Ford's successful Transit Connect and
Tourneo Connect have undergone extensive changes with a new fresh look, new
features and higher quality levels.
With
all of these changes in design, safety and quality, the Connect range will be
on sale in Britain this summer.
Steve
Kimber, commercial vehicles director, Ford of Britain, said: "Commercial
vehicles are much more than simply a means of transporting goods; they are also
a workplace and professional drivers often spend a full day in the vehicle. The
new features on the Connect range make this driving and working experience as
convenient and safe as possible."
For
2009, the design of the Transit/Tourneo Connect range has been revised to echo
the Ford 'kinetic design' language featured on the company's latest passenger
car line-up. There is a new trapezoidal shape to the front bumper and grille,
new headlamps and tail-lamps complete the fresh appearance. New details
like body side mouldings and redesigned alloy wheels contribute to the
contemporary approach. The
interior has also undergone a significant update. The design of the new
dashboard has clearly been influenced by the luxurious Ford S-MAX.
Together, the new seats and interior colour scheme result in a highly
comfortable and car-like environment. There is generous storage space for
driver and passenger, which makes the working day easier. In addition, great
care was taken to further upgrade interior craftsmanship and quality with the
use of durable new materials.
For
the new model, Ford is upgrading the active safety features of the
Transit/Tourneo Connect by offering Electronic Stability Program (ESP) as
standard across the entire range. ESP for the Connect range also includes Anti
Lock Brakes (ABS) with Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA) as well as Active Yaw
Control (AYC), Roll Over Mitigation (ROM) and Roll Movement Intervention (RMI).
Ford's ECOnetic low CO2
technology is coming to Ford's most popular commercial vehicle icon, the Ford
Transit.
On
sale later this year, the new Transit ECOnetic (pictured) is based on the front-wheel
drive Transit 280 panel van with short wheelbase and 2.2-litre 115PS Duratorq
TDCi engine. Target fuel economy is 39.2mpg, while average CO2
emissions are a best in class 189 g/km.
Following
the launch of ECOnetic models in Ford's Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo passenger car
ranges, the company is now committed to continuing this affordable low CO2
approach in the commercial vehicle market. In addition to the new Transit
ECOnetic, an ECOnetic version of its compact workmate, the Fiesta Van, will
also go on sale later this year.
Super-frugal,
stylish and 'green' the new Fiesta Van ECOnetic goes on sale in Britain later
this year.
The
new Fiesta Van ECOnetic shows form can exist with function, offering the same
Fiesta style with lowered suspension, low rolling resistance tyres and a
specially calibrated Duratorq 1.6-litre TDCi for an ultra-low 98g/km CO2.
Made
at Ford's wind-powered engine plant at Dagenham, Essex, the cleverly calibrated
90PS 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi combined with coated Diesel Particulate Filter,
produces 10 per cent less CO2 than the already impressive mainstream
TDCi and is matched to a special aerodynamic profile that results in just
98g/km CO2 and a Combined 76.4mpg.
Transit
Connect is available in short wheelbase/low roof and long wheelbase/high roof
designs. The Tourneo Connect comes as a long wheelbase, high roof. The generic
vehicle design was targeted to meet an optimum balance of vehicle length and
cargo capacity. The Transit Connect with short wheelbase (SWB) has a compact
overall length of just 4.275 metres, but offers a generous cargo volume of 2.8
cubic metres - and the standard fold-flat passenger seat increases this to 3.4
cubic metres. The
long wheel base (LWB) adds another 25cm to the overall length and around 17cm
to the load box heights, resulting in a 4.4 cubic metre loadspace with fold
flat passenger seats. In all van versions, the load box width between the wheel
arches is wider than 1.2 metres to make sure that standard sized cargo like
Euro pallets can be laden with ease. In selected markets both the long and
short wheelbase vans can be ordered in a Crew Van configuration to provide
seating for up to five people.
All
Connect vans can be ordered with regular or upgraded payload versions, offering
a gross payload of up to 900kg. To give access to the cargo area, a wide choice
of rear and side door openings can be ordered.
The
1.8-litre Duratorq TDCi engine is available with three different power outputs:
the entry-level engine delivers 75PS at 4,000rpm and 175Nm of torque at
1,800rpm. The 90PS version (peak power at 4,000rpm) delivers a nominal maximum
torque of 220Nm at 1,750rpm - increasing to 240Nm in the "transient
overboost" mode. The passenger car homologated Tourneo Connect with 90PS
delivers a combined fuel economy of 44.1 mpg)*, and an average CO2
emission of 167g/km.
The
top-of-the-range engine has a peak power of 110PS at 3,500rpm (max. torque
250Nm at 1,500 to 3,200rpm and 280Nm in transient overboost mode).
Thanks to
its variable turbo geometry, this engine is not only the most powerful but also
the most frugal in the range: combined fuel economy is 47.0mpg, which equates
to an average CO2 emission of 159g/km.All
of these engines are combined with a well-stepped five speed manual transmission
for high efficiency and ease of operation.
The
90 and 110 PS versions of Transit Connect can be fitted with an optional coated
Diesel Particulate Filter (cDPF). Due to the special coating of this
closed-loop device, the cDPF needs no additives for operation and is thus
maintenance-free.
The
Ford Transit Connect will arrive in the North American market for the first
time in summer 2009. This model takes full advantage of the established
strengths of the European Transit/Tourneo Connect product family, but is
specially tailored to meet US customers' expectations.To
prepare the Transit Connect for the unique needs of small-businesses in the
United States, a Duratec 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder petrol engine delivering
an estimated 138 SAE horsepower at 6,500 rpm will be mated to a four-speed
automatic overdrive transmission. In addition, special features and options
exclusive to the US market will be offered, such as the special Tool LinkTM
and Crew ChiefTM tracking systems. The
US version of the Transit Connect is produced alongside the European vehicles
in the Ford Otosan assembly plant in Kocaeli, Turkey.
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