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Ford Tourneo Connect 2022.

The new Ford Tourneo Connect 2022 gets all-wheel drive from the donor VW Caddy.

Ford has unveiled the third generation of the Tourneo Connect passenger «heel,» which is actually a remake of the new VW Caddy.

Sales in Europe will start in early 2022, with «live» cars appearing at dealers in the spring.

Last June, Ford and Volkswagen finalized an alliance that will save them a lot of money on developing new commercial vehicles and electric cars.

The third-generation Ford Tourneo Connect is the fruit of this alliance between the two auto giants, with Volkswagen responsible for developing it.

Ford, in turn, is overseeing the development of the next-generation Ford Ranger and VW Amarok pickups — their premieres are just around the corner.

The fifth-generation VW Caddy debuted last February, that is, even before Ford and Volkswagen agreed on the parameters of cooperation, and only today the related «third» Ford Tourneo Connect went public, while in the press release «blue oval» there is no mention of the alliance and that the novelty is developed by another company.

The Tourneo Connect borrows powertrains from Volkswagen, with Ford marketing people renaming the TSI and TDI engines as EcoBoost and EcoBlue and the DSG automatic transmission as PowerShift.

What does the Ford Tourneo Connect have of its own? In fact, only the front end with the original bumper, headlights, fenders and hood, and slightly redesigned stern: the headlights got different from VW’s LED stuffing, and there is a unique trapeze-shaped license plate on the tailgate.

The Sport and Active versions (crossover type) have a number of unique trim elements, however, not related to the technical stuffing.

The Tourneo Connect has its own Ford-style steering wheel, slightly modified dashboard and multimedia controls, a different design of the transmission lever and an additional row of physical buttons under the central air ducts — so the Tourneos got rid of the touch-sensitive switches that the Caddy has on the left side of the dashboard.

By the way, the Tourneo Connect has real, analog scales, and expensive versions have 10.25-inch virtual «scoreboard.

The diagonal of the multimedia screen is 8,25 or 10 inches. There is no «normal» climate control, as well as in Caddy — you will have to mess with the touch-sensitive strips.

Electromechanical parking brake is included in the basic equipment.

There’s still only a passenger version of the Tourneo Connect in two lengths (Ford doesn’t have the exact dimensions yet), and both can be ordered with two or three rows of seats, which means even the short Tourneo Connect can have seven seats.

Cargo capacity of short Tourneo Connect with stowed second and third rows is 2.6 m3, and 3.1 m3 for long version.

Also it’s possible to fold front passenger seat, which allows to transport long objects in the cabin. Optional front comfort seats with increased cushion length and bi-adjustable lumbar support are also available.

The equipment of electronic driver’s assistants is as rich as in the Caddy: on «full stuffing» you can get 19 systems, including adaptive cruise control and assistant for maneuvering with a trailer.

For Tourneo Connect currently only one gasoline engine is reserved — a 1.5-liter «turbo four» TSI/EcoBoost (114 hp, 220 Nm), and the 2.0-liter turbodiesel TDI/EcoBlue with dual injection is available with 112 hp, 280 Nm and 122 hp, 320 Nm.

Transmission — 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic DSG/PowerShift. All-wheel drive with a clutch to the rear axle is available only in conjunction with a 122 hp turbodiesel and manual transmission.

Engine protection is available as an option for bad roads.

We should add that in 2023 Ford will have another, budget «heel» (being developed without the participation of VW), which will be produced in Romania and compete on the market with the Renault Express, which debuted this spring.