Ford Transit Custom News

Australia's best new cars are now one step closer to being announced, with judges finalising the Top 10 models for each 2019 CarsGuide Car of the Year award.

Ford Australia has released local pricing and specifications for the updated 2019 Ford Transit Custom range, which now offers a full suite of active safety technology such as auto emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive cruise control as standard, as well as the addition of a new Sport version and new long-wheelbase crew van.The new Sport model is designed to appeal to dual-purpose buyers, with an uprated engine and more premium interior with second-row seating. The Sport is the premium version of the brand's crew model - labelled the Double Cab-in-Van (DCiV) by Ford - a variant that gives Ford a much needed competitor to crew-van rivals like the Hyundai iLoad, Renault Trafic, Volkswagen Transporter and Toyota HiAce, all of which have crew van models available. The updated Transit Custom range is from $42,190 plus on-road costs, and range-wide it now includes AEB with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, driver attention alert, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert as standard across the range. The safety gear was previously available as an option for $1600.The 2019 Transit Custom range features a new 125kW/390Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine, which is available with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. In addition to the standard safety equipment, an 8.0-inch multimedia system with Ford’s Sync 3 software is standard, which also includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Sat nav will cost you an extra $600. Short wheelbase (SWB) Transit Custom models have earned an increased gross vehicle mass (GVM) rating, which is now 3400kg - hence the new 340S model name (previously 3000kg, and 300S). The increased GVM has enabled the Transit automatic to achieve a maximum 2150kg braked towing capacity (was 1800kg). The Sport model features an uprated 136kW/405Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. Confusingly, this version is a 320S, with a 3200kg GVM. The Sport also has 17-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights body coloured mirrors, a gloss black grille and even a body styling kit for extra visual attitude. The Transit Custom Sport is also available in two unique colours - ‘Blue Metallic’ and ‘Orange Glow’, but Transit Custom buyers can choose from more than 100 colours by special order (adds $1400).The interior of the Transit Custom Sport also includes a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat, gloss black detailing, chrome vent surrounds, LED rear load area lighting, part-leather upholstery and a leather steering wheel. The 340L DCiV model pushes seating capacity from three in the standard van up to six, with a rear row of seats. Both the 340L DCiV and 320L Sport DCiV models have a standard rear bulkhead, dual sliding side doors and 4.4-cubic metres of cargo area. The Ford Transit Custom accounts for about 10 per cent of mid-sized van sales in Australia, with 1880 units sold in 2018. The job is soon to be even harder, with the all-new 2019 Toyota HiAce due to launch within the next few months.  Dual side load doors (windows): $1,700 

Ford Australia has revealed pricing for its new Ford Transit Custom van range, checking in at $40,990 plus on-road costs for the short-wheelbase 300S and $42,990 for the full-length 340L.

It’s official: Australians now buy more SUVs than passenger cars, or at least they did in February.

The major brands are keen for a good start to 2015 and that means a lot of sharp deals for the first two months of the year.Low profile brand Citroen currently has a hot deal on its Berlingo compact hauler, offering the 66kW diesel manual long body version for $25,990 drive away. It has also thrown in an extended warranty, covering it for five years/200,000km.Volkswagen has two limited edition vans available now, with special drive-away pricing.They are called Runner models and are effectively entry-level models.The Caddy Runner is based on the TSI 160 petrol version of Volkswagen’s small van. It is not loaded with gear, but does have airconditioning as well as stability control, and costs $23,990 drive away.The Transporter Runner, based on the TDI 250 diesel, is not completely void of features either and has just picked up Bluetooth phone connectivity and cruise control in addition to AC and stability control.Volkswagen is currently offering it for $32,990 drive away.Renault is receiving initial stock of the new Master large van, but there are a fair few of the old one left and that means bargains are to be had.The company hasn’t locked in incentives with the dealers, instead asking them to check in when someone is interested, so it might well be worth asking.The company does have an extended warranty offer in place at the moment to help its Kangoo compact van, which covers it for five years or 200,000km.Ford is offering two special deals with price cuts and extended warranty deals for its front-drive Transit Custom vans.The first is a short wheelbase model at $38,990 drive away and the second is the long wheelbase version for $40,990 drive away.These are keen prices, especially as Ford has now introduced an extended warranty that lasts for five years/200,000km.Both models are standard, but the Transit is very well specified and each van has a five-star crash safety rating, stability control, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, a bulkhead and even heated seats.There is only one transmission, a six-speed manual, as an automatic is still being developed, and only one engine, a 2.2-litre turbodiesel.Fiat is not doing any special deals on its just-introduced Doblo and Ducato vans, maintaining the strong pricing structure from the launch, including the well specified Doblo compact van from $22,000 for the petrol 1.4 and the larger Ducato with a 3.0-litre diesel from $38,000, but neither price includes drive-away costs.