Ford Transit News

 When Ford’s global executives rolled into Sydney last week to host a razzamatazz show aimed at convincing us all it has big plans for Australia, they could have been forgiven for overlooking the humble Tansit van - but they didn’t. The Ford Go Further event at Fox Studios was all lights and action in the much-hyped style that works in the US.Ford Motor Company chief operating officer Mark Fields introduced several new models from sporty Fiestas to the Everest SUV, but also talked up two Transits as they were driven onto the stage in front of several Ford dealers, employees and journalists.“Are these cargo vans hot or what? Fields asked excitedly, almost shouting. There were a few claps, quite likely from Ford employed folk, but it’s safe to say any euphoria was contained. It is, after all, a van.While it might not have caused mass hysteria, the introduction of the new Transit van early next year will represent a significant step forward from the current model. Ford will actually introduce two different Transit models, a medium and a large version. It’s not just the size that contrasts, the two vans look different too.The smaller van is called the Transit Custom, which is already on sale in Europe and will be introduced here around February next year. Ford’s larger offering is the Transit Cargo, which goes on sale in Europe and the US later this year and will be available locally from next April.There is also a third Transit model, the Transit Connect, which is a size smaller than the Custom and would line up against models like the Renault Kangoo Volkswagen Caddy, but Ford Australia has not yet decided whether to bring this to Australia.The mid-sized Custom is available in a series of wheelbases and with a regular roof or high roof. The longer wheelbase, high roof model offers up to 8.3 cubic metres of cargo space and a floor to roof measurement of 1.78 metres. Ford says it can’t confirm the payload of the Custom, but the van is marketed in Europe as a one tonne van. The Custom has already been tested by Euro NCAP and recorded an impressive five-star score.Ford developed the larger Transit Cargo to replace the bigger Transit versions currently sold in Europe, but also the ancient E-Series van sold in the United States that was based on F-Series ute. While the Custom has a more European style, the bigger Cargo van takes on a more aggressive American-style nose with a chunky grille, similar to that shown on the Ranger-based Everest SUV. There are several different versions, but the largest available has room for 15.1 cubic metres of cargo. The maximum payload is around 3.2 tonnes, although Ford Australia has confirmed none of the specs of the model to be sold here.Both the Custom and Cargo vans will be available with a carry-over 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel that is also used in the Ranger ute. The Cargo is also available with a 3.5-litre turbo EcoBoost petrol V6, which replaces the V8 equipped Econoline, but this will not be made available for the Australian models.It is most likely that smaller Custom models sold in Australia will be front-wheel-drive, while the larger Cargo will be rear-drive. Ford says both new Transit models are built with a large amount of high tensile steel, which is stronger and lighter than regular steel. Ford has developed the Transits in a range of body options, including bus, cab-chassis, crew cab-chassis and regular cargo van. 

Ford has presented the production version of its next generation Transit in England and will introduce it in Europe towards the end of this year, but the grand van won’t go on sale in Australia until September 2013 at the earliest. There is every chance the new Transit, called the Transit Custom, will be worth the wait judging from the styling and features of this vehicle, which is fresh from the ground up. It’s now clear that when Ford showed the Torneo Custom Concept at the Geneva Motor Show in March that it was giving us a very clear indication of what the new Transit would look like. The production vehicle is very close to that concept, including the use of the trapezoidal air dam and sleek wrap-around headlights that make up Ford’s Kinetic design language and also feature on cars like the Fiesta and Focus. It’s a lot more exciting to look at than the current plain but practical Transit. Ford Europe chief designer, Paul Campbell, says: “It’s still a Transit, so the superbly practical loadspace is a given, but with its sportier stance and bold rising shoulder line, the Transit Custom makes a powerful new impact.” The new van will be offered in two lengths, a 4.970mm short wheelbase and a 5340mm long wheelbase. Ford says the long wheelbase version has a class leading load capacity of 6.0 cubic metres, with a bulkhead in place. It has also revealed there will be a clever bulkhead latch to allow longer items such as pipes to be carried. The company claims even the short wheelbase model is capable of carrying three Euro pallets. There are some interesting features such as an integrated roof rack, which can be folded down and out of the way when not being used. The new Transit will continue with the recently introduced 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel, which will be available with outputs of 75kW, 93kW and 116kW.  

Ford is about to make the white van stylish, if the Tourneo concept is any indication. The eight-seat people-mover debuted at the Geneva Motor Show and, while it won't be seen in Australia, the platform and styling will form the basis for the Ford Transit van that is popular with city-based cargo carriers.The new Transit is due late this year and Ford has worked hard to give the van a more carlike look inside and out. The Tourneo concept follows Ford's Kinetic design approach and the sculpted front end has elements of the Focus and Escape passenger cars.That extend to the interior, with the instrument panel and dash following the Focus small car look.A rear-view camer should keep Transit buyers - and the owners of nearby vehicles - happy, while the concept also featured a lane departure warning and driver fatigue alert systems, along with Ford's Sync infotainment system that connects with smart phones.The Tourneo concept is powered by a 114kW 2.2-litre diesel engine with stop-start technology. Lower spec variants of the engine will also be available in 74kW and 92kW configurations. The Tourneo Custom Concept has seats and is being presented as a people mover, but Ford says a true commercial range will follow.  The new Transit will be based on what Ford is calling a 'global' platform, under the same One Ford strategy that could spell the end for an unique Australian Falcon, but oddly it won't be sold in the US.Europe can expect the new Transit range, which will be offered in short and long wheelbase forms, to arrive next year and Working Wheels understands the range will be made available in Australia at some stage during 2013. This model Transit is front-drive and Working Wheels expects larger rear-drive models, which better carry big loads, will also be made available. The Tourneo Custom Concept runs the same 2.2-litre DuraTorq TDCi turbo diesel that has just been introduced in the current Transit. In Europe this engine runs a stop-start feature, which kills the engine when it comes to a halt to save fuel. Future production Transits will run the same system in a bid to save as much fuel as possible. Ford says the engines, which will run a range of other improvements, will be available with outputs of 75kW, 93kW and 116kW. They will be hooked up to a six-speed manual gearbox.The Tourneo Custom Concept has an all-new interior, which Ford describes as 'driver-focussed' using materials of the same quality as a modern sedan.The show vehicle is fitted with a voice control system for the phone and audio controls as well as an advanced control system kicks in to keep it from straying out of its lane.

... across the Ford Transit van range next January. Ford Australia introduced a similar version of the 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel as an Econetic model this year, but it was only available as front-drive variant. The economical engine will be rolled out across the whole Transit range, replacing a 2.4-litre unit, and the Econetic model will be dropped as a result. Ford says the new engine will significantly reduce fuel consumption across the range. In most cases it should save operators a litre of diesel for every 100km travelled going by official fuel economy figures. While it drinks less than the larger engine it replaces, the new TDCi diesel also delivers more power and torque. There will be two different versions of the new 2.2-litre engine, one for the front-wheel drive Transit and another for the rear-wheel drive model. The front-drive state of tune delivers 7kW and 30Nm more torque than the previous 2.2 unit for a total of 92kW and 330Nm. The new engine means the rear-drive Transit now has 11kW more power and 10Nm more torque for totals of 114kW and 385Nm. CO2 emissions have dropped to a class leading 189g/km. Ford has made a series of minor changes to improve the fuel economy of the engine, but has not gone as far as introducing a stop-start system that kills the engine at traffic lights. Ford Australia president Bob Graziano is confident the new engine will be well received. "I'm certain our Transit customers will welcome the arrival of this new 2.2 TDCi engine and its many benefits," he says. "The additional power and torque will make driving more enjoyable and the increased efficiency is sure to make a difference at the bowser."