and totaling around 25 hours of hands-free driving.

Globally, Ford and Lincoln owners have logged over 888 million km (552 million miles) using BlueCruise-equipped vehicles. However, the majority of those were most likely covered in North America.

The company says that the tech will be available in “selected new model year vehicles” of the Puma, Puma Gen-E, Kuga, and Ranger PHEV starting in spring 2026. Subscription options and pricing for the Driver Assistance Pack will be announced closer to that date.

The BlueCruise is currently available in select European markets, including Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.

Among Europe’s more unconventional small SUVs, the Nissan Juke has always stood out for its offbeat quirkiness, and now, it’s preparing to take a major leap forward. A camouflaged prototype of the fully electric, third-generation Juke has been seen undergoing testing on public roads, signaling its progress toward a 2026 market debut.

The upcoming Juke first appeared in an official teaser back in March, sharing the spotlight with the next-generation Micra and Leaf.

More: Nissan’s Smallest Hatch Is Back And It’s Unrecognizable

Interestingly, the EV won’t replace the current combustion-powered model. Instead, Nissan plans to keep selling the petrol and hybrid versions alongside the new electric one, giving buyers a broader mix of powertrains for a while yet.

Even under heavy camouflage, the prototype’s proportions reveal plenty about its direction. Its compact, muscular stance brings to mind the Ford Puma Gen-E, yet the Nissan still shows its personality through angular fender flares, sharp split LED headlights, and a distinctive, tapering greenhouse that nods to the Juke’s earlier generations.

SH Proshots

The tail borrows some cues from the Nissan Kicks playbook, but the rear glass is more slanted, and the tailgate is more sculpted for a sportier look. The prototype rides on futuristic-looking, large alloy wheels finished in black.

We can also see the pop-out door handles on the front doors, and the hidden door handles mounted on the C-pillars – just like in the original. Overall, the design has been significantly toned down compared to the Hyper Punk Concept from 2023.

More: Nissan Fixed The Ariya Right After Ghosting America

While Nissan has yet to share details about the underpinnings of the new Juke, we know that the model will be manufactured at the Sunderland plant in the UK.

Chassis and Powertrain

The new Juke EV is expected to use a shortened version of the AmpR Medium (CMF-EV) platform that also underpins the Leaf and Ariya, both built at the same facility. A smaller-scale alternative could be the AmpR Small (CMF-BEV) platform from the Micra, assembled in Douai, France.

Whatever the choice, a single front-mounted electric motor seems likely, possibly paired with two available battery sizes to broaden appeal and price flexibility within the segment.

When it arrives in 2026, the new Nissan Juke EV will compete with the likes of the Peugeot e-2008, Fiat 600e, Jeep Compass, Opel Mokka Electric, Mini Aceman, Ford Puma Gen-E, as well as the upcoming VW ID. Cross and Skoda Epiq twins.