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Tourneo blows in at Paris show

<b>TOURNEO CONNECT:</b> Big news at the 2012 Paris auto show in five and seven-seat sizes. Take a closer look...
<b>TOURNEO CONNECT:</b> Big news at the 2012 Paris auto show in five and seven-seat sizes. Take a closer look...
PARIS, France - Ford’s stylish and practical all-new Tourneo Connect "family vehicle" will have its global public debut at the 2012 Paris auto show. Interested?

While not immediately destined for South Africa (unlike its Tourneo Custom and Transit van sisters) it’s an interesting concept – you might like to heckle you local Ford dealer...

The all-new vehicle adds to Ford’s new generation of Tourneo people-movers for Europe and, the automaker says, offers “active families an attractive and affordable new package with dynamic looks, outstanding space and versatility, along with the latest Ford passenger car technologies – including the award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, Active City Stop and Ford SNYC”.

'VERSATILE, WELL-EQUIPPED'

Barb Samardzich, vice-president for product development at Ford Europe, told Wheels24:  “The Tourneo Connect is spacious and comfortable, great for today’s busy lifestyles, to tackle the school run with room to spare, or to take the family mountain-biking at the weekend.
 
“Buyers can look forward to a versatile and well-equipped vehicle which is practical and economical and delivers the same level of quality, refinement and smart features as you’d expect from the rest of our car portfolio.”

The vehicle claims to showcase Ford’s latest design language, “from the signature trapezoidal grille and slim, technical headlights through a rising shoulder line to the distinctive vertical tail lights”.

A glass room is an option but the driver gets the latest assistance features and interior technologies, among them fuel-saving stop/start, voice-activated connectivity and emergency assistance caller. There’s also adaptive cornering lights and a reversing camera.

SAME PLATFORM AS FOCUS

There are two models - five-seat Tourneo Connect and seven-seat Grand Tourneo Connect – with sliding rear doors, very adaptable seating and “a host of smart stowage including aircraft-style overhead lockers”.

The seven-seater’s second and third-row seats fold into a flat floor.

The engines for Europe include 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel with a choice of three power outputs,  the remarkable new 75kW one-litre EcoBoost petrol engine - 2012 “International Engine of the Year” which SA should see in the new Focus – and a 1.6-litre EcoBoost with a six-speed auto.

The all-new Tourneo Connect is based on Ford’s global C-segment platform shared by the Focus and Kuga/Escape.

The cars will be sold as the Tourneo Connect in Europe and in the US as the Transit Connect Wagon, each by the second half of 2013.
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