Ford will squash speculation on how the next generation of the Transit will look like with the world premiere of the all-new Tourneo Custom Concept at the 82nd Geneva International Auto Show.
Not to be confused with the upcoming North American market Transit that is a separate model, the new concept van previews the next family of one-ton Transit people movers and commercial vehicles for Europe and Asia.
The production version of the Tourneo, which will be introduced along with the rest of the Transit range later in 2012, will compete against the VW Caravelle.
“One look at the Tourneo Custom Concept is enough to tell you that it will inject an exciting new spirit into the personal use segment,” said Stephen Odell, CEO of Ford Europe.
The exterior of the Tourneo is modern and adopts the Blue Oval’s “Kinetic Design” language with styling treats such as the large trapezoidal grille, muscular shoulder line, prominent wheel arches and window lines with the distinctive kick at the rear.
“By applying the latest Kinetic Design principles, the design has a completely new style and drama,” said Paul Campbell, chief designer, Ford of Europe.
The concept’s interior, albeit more contemporary than the current model, is pretty rough around the edges. The Tourneo can accommodate up to eight passengers in three rows of seats.
The prototype comes equipped with several amenities including multi-adjustable and removable rear seating and a voice-activated SYNC, in-car connectivity system with Emergency Assistance feature.
Under the hood, you’ll find a tweaked version of Ford’s 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine rated at 155PS (153HP).
Ford said that the production Transit models will be offered with the 2.2-liter unit in three power levels – 100PS (99HP), 125PS (123HP) and 155PS (153HP), while the model range will include a wide choice of body styles and two wheelbases (SWB and LWB).
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