New Transit SportVan

In the new Transit SportVan, Ford adds a dash of style and 'sportiness' to the van segment. The Ford Transit SportVan is available as front-wheel-drive and short wheelbase body style and is powered by the 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine delivering the enhanced 140 PS power and 350 Nm of torque. The new six-speed transmission is paired with this engine.

The large body of the Ford Transit provides ideal scope for bold design statements and styling features. Immediately obvious is the supplier-branded styling kit, 18-inch alloy wheels with 235/45 tyres, a body coloured front lower spoiler with a bright centre section, body coloured side skirts with bright inserts and rear lower skirts all make for a dynamic and unique appearance. The Transit SportVan is available in Performance Blue metallic paint and two further metallic colours. The front bumper and grille is body coloured and the twin exhaust tailpipe and optional Ford GT-style white bonnet stripes clearly show that the Transit SportVan means business.

"Customers increasingly want to personalise their vehicles and drive a van that's different and stylish," said Phil Collareno. "As well as being used in a professional capacity, many owner-operators also use their vans for private purposes. With the Transit SportVan we offer a vehicle that really stands out from the crowd."

Inside, the Transit SportVan takes cabin comfort to the maximum. Standard cabin equipment for optimum driver and passenger comfort includes air-conditioning, Ford's 6006 audio system operated via stalk control with front loading in-dash six CD player, power windows and electrically adjustable, heated door mirrors. Further driver assistance and passenger safety features include a high series cluster with trip computer, cruise control and passenger airbag. Interior styling has added finesse by the use of leather steering wheel with alloy spokes and leather gear shifter knob. A high specification visibility pack incorporates auto headlights, auto wipers, Ford's unique 'Quickclear' heated front screen, tinted glass and integrated front fog lamps to ensure that the driver has the best visibility in all weather conditions. Transit SportVan is available with a host of regular attractive Transit options for further personalisation. These include satellite navigation, Bluetooth® connectivity, Thatcham CAT 1 alarm system and fully trimmed leather seats.

"With the addition of the 140 PS six-speed transmission and the Transit SportVan to an already comprehensive range there are now more versions of the Transit available than any other commercial vehicle in the segment. Ford of Europe's commercial vehicle sector is on track for a record year with Transit experiencing a 14 per cent sales increase year-to-date compared to last year." said Henrik Nenzen.

Ford extend their successful Transit range

Ford Transit retains its leading status within the commercial vehicle sector with its modern exterior design and interior features. A raft of new developments in the Ford Transit range has been created to help operators manage the changing needs of transportation in Britain. Steve Kimber, director, commercial vehicles, Ford of Britain, said: "The commercial vehicle market continues to evolve, and it's important we continue to develop our product range to meet customers' changing needs.

All-new engine for the Transit
For customers seeking extra power, increased payload and driving comfort, Ford Transit is now available with an all-new five-cylinder in-line Duratorq TDCi common rail diesel engine. This 3.2-litre power plant develops a maximum of 200 PS. Consistent with other engines in the Transit portfolio it meets European Stage IV Emissions standards. Exclusively developed for rear-wheel-drive (RWD) Transits and available for the wheelbase and payload derivatives it will benefit most – the 350+ series mid wheelbase (MWB), long wheelbase (LWB) and extended wheelbase. Scheduled service intervals of 30,000m or two years, whichever comes first, make Transit an attractive proposition to fleet managers and owner operators.

"Many of our customers told us they needed a more powerful engine for their long-haul deliveries, and our new 200 PS Duratorq TDCi engine is bound to impress both in terms of performance and fuel efficiency," said Henrik Nenzen, Director Commercial Vehicles, Marketing Sales & Service, Ford of Europe. The 200 PS engine, with its excellent torque of 470Nm gives great performance, irrespective of the load or road gradients. It contributes to less 'driver fatigue' by reducing the frequency of gear changes as it can be driven in a higher gear for longer. The new engine has been mated with an upgraded Durashift 6-speed manual transmission. Featuring a new dual mass flywheel and clutch assembly for the higher torque of the new engine, the durability requirements of the new gearbox have been engineered specifically to meet the needs of the commercial vehicle segment. To enable the longest possible range between refuelling, Ford is introducing the option of a fuel tank with increased capacity of 103 litres on Transit.

Higher payload for Transit
Ford is further expanding its already comprehensive Transit range by adding 460 (4.6 tonne) GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) and 350HD (3.5 tonne) GVM (Heavy Duty) model derivatives to the line-up, enhancing its tough, dependable image. Both the 460 GVM and 350HD models bring greater towing capacity to the Transit and are available across a range of wheelbases in van and chassis cab body styles with dual rear wheels. The upgraded standard front and rear axles on the 460 and 350HD models provide customers with more flexibility for weight distribution when loading the vehicle. To control the extra payload, these new Transit versions come with larger rear brake callipers, a heavy-duty handbrake, up rated rear springs and revised front and rear damper settings and a new front damper for the chassis cab.

Driver assistance technology
ESP is now standard on all derivatives, except all-wheel-drive and petrol models. The ESP system detects when the vehicle is deviating from the driver's chosen course and automatically applies the correct amount of braking pressure and engine power to bring the vehicle back into line. Vehicles equipped with ESP will now also have Ford's new Hill Launch Assist (HLA) feature. This technology uses the braking system to hold the vehicle on a gradient and prevent it from rolling. HLA maintains pressure to the braking system and provides a two and a half second delay when the driver moves their foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. The HLA feature avoids the need to go through an awkward sequence of events involving the handbrake to hold the vehicle momentarily whilst on a hill. Once sufficient engine torque is reached, the HLA automatically releases the brake system in a controlled manner.

The Ford Transit equipped with Bosh active safety systems

The expectation for today’s modern van is that they drive and handle more like cars than commercial vehicles. Because drivers spend so much time behind the wheel of a typical van, and in many cases they have dual work/social use, comfort and convenience is becoming increasingly important and safety is an equally important ingredient. As well as installing disc brakes all round to the new Transit, Ford engineers have also utilised the Bosch Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) as a standard feature. The EBD function is particularly valuable in a light commercial vehicle application, as it allows for a greater variation in brake balance between front and rear axles dependent on the wider load variations experienced with this type of vehicle.

As an additional safety feature, and also following the trend in passenger cars, Ford is fitting Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with rollover mitigation and Load Adaptive Control (LAC) as standard fitment. This technology takes account of load and weight in the vehicles and adapts the vehicle dynamics control to suit.

Many independent studies in Germany, Sweden and the USA, have shown the value of ESP as an additional element in potentially reducing the number and severity of accidents caused by vehicle skidding. This is particularly important in the case of vans, since their design and their use leave them with tighter safety margins. Depending on load, the centre of gravity shifts, and consequently the risk of rollover may increase. Bosch believes this evidence should encourage all purchasers of light commercial vehicles to specify their vehicle with these active safety features.

Bosch developed the electronic stability program, and has manufactured more than 20 million systems since series production began in 1995. ESP® controls vehicle dynamics by selectively braking individual wheels and reducing engine torque. Within the limits set by physical laws, this markedly increases driving safety. The proportion of vehicles fitted with ESP® has risen significantly over recent years. There is still, however, a need to catch up. About one in every four light commercial vehicles manufactured in Europe is currently fitted with this safety system – a proportion that is significantly lower than that for cars. Small vans, with designs based on cars, are even further behind. Only about two percent of these are fitted with an ESP® system. Almost every European manufacturer is opting for this Bosch load-adaptive ESP®. It can be found, for instance, in the Citroën Relay, Fiat Ducato, Ford Transit, Iveco Daily, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Peugeot Boxer and the Volkswagen Crafter.

The Ford Transit equipped with Bosh active safety systems

The expectation for today’s modern van is that they drive and handle more like cars than commercial vehicles. Because drivers spend so much time behind the wheel of a typical van, and in many cases they have dual work/social use, comfort and convenience is becoming increasingly important and safety is an equally important ingredient. As well as installing disc brakes all round to the new Transit, Ford engineers have also utilised the Bosch Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) as a standard feature. The EBD function is particularly valuable in a light commercial vehicle application, as it allows for a greater variation in brake balance between front and rear axles dependent on the wider load variations experienced with this type of vehicle.

As an additional safety feature, and also following the trend in passenger cars, Ford is fitting Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with rollover mitigation and Load Adaptive Control (LAC) as standard fitment. This technology takes account of load and weight in the vehicles and adapts the vehicle dynamics control to suit.

Many independent studies in Germany, Sweden and the USA, have shown the value of ESP as an additional element in potentially reducing the number and severity of accidents caused by vehicle skidding. This is particularly important in the case of vans, since their design and their use leave them with tighter safety margins. Depending on load, the centre of gravity shifts, and consequently the risk of rollover may increase. Bosch believes this evidence should encourage all purchasers of light commercial vehicles to specify their vehicle with these active safety features.

Bosch developed the electronic stability program, and has manufactured more than 20 million systems since series production began in 1995. ESP® controls vehicle dynamics by selectively braking individual wheels and reducing engine torque. Within the limits set by physical laws, this markedly increases driving safety. The proportion of vehicles fitted with ESP® has risen significantly over recent years. There is still, however, a need to catch up. About one in every four light commercial vehicles manufactured in Europe is currently fitted with this safety system – a proportion that is significantly lower than that for cars. Small vans, with designs based on cars, are even further behind. Only about two percent of these are fitted with an ESP® system. Almost every European manufacturer is opting for this Bosch load-adaptive ESP®. It can be found, for instance, in the Citroën Relay, Fiat Ducato, Ford Transit, Iveco Daily, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Peugeot Boxer and the Volkswagen Crafter.

The longest Transit in the world

Ford's Commercial Vehicle development team, based at the company's Dunton Technical Centre in Essex, is celebrating Ford Transit's status as International Van of the Year 2007 and record sales for the UK in 2006, by creating an unusual one-off limousine – the Transit XXL. Transit XXL literally stretches the Transit Tourneo passenger vehicle to new lengths and could well be the longest Transit in the world. It uses 'off-the-shelf' Ford Transit components throughout and is based on two short wheelbase Transit Tourneo models which have been joined together to deliver a bespoke 'limo' that carries the driver plus seven passengers in full VIP comfort. "Ford has a history of building unusual one-off, fun vehicles that have become legends – the Transit Supervan series, our World Rally Transit and most recently the Transit Connect X-Press which used the powertrain of the Focus RS to create a hugely entertaining vehicle," said Steve Kimber, commercial vehicles director, Ford of Britain.

"2006 was an epic year in the history of Britain's favourite van. Transit sales increased by more than 3,000 units to 74,358. In the medium commercial sector Ford sold more than double the number of vehicles of its nearest competitor. Residual values on new Transit have set a new benchmark and so we enter 2007 ready to continue this success story with new additions and derivatives," he said. Transit XXL demonstrates the Ford Transit's flexibility and capabilities. It measures 7.4m in length and has a wheelbase of 5.9m. This compares to the standard Tourneo length of almost 4.9m and wheelbase of 2.9m. It also has four full sliding doors – two on each side – while the entire vehicle benefits from privacy glass. It has a floor-to-roof carpeted bulkhead behind the rearmost pair of seats which creates a separate luggage compartment accessible only through the tailgate-style rear door.
Power is from a completely standard Ford 2.2-litre, 130PS Duratorq TDCi engine, though the five-speed gearbox has been specially adapted and tuned for optimum gearing to deliver enhanced mid-range performance. The braking system has also been upgraded and uses self-adjusting, servo-assisted front and rear discs.

Ford customers hone their driving skills

Ford’s Commercial Vehicle team, with the support of DHL/Exel, ran a three-day Ford Ranger driving event for 160 customers at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire. Customers of five large Midlands-based dealer groups - Ford Retail, Bristol Street, Allens, TCH and Sandicliffe - attended the event. All participants gave the Ford Ranger high marks for style, handling, comfort and off-road capability. The all-new Ranger is available in three body styles – regular cab, super cab and double cab – and three specification levels – Standard, XLT and Thunder. It is powered by a new 2.5-litre 143PS Duratorq TDCi turbo diesel engine.

The event comprised two driving sessions – on and off road – and a driving skills competition to establish the ‘perfect drive’ around an off road course in the new Ranger – the official sponsorship vehicle of the Rugby Football Union (RFU). Winner John Oakshott was awarded a signed England Rugby shirt in recognition of the RFU/Ranger connection. John is a buyer from rental company London Hire, a company renowned for its loyalty to the Ford Brand. It is increasing its fleet content of Rangers, specifically looking at Ranger fridge conversions as a new business opportunity.A keen rugby fan, John was delighted with his win: “I loved driving the new Ranger, which exceeded all my expectations.” The England Rugby Shirt was presented to John at London Hire’s offices in December by Terry Rayner, Ford’s Regional Manager for CVs, and Tony Harrington, the company’s Rental Fleet Account Manager.

Transit Connect

Using the most familiar name in commercial vehicles, the Transit Connect remains one of the most capable small vans available, whether a fleet operator or owner-driver. For van drivers, the van is their office. You will find the Transit Connect is a fine companion whether used on long-haul runs or short hops. A great deal of attention has been paid to ensure the Transit Connect provides owners with a comfortable driving environment. The seating position is high affording a good view of the road ahead and making getting in and out of the van easy - essential if you do a lot of multi-drop work. Heating and ventilation controls are designed clearly and are simple to operate. There are various storage compartments in the cabin as well as a holder for A4 documents.
The Transit Connect is available with a folding passenger seat option where the seatback folds forward. There is a choice of roof heights and wheelbases, the low-roof models offer payloads of 625kg or 825kg and load volume of 2.8 cubic metres, while the larger, high-roof versions offer payloads of 825kg and 900kg and load volume of 3.67 cubic metres. Transit is a big name in vans.

Meeting customer needs The New Ford Transit

A lot has happened since Ford introduced the very first Ford Transit in 1965. At that time, the most optimistic of the Blue Oval's marketeers could not have predicted the impact it would have around the world. Over four decades on, it still leads the way in the one to two-tonne segment - the place where the majority of business people buy their vans. Current Transit users would testify to the van's legendary reputation for robustness and strength and the latest changes, the most significant for six years, are designed to keep it firmly ahead of the pack. The vehicle’s fresh exterior styling underlines that this is a thoroughly contemporary commercial vehicle.

Interior and exterior, back to front, on the surface and under the skin, every area of Ford's popular workhorse has been examined and improved. "When setting out to improve the Transit, we paid particular attention to an increasingly important customer base, the artisan or single-vehicle owner," explained Barry Gale, chief engineer, commercial vehicles. "These customers told us their van was a statement about them and their company, so it not only needed to be functional, reliable and durable, but stylish too.”Additionally, they wanted a vehicle that was pleasant to drive - that it should never feel like taking a step down from a passenger car." In terms of driving dynamics, Ford engineers have worked hard to ensure the new Transit has driving and handling characteristics that are even closer to the Company's acclaimed passenger cars. Detailed changes in the suspension have made a significant change to the noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), cutting it by some 20 per cent.

The most noticeable changes are at the front where the bold new three-bar grille sits between new, more vertical headlamps and a nine inch Ford oval badge on the grille, the largest on a European Ford vehicle. Major improvements have been made to the Transit interior, reflecting the demand for the same level of user-friendly features as passenger cars. A completely new dashboard, instruments, switches and a new steering wheel face the driver, while new, considerate and innovative storage solutions ensure that Transit is now an even more convenient workplace. A significant change in cabin ergonomics sees the gear lever moved up to the dashboard - giving a more car-like driving position. It also gives a completely clear floor area from the driver's side to the passenger's side for "walk through" access. A two-tone instrument panel and higher-grade cloth trim complete the changes.

The new high-tech TDCi diesel engines are the first dedicated commercial vehicle powertrains to be developed as part of the partnership between Ford Motor Company and PSA Peugeot Citroen and will be built at Ford's Dagenham Diesel Centre. The new Transit range will offer six diesel engines and one LPG-compatible petrol engine. The diesel options include new 2.2-litre and 2.4-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engines, matched with either five-speed or six-speed Durashift manual transmissions. All Transit diesel power units are compliant with Euro IV emissions standards and feature latest generation common-rail technology.
The outgoing Transit received many international awards for its outstanding security features. The new Transit builds on this success with an even more comprehensive list of security features, engineered to frustrate and deter would-be thieves and so improve insurance ratings and lower insurance costs for owners.

Two levels of alarm are available, including Thatcham Category 1, while the Transit also features Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS), hood lock, cable-free doors and the industry's first configurable unlocking security system. Configurable unlocking means customers can choose which doors unlock in which order, when selected buttons are pressed. There are three combinations to choose from at purchase. Safety features include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Traction Control System (BTCS) and an Electronic Stability Programme (ESP). Protecting the occupants in an accident is an important function of the vehicle's structure and Ford engineers were keen to improve on the already high standards set by the Transit. Driver's airbag is standard while seat-mounted side, head and thorax airbags are available as options for the first time. In addition, the redesigned front structure further enhances low speed impact resistance. The Transit has become famous for offering customers exactly what they need, with a huge range of body and engine variations. With the new improvements, Ford is providing even more choice. There are 60 basic structures and body styles. Ford's Special Vehicle Operations team can also handle any further specifications.