• Ford Transit Connect van to be offered with new powertrains, better fuel efficiency and segment-first driver assistance technologies

• New 1.5-litre TDCi diesel offers class-leading 3.8 l/100 km (74.3 mpg)* – a 6 per cent improvement over outgoing 1.6-litre engine; diesel with PowerShift auto also offered

• First-in-class features include Traffic Sign Recognition and Lane Keeping Aid. SYNC 2 connectivity makes European van debut; MyKey available for the first time

• Improved Transit Connect available from summer 2015; model has fastest sales growth in its segment, with demand up by 85 per cent in 2014 over the previous year

• Ford also updates Transit Courier – the smallest ever Transit van – with 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine offering best-in-class 5.1 l/100 km (55.4 mpg) petrol fuel consumption

COLOGNE, Germany, June 1, 2015 – Ford today announced the Transit Connect van will offer customers new powertrain options with class-leading fuel efficiency, and segment-first driver-assistance and connectivity technologies from the summer.

Ford is introducing a new high-efficiency 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine with CO2 emissions of 99 g/km and fuel economy of 3.8 l/100 km (74.3 mpg) in the ECOnetic model** – a 6 per cent improvement over the outgoing 1.6-litre TDCi engine. Customers also can specify the 1.5-litre TDCi with Ford’s PowerShift automatic transmission – the first time a diesel automatic option has been available.

In addition, Transit Connect is the first vehicle in its segment to offer advanced driver assistance technologies including Traffic Sign Recognition and Lane Keeping Aid, as well as being the first Ford commercial vehicle in Europe to feature the voice-activated SYNC 2 connectivity system.

Available in Van, Double-Cab-in-Van and Kombi bodystyles with L1 and L2 versions, the Transit Connect has proved highly popular with European customers since being introduced in 2013, with sales growing faster than any rival. During 2014 demand rose by 85 per cent over the previous year with 36,800 units sold, while sales continued to increase in the first four months of 2015, up 58 per cent year-on-year.

The Transit Connect van offers a spacious and practical load area with total volumes of 2.9 m3 and 3.6 m3 with a full bulkhead, or 3.7 m3 and 4.4 m3 including the front loadspace area (L1/L2, measured to SAE). Payloads of up to 1,000 kg are available, matching the best-in-class figure.

The model forms part of the completely renewed and expanded Transit line-up – alongside the Transit, Transit Custom and Transit Courier – that helped to make Ford the most popular commercial vehicle brand in Europe for the first quarter of 2015.

“The all-new Transit Connect has proved a real hit with European businesses thanks to its smart looks, great fuel economy and capable load space,” said Phil Hollins, Commercial Vehicle marketing, sales and service director, Ford of Europe. “With even lower fuel costs and amazing new technologies including Traffic Sign Recognition, Transit Connect delivers an even stronger proposition to our commercial customers.”

New fuel-efficient powertrains with improved performance
Ford’s new 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine meets stringent Euro Stage VI emissions standards and is introduced to the Transit Connect in two phases. An ECOnetic version producing 100 PS and 250 Nm – up from 95 PS and 230 Nm on the outgoing model is introduced this summer. The Transit Connect ECOnetic features Auto-Start-Stop and Active Grille Shutter technology as standard.

The 1.5-litre TDCi also is offered from this summer as a 120 PS version with 300 Nm of torque, in combination with the six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission, replacing the 1.6-litre petrol automatic model.

Additional variants of the 1.5-litre TDCi diesel will complete the Transit Connect line-up of Stage VI engines from spring 2016, when they will replace the existing 1.6-litre TDCi engines that remain available with 75 PS, 95 PS and 115 PS until then.

A highly efficient petrol alternative is provided by Ford’s multi-award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, which also meets Euro Stage VI emissions standards from the summer. Offering 100 PS and 170 Nm, the engine delivers 5.6 l/100 km (50.4 mpg) fuel efficiency and 129 g/km CO2 emissions.

State-of-the-art technologies enhance driver confidence and connectivity
Sharing a global platform with Ford’s latest passenger cars like the new Focus and Kuga, the Transit Connect also is able to benefit from the company’s advanced vehicle technologies:

• Traffic Sign Recognition provides the driver with the latest detected speed limit, cancellation signs and overtaking restrictions via the instrument cluster display
• Blind Spot Information System alerts drivers to situations when a passing vehicle is hidden in their blind spot zones on both left and right sides of the vehicle
• Lane Keeping Alert and Lane Keeping Aid work together to help to prevent the driver from unintentionally drifting out of a lane when driving at high speeds. If the forward-facing camera detects the vehicle is straying from its lane, Lane Keeping Alert warns the driver with a vibration in the steering wheel. If no action is taken to correct the drift, Lane Keeping Aid applies steering torque to guide the vehicle back into its lane
• Auto High Beam switches the headlamps automatically between high beam and dipped beam when it detects oncoming traffic or a vehicle ahead
• SYNC 2 features a high-resolution, 6-inch colour touch screen and enables advanced voice control of audio, navigation, climate control and mobile phones. Drivers are able to issue simple “one-shot” navigation destinations, and to ask the system to “play” a desired artist. Simply pushing the voice control button and saying “I’m hungry” will bring up a list of local restaurants, which you can then get directions to via the navigation system
• MyKey enables owners – such as fleet operators – to programme a key that restricts the top speed and reduces the maximum volume of the audio system. MyKey can disable the audio system altogether if driver and passengers are not using safety belts, and can prevent the driver from deactivating safety technologies

In addition Transit Connect customers can now specify power fold mirrors, with automatic folding when the vehicle is locked.

Ford’s smallest-ever Transit – the Transit Courier van – also updated
Ford also is introducing more fuel efficient engines for the Transit Courier – Ford’s first-ever small Transit van – strengthening its position as the most fuel-efficient petrol and diesel vehicle in its class. The B-car-sized Transit Courier is a compact integrated-style van which provides payloads up to 660 kg.

Fuel consumption for the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine equipped with Auto-Start-Stop is reduced by a further 3 per cent to 5.1 l/100 km (55.4 mpg), with 115 g/km CO2 emissions. Diesel fuel economy from the 95 PS 1.6-litre TDCi with Auto-Start-Stop remains at a class-leading 3.7 l/100 km (76.3 mpg) and 97 g/km CO2.**