Delivery trucks are cool: Ford Transit SportVan
Click image for photo gallery
The annual Commercial Vehicle Show in Blighty is one of our favorite things, specifically because our inner children never stopped liking big trucks , and the manufacturers actually unveil cool stuff at the show. Exhibit A comes from Ford, which pulled the wraps off the limited-edition Transit SportVan. Powered by a 130-horse diesel, the bespoilered SportVan is targeted at the small business owner who wants to deliver his or her goods in style, hence the Performance Blue paint, Le Mans stripes, and 18" alloys. Inside, it's driver rolls along in leather seats, with creature comforts like additional leather appointments, a CD changer, A/C, rain-sensing wipers, and more all included in the deal. Only 500 will be built. Full details from Ford come after the jump.
[Source: Ford]
Gallery: Ford Transit SportVan
PRESS RELEASE:
NEW FORD TRANSIT SPORTVAN REVEALED AT CV SHOW
- Unique Performance Blue paintwork, wide bonnet stripes, 18" alloy wheels, twin exhaust pipes, leather seats and spoilers. Powered by a 130PS TDCi Duratorq engine
- A limited edition of 500 will go on sale in June. On-the-road price £18,750
BIRMINGHAM, NEC, 24 April, 2007 – The covers came off the unique new Ford Transit SportVan today at the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC, Birmingham. Famous for her televised 'race' around the Nürburgring in a Ford Transit, professional driver, Sabine Scmidtz, was the first to test the new Transit Sportvan and joined Ford's commercial vehicles director, Steve Kimber, for the unveiling.
Steve Kimber said: "I think this stunning new van will appeal to a part of the British market we've not seriously courted before – the single or small operator. Transit SportVan is all about style and individuality. It's for people who love Transit and want to be a bit different – and there's plenty of our customers who feel that way!"
The limited edition Transit SportVan has been created for those who want to make a bold statement. The additions have been made to the popular 260, short wheelbase, front wheel drive, 130PS model.
The exterior comes to life with the unique performance blue paintwork, Le Mans style white bonnet stripes, twin exhausts, 18-in 'snowflake pattern' alloy wheels, low profile 235/45 tyres, body colour grille and front bumper, front and rear spoilers side skirts, extended wheel; arches and mudflaps all around.
Inside the cab the features are just as impressive: leather seats, air conditioning, six CD-player with remote steering column-mounted controls, cruise control, power windows, power and heated mirrors, leather steering wheel, tinted glass and leather gearshift knob.
Further standard features include: power door deadlocks with second key fob, rain-sensing wipers, auto headlights, front fog lights, passenger airbag and load area protection kit.
Sabine Scmitdz, one of the Nürburgring's official 'taxi' drivers, reached international fame when she challenged BBC Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson to a time race around the 'ring' in a Ford Transit.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MIKE 12:30PM (4/24/2007)
Cool dude, bring it to the U.S., looks alot better than that new dodge van they hae here.
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waitingforvizzini 12:52PM (4/24/2007)
Just one question: why is this not the new econline?
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bmw122487 12:57PM (4/24/2007)
a turtle with go fast stripes,130hp hahaha, i know its van so why try to make it something its not?
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Ken 1:01PM (4/24/2007)
Just need to remember it's a diesel, so even though the horsepower may be a bit low for you, just remember the torque numbers should be a lot bigger.
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Peter Downey 1:07PM (4/24/2007)
those look very similar to srt4 rims....
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Bryan 1:31PM (4/24/2007)
Not bad for a delivery truck.
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Olivier 1:31PM (4/24/2007)
Can't wait to see this thing lap my local track
The marketing dork who just though this up just made sure that whatever sportiness Ford had built in its ST prduct line has now been fully diluted.
It's a Van for chrissakes; to transport cargo from A to B. It's features are load capacity, fuel economy, torque, and maybe some comfort features. Lapping a track is definitely not a high request feature.
Ford, you just made sure that if I ever have the money I will never consider a Ford GT.
Thanks
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MK 1:33PM (4/24/2007)
This looks like the Ford Fusion and Dodge (MB) Sprinter had a baby.
Too bad this will never make it over to the states in its current form. A 130HP engine just isn't enough to move lumber/drywall/paint etc. We _NEED_ at least a 300hp and 400 lb/torque engine for that.
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Mike 1:36PM (4/24/2007)
Oliver, if you are dumb enough to rule out a supercar because the manufacturer made a van with stripes, you are too dumb to ever make enough to buy the supercar in the first place. Go back to your jaded reality and leave the comments to the big people....
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dskinner 1:41PM (4/24/2007)
It's suddenly '82 again. "Back in '82, I could throw a pigskin a quarter mile." -Uncle Rico. Some things are better left off American shores. Who knows though. MB brought the Sprinter over. Then again, they drive on the right-hand side of the road in Germany, so they didn't need to change anything.
#8 You are exactly right!
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The Penguin 1:47PM (4/24/2007)
This van kind of reminds me of the old supervan concepts that Ford made that set most of the speed records for full sized vans.
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Tagg 2:21PM (4/24/2007)
Here comes the "why don't they sell this in the U.S." and "no wonder Ford is in trouble" comments. If you think a cargo van would help Ford you are wrong. Ford already dominates the full size van market, almost 2 to 1 over GM. Dodge is barely even a blip on the radar with their Sprinter because it is too much vehicle for many needs here and costs quite a bit more. If there was a serious market for full size vans Ford would have updated the E-Series more than once in the past 15 years. When you already own about haf of the market why bother? Heck, the mighty Toyota doesn't sell ANY large vans and seem to be doing ok!
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Guenther 2:19PM (4/24/2007)
To haul construction supplies, yes, you need more newts than this has. But for a medium size van for light extra-urban delivery... this sort of thing is the ticket. Think girl stuff, like catering, flowers, dry cleaning, etc... Besides, the Brits seem to like the pimped work-mobile. Same route as those Vauxhall's we saw a little while ago.
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James 2:54PM (4/24/2007)
I read a few months back that Ford was going to sell these in the U.S. Here's the link:
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/02/report-ford-transit-connect-to-be-sold-in-u-s/
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cheese302 2:59PM (4/24/2007)
#10 you are wrong. germans drive the same side as us. most of the globe does. GB and ireland drive on the right, i am not sure of others (but there def. are others)
i really like it, i could haul a motorcycle in the back, probably tow a small trailer, and rinse it out witha hose at the end of the day if needed. its probably more fun to drive than half the barges that are sold in america, and will make MUCH better use of the space offered. It seems too "un-american" to ever be here. god forbid someone make a van that might be fun to drive. i mean its even stick shift!!!! A+ since i will never buy an automatic. but thats also because in europe some people that are small business owners would need to drive their transit as their only vehicle which kind of explains why they would want a nicer version of the same thing. I would buy and rock one in a minute here. i mean the ford ranger is the only small pickup, and i wouldnt be caught dead owning a full size pickup much less an econoline (which btw i have driven many times there was an awesome conversion fan in the family up to a few years ago. as of now when the family rolls in and i need to haul them and/or stuff, mazda 5 it is
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cheese302 3:00PM (4/24/2007)
oh no, upon re-reading i see that #10 is correct, my appologies
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fizzandpop 3:01PM (4/24/2007)
When the Transit was first introduced, it was such a leap forward in power and handling that the local villains soon realized they could outrun the cops in it. So together with a stolen Jag it became the defacto vehicle for armed robberies. Four to six blokes with shooters would come flying out the back, terrorize the target, then load up the van with Premium Bonds or Green Shiled Stamps. Then two of 'em would get back in the van and the others would make off in the Jag. This would be an ideal van to bring back the noble art of the heist, but no one does armed robbery anymore, they're all into securities fraud and drug dealing now, which requires nothing more than an early nineties, red seven series. Shame.
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Will 3:26PM (4/24/2007)
Not nearly as cool as the transit connect express. You know, the one with the 210hp engine from the old focus RS? I'd buy one of those in a heartbeat, just for cool factor.
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Ralph 3:35PM (4/24/2007)
I really like boxy, utility look vehicles. Really, not a sarcasm.
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mj 4:00PM (4/24/2007)
"Ford, you just made sure that if I ever have the money I will never consider a Ford GT.
Thanks"
I hate to burst your bubble but they don't make those anymore.
Americans used to do conversion vans by the boatload, but no more. Maybe they could stage a comeback with clean diesel engines in a couple years. You know, everything comes back in style eventually.
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