2024 Ford Transit Custom range revealed

The next-generation 2024 Ford Transit Custom range has debuted in Germany.

As with the already-revealed E-Transit Custom electric van, the new model is confirmed for an Australian launch, with deliveries set to commence in late 2023.

A full range of variants, including the electric model, will become available locally in 2024.

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The internal-combustion Transit Custom will be diesel-only in Australia, per the current model.

Ford states it features the “latest generation of … EcoBlue diesel engines”, but the company provided no technical details in its official materials.

However, it will likely be a 2.0-litre unit with 125kW and around 390Nm – matching the outgoing Transit Custom.

The engine will be mated to a new “high-efficiency” eight-speed automatic transmission as standard, with a higher 2.5-tonne maximum towing capacity.

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Despite looking like a reskin of the outgoing Transit Custom launched in 2012, Ford claims it is “designed from the ground up” with a lower cargo floor height.

The new platform is expected to underpin the upcoming Volkswagen T7 Transporter, as part of a commercial vehicle partnership that has spawned the Ford Ranger-based VW Amarok and the Europe-only, VW Caddy-based Ford Tourneo Connect.

Both will be produced at Ford’s plant in Turkey.

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Currently, it is unclear how the Volkswagen will differ from the Ford, as the Amarok gained several changes, while the Tourneo Connect is a simple rebadge.

As before, the Transit Custom will be offered as a panel van or a double-cab, with four sizes available – comprising a standard or extended wheelbases and a low or high roof.

Inside, the Transit Custom sports a 13-inch Sync 4 infotainment system and an available foldable steering wheel that can act as a desk.

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The headline act is the E-Transit Custom, which harnesses a 400-volt electrical architecture with a 74kWh battery pack, enabling a WLTP-rated driving range of 380 kilometres.

It produces 160kW and 415Nm, and has a DC charge rate of up to 124kW, allowing for a charge from 15 to 80 per cent in a claimed 41 minutes.

European examples of the Transit Custom feature a standard connection to the 5G network – expanding the FordPass Connect service beyond current 4G connectivity – but it is unclear if Australian models will include this.

A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain similar to the unit found in the Escape PHEV will also be offered in Europe, featuring a 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine with an 11.8kWh battery for “a targeted pure-electric driving range of up to 57 km”, and a 2.3kW capacity for power tools and equipment.

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A step above the new Ranger’s available overhead auxiliary switches, the Transit Custom features a unique ‘digital solution’ for connecting aftermarket parts with the vehicle’s electrical system.

This solution allows items, such as wheelchair ramps or temperature sensors for refrigeration, to be controlled logically via the built-in infotainment system – rather than bolt-on switchgear – with smartphone compatibility.

The 2024 Ford Transit Custom will arrive in Australian showrooms from late 2023, with local pricing and details to be announced closer to launch.