Ford Tourneo Connect set for 2022 launch
Ford has revealed an all-new Ford Tourneo Connect, which now shares its underpinnings with the Volkswagen Caddy thanks to a new collaboration between the manufacturing giants. On sale early next year, the Tourneo Connect sports a new design, a major technology upgrade and even the option of all-wheel drive for the first time. As before, the vehicle will be similar to the Transit Connect commercial vehicle, when it is revealed, but with extra windows.
Exactly how the Tourneo Connect looks depends on its trim level, with Trend, Titanium, Active and Sport all offered. Like the Fiesta, the Active version boasts a more rugged design, with chunky 17-inch alloy wheels, a honeycomb grille, skidplate-style bumpers and black body cladding. It’s also the only version to feature a unique Boundless Blue paint option.
Trend versions get a gloss black grille and plastic wheel covers, while Titanium brings 16-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass and satin chrome trim. Sport versions add 17-inch alloy wheels, a deeper front valance and bonnet stripes.
The Tourneo Connect is offered in L1 short- and L2 long-wheelbase versions, with both getting seven seats as standard. The second and third rows can be folded, tumbled forward, or removed and the front passenger seat also folds flat to allow items up to three metres long to be carried in the cabin. There are sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle for easy access, and with the rear seats removed, cargo space is 2,600 or 3,100 litres for the L1 and L2 respectively.
Trend versions come as standard with an 8.25-inch infotainment display, which is upgraded to a 10-inch screen from Titanium upwards. Sport models will also feature a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel with four switchable displays that highlight trip information, navigation, driver assist features or classic instruments. Where the 10-inch display is fitted, FordPass Connect is also available, allowing owners to pair with their Tourneo Connect remotely to access vehicle information or lock and unlock its doors.
Driver assistance also take a big jump up for the new model, with 19 different systems available. These include autonomous emergency braking, lanekeeping, hill-start assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, blindspot warnings, and cross traffic alerts.
Power will come from a VW-sourced 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine, with either 100bhp or 120bhp, which both return identical fuel economy figures of up to 58.8mpg with a six-speed manual gearbox. This engine features ‘twindosing’ AdBlue treatment technology, to reduce nasty tailpipe emissions, and CO2 emissions from 126g/km. Interestingly, Ford also says it’s compatible with Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and Gas to Liquids (GTL) alternative fuels. A PowerShift seven-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission can also be fitted, but economy drops slightly to 55.3mpg. In a first for the Tourneo Connect, an all-wheel drive version is also offered for the more potent engine with manual gearbox, managing up to 53.2mpg and emitting CO2 from 139g/km.