02-09-08: It’s a first. Yep. Ford is bringing one of it’s most renowned European models to the US next year. It has won awards, there are clubs and a cult following, and it is at the top of its game in the UK, Germany several other countries around the world.
Is it a car? Is it a truck? No. It’s a compact parcel van. The Transit Connect will be coming to the States about this time next year, bringing to our market something that we have never seen before - a European Ford model that hasn’t been “Americanized” by Ford’s stateside marketing mavens. This is to say, that we will get the exact same utilitarian based mini-van that Europeans get.
The Transit Connect is a small cargo van that is based on a front wheel drive platform and will be powered by a 2.0 liter four cylinder engine. It's the smaller model of the Transit van family, sharing only it’s styling with its bigger brother which is comparible in size to a Dodge Sprinter or Ford Econoline. That model wont be coming over here as it would compete with the E series van sales.
The Transit Connect will provide small businesses something that our market is completely devoid of, a small and efficient hauler for short run deliveries. Right now a plumbing or delivery business is really forced into using a full-sized van with a V8 that was designed in the 1970's that gets only 13-16 mpg. This little guy offers 19-24 mpg and thus will cost a lot less to operate. The only bummer is that the high mpg Duratorq diesel engines won't be coming to the states, at least not immediately.
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“More than ever before, consumers are making the bulk of their purchases from the Internet and smaller, specialty businesses, which is increasing the volume of small package deliveries,” said Derek Kuzak, Ford group vice president of Global Product Development. “Transit Connect is ideally suited to meet those delivery needs because of its flexible package, compact size and fuel-efficient powertrain. It will make the delivery process for small business owners easier and more affordable.”
The Transit connect is built upon a car based chassis but has been proven tough in over 19 countries for years. Complementing its truck toughness, Transit Connect handles and performs like a car and offers car-like fuel economy, interior comforts and safety features. “It drives like a car, works like a van and is engineered to be as tough as a truck,” said Rob Stevens, Chief Engineer of Ford Transit Connect in the U.S.
Transit Connect has cargo doors on both sides and at the rear – dual sliding side doors and 180-degree-opening rear doors – that make accessing its generous cargo area convenient. Its front doors have large openings, making getting in and out of the vehicle easy – an important design feature for delivery people.
For its size and urban maneuverability, the Transit Connect cargo capacity is a massive 143 cubic feet. It can accommodate loads up to 6.5 ft. in length and 4.7 ft. in width. “Transit Connect can swallow far more cargo than its users might think,” said Len Deluca, Director of Ford Commercial Trucks. “Its versatile cargo area gives Transit Connect an unequivocal advantage, accommodating for large, flat-sided loads and providing a totally flat load floor,” he said.
Straight and square side walls of the Transit Connect also mean business on the outside. They provide a clean surface and perfect positioning for commercial branding logos and messages. Inside, storage systems can make Transit Connect ideal for specific businesses. And its height makes it ideal for tight parking garages with limited-height clearances – Transit Connect gets in and out of garages with as little as 6 ft. 8 in. clearance.
Transit Connect is manufactured in Kocaeli, Turkey, at Ford’s most advanced light commercial vehicle assembly plant. It will be available in select North American markets in by this time next year.
We predict that Ford will be surprised by who actually buys the Transit Connect. The small businesses and the Fex Ed’s of the world will gobble them up, as they will be the only thing like it for years to come. But we also think that they will be popular with the customization crowd as well. Ford has shown off some concept versions of the Transit Connect within the last year that are really pretty cool. Being affordable, they might just start a new mini-custom van revolution.
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