COLOGNE, Germany, Sept. 22, 2014 – Ford is revealing the full line-up of its all-new Transit model at the 2014 Hannover Commercial Vehicle Show, providing European customers with an extended choice of more than 450 model variants.
Transit derivatives now in production and available from Transit Centres and Ford dealerships across Europe include Chassis Cab with Double Cab and extra-long “Super Jumbo” versions, Double Cab-in-Van, Kombi and Kombi Van models.
These new Transit variants mark the completion of the unprecedented 24-month renewal and expansion of Ford’s entire Transit commercial vehicle range for Europe, creating the freshest model line-up in the industry.
Ford’s Hannover display showcases the full range, with the two-tonne Transit flagship alongside the one-tonne Transit Custom, the smaller Transit Connect van with payloads up to 1,000 kg, and the small Transit Courier van for small businesses and urban deliveries.
The model renewal has allowed Ford to become Europe’s fastest growing commercial vehicle brand, selling more than 137,000 commercial vehicles from January to August 2014 to show a 12.7 per cent year-over-year increase compared with 2013. During the same period, sales of the Transit Custom more than doubled, sales of the Transit Connect grew by 59 per cent, and Ford’s share of the commercial vehicle market rose to 10.8 per cent – Ford’s highest level since 1997*.
Ford also has launched the Transit24 service package through its network of 750 Transit Centres across Europe, setting consistent new dealer service standards that will enable van users to reduce the time their vehicle spends off the road and minimise their operating costs.
“Ford has delivered the most advanced line-up of commercial vehicles in Europe, offering unmatched coverage of the light and medium CV segments,” said Barb Samardzich, chief operating officer, Ford of Europe. “We created an all-new Transit family with outstanding capability and cost of ownership – and our sales growth shows that we’re giving customers exactly what they want.”
The first phase of all-new Transit production launched in spring 2014, and included the standard Van, Chassis Cab and Minibus versions. The line-up offers customers enhanced fuel efficiency – including an extended choice of Transit ECOnetic models – with significantly reduced maintenance and repair costs, exceptional durability, increased cargo volumes, and smart loadspace features. Ford’s manufacturing plant in Kocaeli, Turkey, is now producing a second wave of additional variants that offers new body styles and chassis lengths, and will shortly include a class-leading all-wheel drive (AWD) range.
Extended Chassis Cab range
The full range of Transit Chassis Cab models now includes a Double Cab, offering space for up to seven people with the standard four-person second row seating, as well as the extra-long extended L5 “Super Jumbo” versions, which are the longest production Transits ever built.
With a single cab, the L5 models offer an exceptional load length of more than 5.2 m and 11.5 m2 of cargo area when fitted with a factory dropside body. With an overall length of 7,797 mm including body, the vehicles still offer a compact turning circle of just 15.8 m.
The complete Transit Chassis Cab line-up offers five different lengths for the single cab (L1-L5) and four for the double cab (L2-L5), with Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) ranging from 3.1 to 4.7 tonnes. In addition to the factory-fit dropside body options, they provide the ideal platform for box bodies and tippers, or other tailored solutions ranging from refrigerated bodies or mobile workshops, to emergency services vehicles or campers. For towing applications, the 350 HD and 470 GVM models offer an impressive braked towing mass of 3.5 tonnes and Gross Train Mass of 7.0 tonnes.
Versatile Double-Cab-in-Van and Kombi models
Derived from the regular Transit Van model, the Double-Cab-in-Van variant can accommodate up to seven people with standard four-person second-row seating, along with a spacious and secure load area. Three different body configurations are offered, from the medium wheelbase L2 with medium roof, to the extended long wheelbase L4 H3 “Jumbo” model with high roof which provides 10.6 m3 of cargo space.
The rear passenger compartment has generous glazing with a flip-open window option for a comfortable and airy environment, whilst all seats are fitted with three point safety belts and height-adjustable head restraints. For additional safety a full-sized solid bulkhead with window (fully compliant with the internationally-recognised DIN and ISO standards for load restraints) separates the passenger and cargo compartments, avoiding any intrusion of load goods into the passenger compartment.
Additional options for the flexible transportation of people and goods are provided by the new range of Transit Kombi and Kombi Van models, which can be configured with up to three rows of seats and flexible seating for up to nine. These are available homologated as N1 or M1 vehicles, and with five different body sizes ranging from L2 H2 up to L4 H3 “Jumbo” model.
Class-Leading All-Wheel Drive
Ford also will be offering an advanced intelligent AWD system on the new Transit which delivers class-leading traction and driving dynamics. Compared to the previous generation AWD Transit, the new system offers:
• significantly improved traction in low friction conditions
• full integration with the standard Electronic Stability Control and traction control systems
• new AWD Lock mode for maximum traction in extreme conditions
The latest system is a fully electronically controlled AWD system which uses a high performance electric pump and AWD clutch coupling to distribute available engine torque to all four wheels, and – unlike competitor systems – is capable of varying the front-to-rear torque distribution between 0:100 and 100:0 depending on inputs from the vehicle and driver.
Two different drive modes are offered, with the standard AWD Auto mode suitable for most driving conditions, where the AWD system automatically distributes driving torque to the front wheels according to the road conditions and engine load.
AWD lock mode helps with more extreme driving situations such as deep sand or snow. This engages the AWD system from a standstill, locking the AWD driveline to provide immediate drive to the front wheels, with equal torque to both sides. To deliver optimum traction, the system constantly monitors vehicle and driver inputs, and can direct up to 100 per cent torque to the front wheels. The ESC module is switched to a mode which allows engine torque to be transmitted to the wheels without traction control intervention even under wheel slip conditions.
The AWD transfer case and front axle are fully integrated into the transmission assembly, minimising the additional weight to just 45 kg. The compact installation also allows Transit AWD vehicles to retain standard loading heights, with no reduction in ground clearance.
The AWD driveline option will be available on a broad range of Transit van and chassis cab bodystyles, and will appeal to customers who frequently face slippery winter road surfaces and light duty off-road situations, such as shuttle services at ski resorts, utility companies in rural areas and maintenance engineers operating in all weather conditions.
“With a choice of more than 450 versions, multiplied by all of the different options, the all-new Transit is ready to tackle just about any task,” said David Gregory, Transit chief program engineer, Ford of Europe. “Couple this versatility with best-in-class cost of ownership, and you can see why the all-new Transit is being so well received by European customers.”
Supporting assets including new photos of the 2-tonne Transit variants, an updated 2-tonne Transit model overview factsheet, and a selection of photography/B-roll video for each of the 4 models in the all-new Transit range will be available on the media kit http://iaa2014.fordpresskits.com
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* Ford data for its 20 main European markets: Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland.
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 186,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 50,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 69,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (13 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and 11 unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.
