key points
- The family people-mover is available abroad in three powertrains.
- Adjustable seats, fresh looks, more tech
- Australian plans are unclear, but a delivery van has been confirmed for 2024
Ford has unveiled the all-new Tourneo Custom people mover van, available with full battery electric, plug-in hybrid and diesel powertrains – but it’s unclear if it will be sold in Australia.
Based on the second-generation Transit Custom and e-Transit Custom that are confirmed to land by 2024, the Tourneo Custom lineup adds seating for up to eight people in the all-electric Tourneo Custom or three rows for nine people. . Tourneo Custom PHEV and diesel powered models.
On both standard and long-wheelbase models, the second- and third-row seats use a new track-based system to slide the seats along notches, rearrange them into a six-person face-to-face layout, or remove them entirely. .
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The seats are also lighter than their predecessors, with integrated seat belts in the second row, and three Isofix child seat anchor points in the second row and two outboard seats in the third row. The new platform also features a lower floor height and an integrated side step for easy entry and exit.
In Europe, the automaker will offer a choice of EcoBlue diesel engines with a range of power outputs from 100kW to 125kW mated to an eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission.
The people mover can also be optioned with an all-wheel drive powertrain for the first time, but this is exclusive to select diesel configurations.
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Meanwhile, the Tourneo Custom PHEV combines an electric motor with a 2.5-litre petrol engine and an 11.8kWh (usable) battery pack. Its pure electric driving range is targeted at over 50 km.
The headlining fully electric E Tourneo Custom family van packs a 74kWh (usable) battery with a 160kW electric motor good for a ‘targeted’ driving range of 370km from a full charge. It can recharge at 11kW AC and 125kW DC speeds.
A new retractable towbar option allows the E Tourneo Custom to tow a maximum braked 2000kg, while the diesel-powered variant can tow up to 2500kg.
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Like the associated Transit Custom Delivery Van, key headline features include; A driver’s steering wheel that can tilt flat to act as a laptop or lunch table (when not driving), a 13-inch touchscreen with Ford’s latest Sync 4 software Running with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, 5G connectivity, heated second row. Outboard seats, tri-zone climate control, a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen system, ambient interior lighting, matrix LED lights, a full-width front light bar, a card key and more.
A full suite of active safety assistance systems is offered, including the launch of a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control with lane centering, and reverse auto emergency braking assist for the Tourneo Custom.
The family van can be had overseas in a variety of variants, including; Active, Sport, and flagship Titanium X guys.
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Will the Ford Tourneo Custom come to Australia?
Ford Australia currently has no comment on the Tourneo Custom People Mover, so it’s unclear if it will make it Down Under. For context, it hasn’t sold this version here before to compete with the likes of the Hyundai Staria, Kia Carnival or Volkswagen Caddy.
However, the local arm has confirmed that the diesel-powered Transit Custom delivery van will land here in late 2023, followed by the electric e-Transit Custom in 2024.
The latter will be Australia’s third electrified model, following the Ford Escape PHEV medium SUV and the upcoming E-Transit large van, as part of the brand’s commitment to introduce at least five such vehicles locally by 2024.
The Ford Tourneo Custom lineup is manufactured at Ford’s Turkish factory and first deliveries in Europe are expected from mid-2023 for the diesel models.