The biggest news for the second half of next year will be the debut of the Explorer, delayed from 2023. The plug-in hybrid follows in the spring, and the E-Tourneo Custom, with its 64 kWh usable battery pack and a 160 kW motor, from summer. Diesel engines for relevant markets are first, these offering the choice of 136 PS, 150 PS, or 170 PS. The electric E-Transit Courier – revealed earlier in 2023 – plus the E-Tourneo Courier, won’t be in production until 2024.Īnother LCV-based model, the Tourneo Custom, including a 2.5-litre petrol PHEV, is also new. However, it’s ICE variants only at first. Transit Courier and Tourneo Courier production started in October at Ford Otosan’s Craiova plant so these are imminent for dealers. There is certainly a lot of new product either just arriving or coming soon. Officially official future Fords for Europe ![]() What the Puma has achieved throughout 2023 will have made the Essex-based company’s high-ups very happy though. Being top of the pecking order was nice but losses were not. As you could argue it would do, having lost the long-time lead over all others in passenger vehicle sales, Ford says its preoccupation is profit. We should also remember the blue oval’s strength in LCVs: the Transit Custom was Britain’s best selling vehicle in both 20. Not quite enough to lift Ford back above VW but the brand at least continues in a strong second position ahead of Audi. There will be juicy margins indeed from what has become far and away the UK market’s best selling car of 2023. Moreover, its price premium over the Fiesta, production of which ended in July, has been both a clever move on Ford’s part. The word seems to be out about just what a great little car the Puma is. You soon forget this is an elevated hatchback, body lean being well controlled and the steering precision an example to all cars in the B segment. So I wondered if the BSG system on a 1.0-litre engine might make for juddery take-offs? Not really is the answer, though you are aware of the engine being restarted.Īs we’ve come to expect of European-engineered Fords, the handling is sublime and class-leading. I’ve driven the non-mHEV Puma ST and it’s a total hoot, the manual transmission being delightful to boot. The first of those four letters means mild and signifies a 48-volt electrical system, along with a belt-driven starter/generator.Īs with all mild hybrid applications, this one harvests otherwise wasted kinetic energy, utilising it to fire up the engine and get the car off the line. Ford refers to the 998 cc unit as an mHEV though calling it electric is a bit of a stretch. The tiny triple has had so many modifications over the years that this latest iteration really should be thought of as almost a fresh design. And the firm’s long-running EcoBoost three-cylinder turbo has always emitted a nice noise anyway, be it 1.0 or 1.5 litres, in the Fiesta, Focus and even the Mondeo. What is called an ‘engine sound enhancer’ is another feature and sure, it adds artificial noise but it does at least ensure a pleasing note. Two other pieces of precise-action plastic are the gear-change paddles. HVAC settings are controlled via lots of lovely buttons. ![]() The dashboard design is up to Ford’s usual high standard for logical placement of controls and ease of use. Those two words also appear on the stainless steel sill plates. The sports seats feel fantastic and have FORD PERFORMANCE embossed into them. Scarlet detailing continues inside the car, including for the stitching on door-tops, seats and steering wheel.
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