The current Ford Transit van, hugely popular in Europe, has been around in current form since 2006. Having paid its dues, it’s due to be replaced soon, and here’s a look at what’s to come. This is the Ford Tourneo Custom Concept that will debut in Geneva next month, and it speaks the same Kinetic Design language as Ford’s passenger cars.
Besides showing off the new look, the Tourneo Concept previews the all-new family of one-tonne Transit people movers and commercial vehicles for Europe and Asia, to debut later this year. “Car-like qualities and “car-like appeal” are repeated throughout the press release, and the next Transit’s busy dashboard is instantly recognisable as a current Ford effort.
“We set out to create a design with clean, futuristic lines and with a real sense of occasion. With its sportier stance, bold rising shoulder line and flush glazing, the Tourneo Custom Concept brings something fresh and exciting to this class of people mover. By applying the latest Kinetic Design principles, the design has a completely new style and drama,” explained Paul Campbell, chief designer, Ford of Europe.
The rear seats are a completely new design, which can be easily folded into multiple configurations, or removed completely. In the concept vehicle, the luxurious and spacious feel of the interior is further enhanced by an exclusive two-tone colour scheme, featuring hand-stitched leather seats with cloth inserts.
Features usually found in passenger cars include Auto-Start-Stop and Smart Regenerative Charging, SYNCvoice-activated ICE, Emergency Assistance enabled by SYNC, rear camera integrated into the rear view mirror and Lane Departure Warning + Driver Alert.
The production Transit range will be powered by enhanced versions of the new 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine, initially introduced in 2011. All versions (100 PS, 125 PS, 155 PS) are paired with a six-speed manual transmission and FWD. The range will include a wide choice of body styles and SWB/LWB options.
“Our forthcoming new range gives us the opportunity to appeal to new customers with a fresh new direction, and we have seized that opportunity with both hands. The Tourneo Custom’s car-like qualities will be appreciated by a broad range of business and leisure customers,” said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO of Ford Europe.
This class of vehicle, not to be confused with luxury MPVs like the Toyota Alphard, is under represented in Malaysia – only Hyundai has bothered so far with the Starex, which sells decently. We recently posted about Volkswagen assembling the T5 Transporter in Indonesia. Will Euro style passenger vans ever catch on here?
Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.
Nice looking MPV …..to fight Alphard & Nissan Grand what ever….cant remember the name.
Unless you trick out the car it won’t compete with those. Think more of a small bus. An airport/hotel shuttle had a passenger Transit, it was a gigantic thing 9 seater or so + enough space for lugguage of many travellers, but it wasn’t terribly refined. It was loud, the seats weren’t very comfy (ok though). Even the Starex looks more comfortable than this.
Most of these vehicles will only have 2-3 seats (first row), the rest is meant for cargo (like in that Top Gear episode a motor from an Jaguar XJ220).
It does look funky, especially the interior. I wonder how much of that will make it into the production version.
Nissan Elgrand !
Fight for Alphard & Elgrand ? No way Vellfire look 10 times better than this.
Tourneo doesn’t have the Grand looks.
i think front looks doesn’t match the whole body…
Looks a bit like Transformer …………….machine in disguise
Ford design team is making its vehicles looking hawt, babe!
may be commercial in nature but it would be great if it were also a passenger van. this type of category is really quite untapped here with only the hyundai starex, the toyota, nissan and some china models. this ford would change the way people look at passenger vans.
But the suspension etc. won’t be meant for comfort I guess, it will also be lacking in noise isolation etc. At most this will be a small bus, used to ferry around school kids and other passengers where a regular bus would be too big.
I recently got to spend a lot of time in the current Ford Transit passenger van (as passenger) and it was pleasant.
Most Malaysians think of the Hiace or Vanette when the word “van” is mentioned, but these Euro vans are in a different league.
This is one great looking van… who says commerical vehicles has to be boring looking?
Here comes Fiesta’s obese brother.
Nothing will ever beat the legendary Ford Transit,
Front looks like Ironhide face.lol
Transform this into a caravan for family outings would be great. Great job by Ford designers….designing a nice looking car is already a great task not many can achieve..afterall turning a van into a great looking one is genius!
The interior of this car beats most of the japanese cars interior ………..
We will see what T Hi-Ace and N NV400 will do to outcome this rival. Or maybe China JB will sneak pass through all of them with Korean H following right behind.
Or maybe M will use it’s Vito power again…..
wow! look at that dashboard. way better than prius c hahaha
On the other hand anything is better than the Prius C interior. Including no interior at all (like those stripped down race cars).
The design is far more tidy than proton car even for a van!
besar giler!! macam hyundai starex. anyway, i will definitely check this big brother when it launch in malaysia soon or whenever it is…
Beats New Nissan V200 all around !! Very nice!