Ford's next EV will be the van-derived E-Tourneo Courier, based on the incoming new Transit Courier compact commercial vehicle. Although there will be petrol-powered Tourneo Courier models, this fully-electric version will arrive in 2024.
Shares with the electric Puma
What we don't know yet is quite how much range it will have, and there's probably a very good reason for that. The E-Tourneo Courier shares its chassis and electric drive setup with the new Puma EV, and Ford won't want to steal that car's thunder by giving away all of the specs with this one.
What we do know is that the E-Tourneo Courier will have a 100kW (136hp) electric motor driving the front wheels, and that it will charge at up to 11kW from AC power and 100kW from high-speed DC power. Ford says that, at that 100kW charging speed, you can add just over 80km of extra range in as little as ten minutes, and that a 10-80 per cent charge takes 35 minutes. You can probably assume a range of between 350km and 400km if the car is going to be competitive.
We also now know that the E-Tourneo will have a 'one-pedal' driving mode, where the electric motor does most of the braking, and that it will come with what Ford calls "the most comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems in class" as well as selectable Normal, Eco and Slippery driving modes.
The chunky, flat-sided shape of the E-Tourneo Courier has obviously been created so as to make for maximum interior space. This electric version gets its own special front styling, with a 'coast-to-coast' (Ford-speak for full width) front light bar and a 'diamond' shaped grille picked out in chrome.
Lots of cargo space
This E-Tourneo Courier will have 44 per cent more boot space than the outgoing model, which means it will have 570 litres in five-seat mode, or 1,880 litres if you load it to the roof, so it will be spectacularly spacious. There's a 60:40 split rear bench for when you need more space and, in this electric model, a 44-litre 'frunk' in the nose. The E-Tourneo Courier will have a maximum towing capacity of 700kg, but the petrol version can haul up to 1,000kg. In the boot, there's a handy covered storage area in the side panel, if you want to stash anything valuable safely out of sight.
Up front, you'll find a nice simple dash layout with the 12-inch digital instrument panel and a central touchscreen in a single housing (what Ford calls a 'Digiboard'). That touchscreen is a generous 12 inches across, and uses Ford's SYNC 4 software, as in the current Focus. There's Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections, a wireless phone charger and the ability to receive over-the-air software updates. This also means that Ford is starting to get into subscription-based digital options - built-in navigation will come with a subscription option for the E-Tourneo, for example.
There's also a squared-off steering wheel shared with the new Ford Transit and Tourneo Custom. There's an electric parking brake, and the gear selector is mounted on the steering column. The centre console gets "configurable storage and removable elements" so you can move things around to suit whatever you need to bring with you.
Multi-billion-dollar global EV push
The E-Tourneo Courier introduces distinctive new paint options including Cactus Grey, as well as metallic Fantastic Red and Bursting Green. Active series models can exclusively be specified with a contrasting roof colour and feature unique 17-inch alloy wheels, roof bars, wheel arch mouldings, scuff plates and unique seat fabrics
"Exciting new products like E-Tourneo Courier are the future of Ford in Europe - electric, fun and fuelled by a restless need for adventure. Our new all-electric multi-activity vehicle is the latest demonstration of our multi-billion-dollar global push to scale EV production and deliver connected, must-have vehicles for our customers," said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO.
"We designed E-Tourneo Courier to get stuck in from day one - whether loaded for adventure or carrying DIY materials with the rear seats flipped - and the exterior design expresses that 'no-nonsense' character," said Amko Leenarts, design director, Ford, Europe. "The SUV-inspired design is rugged outside and roomy inside, while the modern EV details add exclusivity and clearly announce E-Tourneo Courier as part of Ford's electric revolution."
Production of the E-Tourneo Courier will begin at Ford's plant in Romania in the second half of next year. Production of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol version will start sooner than that, with sales of the petrol Tourneo Courier and Transit Courier due to begin in late 2023.
It's a part of Ford's plan to have launched ten new all-electric vehicles by 2024. Those include cars we've already seen, such as the Mustang Mach-E and the electric versions of the new Transit and Tourneo Custom, as well as the new Explorer EV. Those will be joined by this E-Tourneo Courier, the electric version of the Puma, a five-door fastback version of the Explorer and electric versions of other Transit commercial vehicles.