Ford will use the Birmingham Commercial vehicles show in England to lift the covers on the all-new Transit Custom. The new van marks an important step for Ford as it looks to refresh its entire commercial range by 2014.
Said to bring new levels of style, driver appeal and functionality to the one-tonne segment of the market the new Transit Custom will be offered in both short- and long wheelbase variant, kombi and also double cab-in-van guises. Power will be provided by Ford's 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine with outputs of 100-, 125- and 150hp. The unit has been fitted with stop-start that allows it to deliver 42.8mpg (6.6 litres/100km) and CO2 emissions of just 174g/km - a reduction of eight per cent over the current Transit.
For the first time the Transit range will feature the same Kinetic design language as Ford's passenger division but the new look does not take away any of the Transit's load-lugging abilities. Three Euro pallets can be accommodated in the SWB Transit Custom thanks to a redesigned bulkhead. Ford claims class-leading width between the wheelarches too, allowing for wide loads of up to four foot to be laid flat on the easy clean floor.
Technologies such as Ford's voice activated SYNC system and rear-view cameras will be offered alongside Lane Keeping Alert and Emergency Assistance. For the first time Transit drivers will also be able to specify curtain airbags to supplement the standard driver, passenger airbags and seat-mounted side thorax airbags.
Production of the new Transit Custom will start from mid-2012 at Ford's plant in Kocaeli, Turkey, with market availability later in the year.