Earlier this year, Ford of Europe
announced the Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom Active models, alongside new
Trail variants of the Transit and Transit Custom vans. Now it’s time to learn
more about the new Tourneo Connect Active people mover and Transit Connect
Active van, which bring rough-road capability wrapped in bolder styling.
As with other Active-badged Ford models,
the Transit Connect Active and Tourneo Connect Active adopt SUV styling cues
including rugged-looking skid plates and body cladding, standard roof rails, as
well as a raised ride height (by 24 mm in at the front and 9 mm at the rear).
Other upgrades include 17-inch Active
alloys, a signature Active mesh grille, two new colors (Sedona Orange and Solar
Silver), and ‘Active’ badges and decals on the front fenders and tailgate.
Available to order soon across Europe for delivery from the end of this year,
the Transit Connect Active and Tourneo Connect Active can be had with an
optional mechanical limited-slip differential (mLSD) co-developed with Quaife
for improved traction. The models also share a bespoke Traction Control
configuration to harmonize the system more effectively with the characteristics
of the mLSD.
Inside, the new Active variants also sport
signature finishes including exclusive seat trim patterns and stitching, blue
contrast detailing, Active branding, and metallic scuff plates on the front
door sills. Advanced driver assistance and comfort technologies are also on the
menu. Ford says that these upgrades do not impact on the vehicles’ flexible and
spacious interiors.
The Tourneo Connect Active continues to
offer five- and seven-seat versions, while the Transit Connect Active retains
the regular model’s cargo volume of 2.9 cubic meters for the
standard wheelbase or 3.6 cubic meters for the long wheelbase, as
well as the maximum payload of 982 kg.
Both vans share Ford’s 1.5-liter EcoBlue
turbo diesel engine, available with 100 PS or 120 PS power
outputs. Six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmissions are available,
with the mLSD available on the more powerful engine in combination with the
manual gearbox.
