Ford @ Chicago 2008: 2009 Ford Transit Connect

[Igor2]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120164387492426355.html

After prolonged speculation and official denial from Ford in December, Ford will release US version of the small urban runabout commercial van called Transit Connect.

Pictures of the current EU Version

Embargo on this vehicle is over at 12:01am on Wednesday February 6th

Igor

[PurdueGuy]

do we know anything about what arrangements will be offered? Is this just a 2 seat hauler like the HHR panel?

[Igor2]

most likely Ford will just do the 2 seater, maybe in both wheelbases and both roof heights .. but at this point everything is just a rumor or flat out speculation.

Igor

[Robert Hall]

Hmmm....maybe we can grow our own US version of the UK's 'white van man' subculture..

White Van Man

[the_yellow_dart]

It had better to be able to lap the Nurburgring in under 11 minutes, like the old one!

[pow]

It had better to be able to lap the Nurburgring in under 11 minutes, like the old one!

This Transit Connect should easily do it. It's much smaller and lighter than the regular Transit.

[Duncan]

This Transit Connect should easily do it. It's much smaller and lighter than the regular Transit.

Which leads into the next question - when's the fullsize Transit coming over?

I'd suspect the Connect is a trial balloon for Ford to see if there's more room in the market for Euro-style vans.

[enzl]

Which leads into the next question - when's the fullsize Transit coming over?

I'd suspect the Connect is a trial balloon for Ford to see if there's more room in the market for Euro-style vans.

I was thinking the same thing, but then I realized that Ford just refreshed the E-vans this year.

My gut tells me the Transit Connect is an attempt to pick up a small portion of the market left open by the elimination of the Caravan SWB cargo model and keep Ford in the minivan segment without devoting an entire plant to Windstar/Freestar production, development and tooling costs. The import mini's completely ignore the trade van space as well.

My guess is that the TC will have the same 20% premium to the base minivans as the Sprinters have to full-size vans. I can't see Ford making much with the exchange rate situation.

[Igor2]

The large transit is coming, but not yet

Igor

[dufus22]

This vechile does make sense. I mean if you have a small business, and needed a delvery van. This would do the trick. I would like to see a passanger version. Some people need a small van.

[Duncan]

I was thinking the same thing, but then I realized that Ford just refreshed the E-vans this year.

My gut tells me the Transit Connect is an attempt to pick up a small portion of the market left open by the elimination of the Caravan SWB cargo model and keep Ford in the minivan segment without devoting an entire plant to Windstar/Freestar production, development and tooling costs. The import mini's completely ignore the trade van space as well.

My guess is that the TC will have the same 20% premium to the base minivans as the Sprinters have to full-size vans. I can't see Ford making much with the exchange rate situation.

Also, the Mazda 5 has done reasonably well. That must have figured in their calculations - I'm sure a lot of people here would like a van with the same economy as the 5, but more space.

As for the E-series, I'd take that as a stopgap measure. Nothing really changed but styling and the addition of the smaller Power Stroke diesel (which was expected). And Ford (and GM?) has to have noticed the positive reaction to the Dodge Sprinter among delivery companies and fleets.

[pow]

Purpose-Built: Ford Transit Connect Delivers

Unique Compact Versatility For American Business

Purpose-built for small business owners, the Ford Transit Connect is a versatile compact van that offers a fuel-efficient alternative to full-size commercial vans. Transit Connect, debuting at the Chicago Auto Show, is another example of how Ford is leveraging its global product lineup. Transit Connect is designed, engineered and manufactured by Ford of Europe. It was named International Van of the Year when launched in 2003.

Ford is the Commercial Vehicle leader in the U.S. with 40 percent share of the total commercial vehicle market and has been the full-size van leader with the Ford E-Series for 29-years running. Transit Connect further builds Ford's strong commercial vehicle portfolio.

CHICAGO, Feb. 6, 2008 – Ford is tapping its global product strengths to mobilize and connect small business owners in North America with the European-engineered Ford Transit Connect.

Introduced today at the Chicago Auto Show, Transit Connect is designed to bring American small business owners a new vehicle choice that offers improved fuel economy, bigger load capacity and better cargo accessibility than today's commercial vehicle offerings.

"Ford Transit Connect is built on a dedicated, commercial vehicle platform to meet the rigors business use demands. This workhorse is like nothing available today in the American market," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president of Global Product Development.

"The Transit Connect provides another example of Ford's commitment to deliver 100 percent new or upgraded products that people truly want and value by the end of 2010," he said.

With its standard, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission, Transit Connect delivers fuel economy estimated at 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.

Transit Connect will be a truly white-space product for North America. Its closest competitors are cargo vans offered by Chevrolet and Dodge. Transit Connect will provide a significant city fuel economy advantage, while offering more cargo space. Both are increasingly important to small business owners in today's changing marketplace.

"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 Kuzak. "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."

Global Product Innovation

Designed, engineered and manufactured by Ford of Europe to beat tough, medium commercial vehicle standards, Transit Connect has been a sales success for Ford across the Atlantic and is an ideal option for small business owners in North America.

"Ford is intensifying its efforts to leverage the best of our Ford product portfolio around the world," Kuzak said. "In Europe, this tough small van has carved out a niche for itself, building on the strength of the Transit name – which is synonymous with commercial vehicle leadership in Europe. Transit Connect can make a real difference to customers here."

Transit Connect was named International Van of the Year by an independent panel of leading commercial vehicle journalists representing 19 European countries when first launched in 2003.

Editors credited Ford for listening to the wants and demands of customers, both large and small and heralded the "long list of clever and practical solutions in the areas of handling, accessibility, security and safety" that Ford Transit Connect introduced.

Car+Van+Truck = Transit Connect

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.

This compact van was built around the following key attributes:

Class-leading cargo area functionality and versatility

High levels of durability through the use of thick, high-strength steel and a reinforced body shell with partial double skin sides and twin side crossmembers

Responsive and fuel-efficient powertrain

High levels of security and safety, with a rigid body structure, side impact protection, dual front air bags and an array of security features, including a lockable hood

Low cost of ownership, from lower fuel costs to powertrain durability

Opening with Versatility

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.

For the Chicago show, Ford kitted out Transit Connects highlighting three local businesses – including a catering and event planning company, a wine wholesaler and home technology integration firm – as well as a five-member Chicago blues band.

The Windy City is a fitting place to debut the versatile Transit Connect. Its maneuverability makes it ideal for urban use, where streets are congested and parking space for delivery or service vehicles is limited. Its tight turning radius makes Transit Connect as nimble as a compact car. 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.

Established Credentials

Transit Connect is part of a family of Transit commercial vehicles offered across Europe. Since the introduction of the Transit Connect, Ford's share of the European light and medium duty commercial vehicle market has doubled to 34 percent. In record-setting 2007, Ford sold 109,900 Transit Connects and 224,915 Transits in Europe.

For more than 40 years, the Transit brand has synonymous with commercial vehicle excellence, a success which continues to grow. In 2007, Ford achieved an all-time record European commercial vehicle retail volume across its 19-market region, including individual model volume records for Transit Connect and the Ford Transit medium commercial van. More than 5 million Transit units have been manufactured since 1965.

Thanks largely to E-Series, Ford is the reigning Commercial Vehicle leader in the U.S. with 40 percent share of the total commercial vehicle market and has been the full-size van leader with E-Series for 29 years running.

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 mid-2009.

[Robert Hall]

This could make an interesting choice for the Post Office...replace the Windstars eventually.

[Polish_Kris]

These things look good in person.

If they have a five seater version, it will be a quasi-competition to the mazda 5, at a lower price probably.

[thegriffon]

The European version offers a lwb model with 7 seats. This type of LCV is a popular alternative to compact MPVs, although most have only a maximum of 5 (or 6 with a front bench) seats.

[Igor2]

The European version offers a lwb model with 7 seats. This type of LCV is a popular alternative to compact MPVs, although most have only a maximum of 5 (or 6 with a front bench) seats.

what US is getting is the LWB, high roof version - for now the little Transit Connect will not be offered.

Also the 7 seat Tourneo Connect (or the Tourneo Connect in general are not that popular - the heavy duty underpinnings of this van make it less space efficient and less smooth-driving than the IRS equipped competition. For commercial business owners that is not an issue, but for retail family hauling customers, it is ..

Igor