Ford has announced that it is extending its commercial line-up by introducing a new second-generation Transit Courier range, which includes an all-electric E-Transit Courier model.
Scheduled to make its debut at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham later this month, the new Transit Courier range will be manufactured in Romania and is actually a car-based van, sharing its foundations with the popular Ford Puma SUV/crossover.
This year: The new Transit Courier (petrol and diesel)
Customers will be able to order petrol- and diesel-engine Transit Courier models from summer 2023 for delivery before the end of the year.
Ford says that this next-generation model is more “flexible” than its predecessor, a higher load volume and maximum payload, with enough space to fit two Euro pallets side-by-side.
This ICE-powered Transit Courier will be offered with either a 1.0-litre petrol or 1.5-litre diesel unit – the same engines available in the Puma passenger car range.
Ford’s passenger car range has also influenced the new van’s interior which features a 12-inch infotainment console in the centre of the dashboard and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel which run the latest version of the brand’s ‘Sync’ infotainment software.
Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are compatible as standard, and Ford’s own navigation software is available for a subscription fee.
Also on the options list is an ‘office pack’ that adds a foldaway flat work surface and additional lighting that aids laptop work, and several optional driver assistance tech features like adaptive cruise control, lane centring, blind spot monitoring and a cross traffic alert.
Next year: The new E-Transit Courier (all-electric)
The smaller sibling of the new E-Transit Custom, the E-Transit Courier is one of several new electric models (EVs) that Ford has announced in recent months, which follows the unveiling of the new Ford Explorer SUV. This EV version will reportedly arrive about a year after its petrol and diesel counterparts, entering production in 2024.
Taller, wider and longer than the first-generation Courier, this compact E-Transit has a 2,900-litre rear load space that can be increased thanks to a ‘load-through bulkhead’ feature, which enables customers to transport items such as planks or pipe over two and a half metres long.
The van has a maximum payload of 700kg, and can tow up to 750kg. Its electric drivetrain provides 136hp, and the van can be driven in a ‘one-pedal’ mode that only makes use of the accelerator, the vehicle slowing to a stop when you take your foot off the pedal.
Inside, the electric model comes with the same displays and assistance tech, but with the addition of a “squircle” steering wheel design (square with round edges) to improve leg room and visibility for the driver, as well as a column-mounted gear shifter, push-button ignition and an electronic handbrake to increase storage space.
That sums up what we know about the next-generation Ford Transit Courier range so far – more details, including EV battery range and UK trim pricing, will follow in the coming months.
