Ford Transit Connect EPA numbers come in above expectations, 22/25 mpg

When Ford announced a couple of weeks ago that it was ready to start selling the compact Transit Connect van in the U.S. the final EPA mileage numbers were not yet available. At the time the company estimated that the TC would be rated at 20 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway. The Feds have now finished crunching the test data and the TC came in a bit better, now scoring 22 mpg around town and 25 on the open road. The Transit Connect will be on sale at Ford dealers this summer starting at $21,475, including destination.

[Source: Ford]

PRESS RELEASE:

FORD'S TRANSIT CONNECT BRINGS 22 CITY, 25 HIGHWAY MPG TO MARKET-LEADING COMMERCIAL TRUCK LINEUP

* Transit Connect is rated at 22 city, 25 highway EPA miles per gallon, goes on sale in the U.S. this summer, starting at $21,475, including destination
* Ford fills an unmet U.S. commercial business need with new Transit Connect, an industry-exclusive vehicle specifically developed to be a smart new choice for small business owners
* Low operating and ownership costs, 135 cubic feet of cargo space and a 1,600 pound payload make Transit Connect a smart solution

Dearborn, Mich., Feb. 24, 2009 – Ford today confirmed EPA fuel economy for the 2010 Ford Transit Connect at 22 miles per gallon in city driving and 25 miles per gallon on the highway.

"No other vehicle on the road in the U.S. today delivers the combination of fuel economy and useful space as the Ford Transit Connect," said Rob Stevens, chief engineer. "It's a unique package, offering a 1,600 pound payload, 135 cubic feet of cargo space and superior fuel economy."

To deliver a more fuel efficient commercial vehicle, Ford is tapping its global portfolio of products to meet the unique needs of American small business owners with the 2010 Transit Connect. It represents a spacious new alternative to larger commercial vehicles and is ideal for navigating congested cities.

Transit Connect arrives with a global reputation for durability and toughness dating back to its 2003 launch, when an expert jury of European commercial vehicle journalists named it International Van of the Year.

Transit Connect: It's Durable
Ford Transit Connect is a purpose-built commercial vehicle, built on a dedicated commercial vehicle platform in an exclusive commercial vehicle production facility. It is designed, engineered and manufactured by Ford of Europe to beat tough, light commercial vehicle durability standards.

The Transit Connect is powered by a proven Duratec 2.0-liter DOHC I-4 engine, featuring four valves per cylinder and an aluminum block and head. Sequential multiport electronic fuel injection provides precise fuel metering for smooth and economical performance. This engine, delivering an estimated 136 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 128 ft.-lbs. of torque at 4,750 rpm, has proven American market durability.

This efficient engine is mated to a four-speed automatic transaxle with overdrive. A final-drive ratio of 4.20 to 1 is specified to give Transit Connect pulling power for the long haul and fifteen-inch steel wheels with P205/65R-15 black sidewall tires put it in contact with the road.

The Transit Connect was developed at the outset to be durable, with a boron steel front crossmember, a high-strength steel reinforced body shell, twin- side cross members and side-impact protection. Several areas of the body structure are double-skinned for additional strength, increasing resistance to the minor scrapes inherent to urban delivery situations.

"Transit Connect will be a useful small business tool," said Chief Engineer Stevens. "It drives like a car, works like a van and is engineered to be as tough as a truck."