Production line switches to Transit Custom build

Ford has begun production of its all-new Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom vehicles at the Kocaeli plant in Turkey.

The two will be on sale later this year, forming the first stage of what Ford describes as a complete transformation of its global commercial vehicle range by the end of 2013.

The new global commercial vehicle range, of which the Transit and Tourneo Custom form part, is being carried out at Ford’s Dunton Technical Centre in Essex, while engines for the new models are coming from Ford’s Dagenham plant.

The Transit Custom is a new model to go between the smaller Transit Connect and the larger Transit van. It is also being offered as an eight or nine-seat people-mover, the Tourneo Custom.

The designers believe that by producing a more stylish vehicle with car-like interiors will broaden the appeal of the highly-successful Transit van.

Both models are powered by 99, 124 or 153bhp versions of Ford’s latest 2.2-litre Duratorq diesel engine, which is produced at Ford Dagenham.

Ford claims class-leading fuel consumption of 43.5mpg for the Tourneo Custom and 42.8mpg for the Transit Custom.

According to Ford’s European Chairman and CEO Stephen Odell the Transit Custom is a completely new kind of one-tonne vehicle from the brand.

“This is a stylish, modern van that customers will be proud to have on their driveway, with the hard-working attitude that they expect from a Transit,” he says.

“The Tourneo Custom is a fantastic-looking people mover – inside and out. It offers outstanding day-to-day, real world practicality as well as being great to drive,” Odell adds.

Words by: Andrew Charman