Before the split
We recently learned that the current, outgoing edition of the Ford Transit Custom in China is still getting a facelift. Also with us, a Ford Transit once received a very extensive update, namely in 2006.
The Transit in question is that of the third, all-new generation. Vans generally last a lot longer than passenger cars and that also applies here. Generation 1 held out in all sorts of guises from 1965 to 1986, generation two from ’86 to the turn of the century. Both cars are individually good for at least one edition of Facelift Friday, but today, as mentioned, we are focusing on the third edition.
With this we make it nice and easy for ourselves, because the facelift of 2006 is very extensive. First let’s start with what has not or hardly changed: the rear, traditionally a neglected child in both facelifts and delivery vans. A square rear with a choice of a tailgate or rear doors and a set of vertical light units will suffice on a van for many years to come and we will find it both before and after 2006.
The nose, however, is a completely different story. Ford assembles a completely new example in 2006, with vertical light units that are somewhat reminiscent of those of the Fusion from that time. Mechanics are probably not happy with it, because the higher headlights and grille make the hood after the facelift a lot smaller than before. The grille is now part of the bumper and divided into three segments. The new nose also presents a challenge for the designers, as the dark headlights of the original matched up almost seamlessly with the crease in the side. That fold has been smoothed out neatly and seamlessly from 2006, so that it disappears just in front of (or actually behind) the headlight.
Another fun design joke: the black on the front doors. The front, fixed window in that door is cut a lot lower than the rear one. The hard ‘kink’ of the original model is camouflaged during the facelift by painting the corner under both windows black, making it look like the side window has been cut diagonally at the bottom.
A true revolution is taking place inside. The Transit’s round dashboard, which looked almost old-fashioned in 2000, ended up completely in the container in 2006 and gave way to a sleeker one, again following the example of Ford’s passenger car models of that period. The poker initially placed on the floor makes way for a much shorter one, conveniently mounted on the dashboard.
In its new form, this Transit will last until 2014. Then it will be followed by not one, but two different models. The Transit Custom replaces the lighter, front-wheel drive Transits, the Transit without addition is a larger and heavier model. To add to the confusion, the passenger car version of the Transit Custom is called ‘Tourneo Custom’. Back in the day, when life was simple…
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl