Ford Transit – 2018 model update

The 2018.5MYFord Transit Custom one-tonne commercial vehicle is now in showrooms with a bold new exterior design, a redesigned car-like interior and enhanced connectivity for Australian innovators and entrepreneurs.

The updated Transit Custom now features standard SYNC 3, reversing camera and front/rear parking sensors, with the availability of new  Driver Assist Technologyii including AEB, Adaptive Cruise Control and BLIS adding to the Transit Custom’s car-like comfort and features that have seen it awarded Medium Van of the Year today at the inaugural Drive.com.au Commercial of the Year.

“Transit Custom now offers van customers key driver assistance features such as AEB and BLIS,” said Ford Australia President and CEO, Graeme Whickman. “We’ve worked on bringing car-like drivability and features, such as SYNC 3, to Transit Custom, while maintaining high levels of safety, carrying and towing capabilities. We’re also extremely grateful that the team at Drive.com.au has independently rated it as the best van in its class at Commercial of the Year.”

Transit Custom has recorded 41-percent growth year-on-year in Australia, following significant upgrades in 2017. In addition to  the new optional Technology Pack including AEB, changes for 2018 include a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty across all buyer types, with Transit
Custom’s car-like comfort, safety and features enhanced to bring Australians more choice, greater equipment levels and new technology.

Ford Transit Custom: Smart, smarter, smartest Transit Custom offers a high level of standard Safety and Driver Assist Technology including six airbags (driver, front passenger, front side-curtain and front-side seat airbags) and a comprehensive Dynamic Stability Control system. This features Side-wind Stabilization and Load Adaptive Control which helps improve drivability and reduce driver stress levels when the Transit Custom is heavily laden, while Rollover Mitigation, Trailer Sway Control, and Hill Launch Assist also make life on the road with a fully-loaded Transit Custom easier and more manageable.

Transit Custom introduces a new optional Technology Pack that features additional Safety and Driver Assist Technology:

• Pre-Collision Assist (AEB) with Pedestrian Detection. Equipped with the latest radar and camera technologies, the system is even designed to help with the detection of pedestrians at night when they are illuminated by the vehicle’s headlamps.
• Blind Spot Information System
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Lane Departure Warning with Driver Alert
• Auto High Beam
• Auto Headlamps
• Rain-Sensing Wipers
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• High-series 4.2-inch colour cluster screen
• MyKey
• Heated Windshield

“The offering of Autonomous Emergency Braking is an important step for the Van segment which is currently lagging well behind passenger cars when it comes to active safety features,” said ANCAP CEO, James Goodwin. “Ford is to be commended for making this step. Although it is an option, I urge customers to select this important safety technology that will help them and other road users.”

The Transit Custom’s optional Technology Pack provide several useful functions which are particularly beneficial for commercial vehicle users.

The Blind Spot Information System, using rear-facing radar sensors, is designed to aid in the detection of passing vehicles that may have entered or are approaching the blind spot zone, and alerts the driver with a warning light in the corresponding door mirror. The Transit Custom introduces a new Variable Rear Range feature, which provides drivers with an earlier warning if it detects that the passing vehicle is approaching with a higher closing speed. The updated model also has the latest generation sensors, with increased range and improved capabilities that include the ability to detect motorcycles.

Rear Cross Traffic Alert uses the same sensors and is designed to warn drivers reversing out of a parking space of vehicles or bicycles that may soon be crossing behind them, alerting them with an audible warning, a message in the instrument cluster, and a warning light in the door mirror. Activated when drivers select reverse gear, the system is ideal for vans that often have restricted visibility to the rear and sides when exiting a parking space. This feature works in conjunction with Transit Custom’s standard 8.0-inch full-colour reversing camera and rear-parking sensors.

Dynamic styling and cabin for the perfect mobile office
The 2018.5MY Transit Custom has a dynamic and professional new front-end appearance that shares the same design DNA as Ford’s latest passenger cars, with a high-mounted trapezoidal grille and dynamic, slim headlamps. Daytime running lamps and front fog lamps are now standard, and the new covered sliding door track enhances the Transit Custom’s road presence.

The refreshed model maintains the Transit reputation for delivering generous load-carrying ability, with innovative loadspace features such as the load-through hatch in the bulkhead for extra-long items, and the standard integrated roof rack that can be folded away when not in use.

New for 2018.5MY, Transit Custom is offered in Australia with a high roof option for the first time on both SWB and LWB variants, providing customers with the ability to further increase the vehicle’s impressive load-carrying ability. Additionally, factory-fitted windows are now available on both single and dual side load door executions. Customers can continue to customise their Transit Custom to suit their needs, with more than 100 exterior colours available to choose from, and new optional 16” alloy wheels.

The cabin interior is completely new, with an instrument panel based on Ford’s new interior design philosophy which offers an attractive, user-centric layout that is influenced by consumer interactions with smart devices and tablets.

Based around strong horizontal design elements that emphasize the width of the cabin, the new instrument panel features attractive and hard-wearing materials, and is packed with practical touches designed for drivers who treat the cabin like a mobile office during long working hours in their vehicle.

The new design further improves the interior stowage, with up to 25 litres of space offered in the instrument panel alone, including three convenient open bins on its upper surface with space for clipboards or mobile devices, and generous glove box stowage capable of storing hanging A4 files in the lower closed compartment.

Further new practical features include a fold-out cup holder beneath the gear lever, adding to the cup holders and two-litre bottle holders at each end of the instrument panel. The door panels have also been completely redesigned for improved stowage and usability, with three large stowage spaces and a practical new grab handle integrated with the decorative door trim.

For the driver, all-new displays and control panels have been designed for enhanced ergonomics and ease of use, featuring a floating, tablet-inspired 8.0-inch colour touchscreen with Ford’s  SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system that can be operated with pinch and swipe gestures.

SYNC 3 enables Transit Custom drivers to control audio, navigation and connected compatible smartphones using simple, conversational voice commands. Simply by pushing a button and saying “I need fuel”, “I need a coffee”, or “find an address”, drivers can locate nearby fuel stations, cafés, or the location of their next job. SYNC 3 has even been developed to recognise the Australian accent for voice commands, and is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto^™iii. USB and 12-volt power sockets are located in the upper stowage bin in front of the driver, and alongside the gear lever, for easy device charging.

Satellite-navigation is available as an option with a Manufacturer’s List Price of $600*, however the 2018.5MY Transit Custom launches with a special recommended offer where this feature is included at no extra cost across all buyer types.

All-day comfort is further enhanced by new seat designs featuring revised foam padding and geometry for optimised support, while trim materials have been completely renewed throughout the cabin, with a focus on outstanding quality, durability and appearance. This includes seat fabrics that have been subjected to Ford’s toughest ever abrasion tests.

On the move, standard features making the day easier for Transit Custom include Cruise Control with Adjustable Speed Limiting Device, leather-wrap steering wheel, power windows with one-touch up/down operation for the driver and remote central locking.

Transit: The Automatic Choice Chosen as the first-ever Drive.com.au Medium Van of the Year, Transit Custom has built in significant upgrades introduced in 2017. A new highly-advanced, new-generation turbodiesel was introduced to Australian customers, teamed with a 6-speed automatic, delivering new levels of refinement, comfort and broadening Transit’s customer appeal that has seen a 41-percent increase in Australian sales in the past 12 months.

Transit Custom: for the long-haul Australian Transit Custom buyers benefit from Ford’s best in class (light commercial vehicles) standard warranty of five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty. Importantly, Transit Custom’s five-year warranty is available to all buyer-types, and adds to a comprehensive after sales package available to eligible customers at participating dealers, including Ford’s Service Price Promise, Loan Car Program and MapCare data updates on sat-nav equipped models.

The Transit Custom also features long 30,000km / 12 month service intervals, allowing drivers to stay on the road longer in between services.

Ford Transit Custom Manufacturers List Pricing Recommended Manufacturer List Prices (MLP)* for 2018.5MY Transit Custom and available options:

^*This is the manufacturer’s list price for the vehicle only. A number of other components, including a dealer delivery fee, stamp duty, registration, compulsory third party insurance and other statutory charges may be payable by a customer in relation to the purchase of this vehicle. The final transaction price for the vehicle will be as negotiated by the customer with their chosen Ford Dealer.

^* Recommended MLP only. As always, the offer price of any vehicle or option is entirely at the discretion of the Dealer. Prices shown exclude Dealer delivery and statutory charges.