Ford says 2024 yes to all-new Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom

With the twin of the Volkswagen Caddy, the Tourneo Connect, not expected to return to South Africa soon, Ford has instead announced the availability of the sized-up Tourneo Custom and its Transit Custom van equivalent for the local market from the first quarter of 2024 at its 100-year anniversary celebration in Pretoria on Wednesday (8 November).

Turkish delight?

Unveiled in the latter stages last year, the Tourneo and Transit will continue to be built at the Kocaeli plant in Turkey, but unlike the first generation made from 2012 to 2022, they are brand new and equipped with features and tech previously not available.

Set to take renewed aim at the Mercedes-Benz Vito and V-Class, the Hyundai Staria, Opel Zafira Life, Toyota Quantum/Quantum VX and the Volkswagen T6.1 Transporter/Caravelle, exact specifications remain to be confirmed, though approved is Ford’s new 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system complete with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the digital instrument cluster of the same size.

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While offered in Europe in no less than six trim levels, only three have been confirmed for the local market: Tourneo Custom, namely Trend, the new Titanium X and the equally novel Sport, until now reserved for the flagship Transit Custom.

As before, the former will be available in standard and long wheelbase guises, with the same applying to the Transit Custom reports from the UK allege will have a payload of over two tonnes, along with a cargo capacity of just under 1 500 kg.

Dual sliding side doors will be offered depending on the trim level, with those of the Tourneo Custom being electric, similar to the Caravelle, Quantum VX and the top-spec Staria Luxury.

Besides the doors, the Titanium X will also have a swivelling second-row, electric tailgate, Adaptive Cruise Control and potentially the model’s first 360-degree camera and 14-speaker B&O Play sound system.

Diesel only

Up front, Ford is still to finalise engine options, but did confirm the availability of the single-turbo 2.0-litre Panther engine from the Ranger revised to produce a South African market-specific 131 kW.

In Europe, the same engine comes in four states of tune; 81 kW, 100 kW, 110 kW and 125 kW, though it remains to be seen which ones Ford South Africa opts for.

On the transmission side, the six-speed manual gearbox will be retained for the Transit Custom, while only a single option has so far been mentioned for the Tourneo Custom, a new eight-speed automatic.

As before, drive will go to the front wheels only, with the plug-in hybrid and electric versions sold on the Old Continent not heading for local soil anytime soon.

Price to be announced in 2024

At present, pricing kicks-off at R570 500 for the entry-level Transit Custom and ends at R843 900 for the short wheelbase Tourneo Custom fitted with the six-speed automatic gearbox.

Therefore, expect a considerable price premium to be applied once sales of the new derivatives start next year.

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