Ford Courier gets a makeover
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by John Kendall
• New exterior and interior design, revised suspension and a strengthened body feature on the new Ford Courier high-cube van which goes on sale in November. For the first time the UK range will also include the passenger carrying Combi.
Engines are carried over from the previous Courier range but the 1.3-litre Endura-E petrol engine gains multi-point fuel injection and a weight-saving thermoplastic inlet manifold. The 1.8-litre OHC diesel engine, specified by 95% of Courier buyers is unchanged, but is renamed Endura-D.
The new front end is longer than its predecessor to improve crash protection.
Other safety equipment includes a standard driver's airbag with a passenger option. Side impact structural foam bolsters built into the door trim panel replace the previous model's impact beams: the bolsters are designed to spread crash loads more evenly.
The front suspension uses the traditional Ford MacPherson strut arrangement but the lower arms are mounted on a new subframe assembly. Power assistance, standard on the new Fiesta diesel car, will be offered as an option on the Courier; a 50% reduction in friction improves steering response.
The new dashboard takes its styling cues from the recently revised Escort. The centrally mounted radio includes an antitheft removable panel, mounted above the new rotary heater controls. Passengers gain additional knee room thanks to the sculpted dash mouldings and, even with the optional passenger airbag, there is a deep glovebox which is suitable for document stowage. Escort front seats offer greater support than before.
The load area is unchanged from the previous model: payload and body volumes remain at 530kg gross and 2.5e (to VDA standard) respectively. There are no plans for a heavier payload version of the Courier.
Combi models will be fitted with a folding rear seat, trim and side windows. As previously, there will be one trim level across the Courier/Combi range but a higher specification Combi may be offered if there is sufficient demand. Ford expects to sell around 5,000 Couriers and 2,000 Combis next year.
The Fiesta car-derived van will continue as before, based on the old Fiesta car. Production will continue as the "Fiesta classic" at Ford's Valencia plant in Spain until its new small car is introduced next year; Fiesta hatchback vans will then be based on the new car.
Impressions A drive in a range of Fiesta car models showed that Ford has set new standards of ride and handling for small cars. Noise path analysis has drastically reduced interior noise—Ford claims reductions of up to 10db(A) with the new Zetec-S petrol engine.
The Courier has also been subject to the same analysis techniques, resulting in changes to the back door area and wheelarches. Improved rigidity and sealing around the rear doors, helped by sound-absorbent wheelarch liners are designed to reduce road and wind noise. With the Courier and Combi relying on Ford's ageing petrol and existing diesel engines, the van derivatives will clearly not be as quiet as the cars.
The car's excellent ride and handling is a result of the stiffened bodyshell and revisions to the suspension and steering. The reduced steering effort will be particularly welcome in the Courier with unassisted steering. Although the rear suspension remains basically the same in the Courier, the changes at the front end should contribute to a smoother ride, particularly when part laden.
• Ford has won an advance order for 1,200 Combis from the Royal Mail. The vehicle will be used for rural postal deliveries, carrying up to four postmen who will be dropped off at the beginning of their rounds and picked up later. The first 400 Royal Mail Combis will go into service on Christmas delivery rounds this year.