We love ourselves some Ford Transit Connect. The funky-looking little vanlet is so endearingly functional that we're happy to forgive its lackluster drivetrain and questionable interior. Now it appears that Ford aims to address at least one of these ails with its big brother, the upcoming larger Transit Van.
Let's clear the air. This is not – we repeat, not – the Ford E-Series-replacing Transit that will be Steven J. Ewing
In a commercial market where "change" is a four-letter word, Ford has a lot of explaining to do.
Ford has confirmed that its Transit van will be manufactured in Kansas City. The company plans to invest $1.1 billion in facility upgrades and tooling to produce both the next-generation F-150 and the Transit in preparation for the van's arrival on U.S. soil in 2013. That investment is $700 million more than Ford had previously allocated for i
When Daimler started selling its Sprinter van in North America – first as a Freightliner, then as a Mercedes-Benz and even a Dodge – it found companies on this side of the Atlantic were as keen to get their hands on a European-style van as, well, European companies are. But the Sprinter is about to get some European competition from
First the Panther platform and now E-Series vans? That might be the case, according to a presentation shown to investors at a Ford press event held alongside the Frankfurt Motor Show. The discussion centered on how Ford is reducing costs by producing global vehicles on singular platforms. This includes its commercial van lineup, and it sounds like the entire bulk of that business will soon be
Drift vehicles come in all shapes, from the ever-popular Nissan 240SX all the way up to Mike Ryan's Freightliner. Somewhere on that vast scale of driftables sits this V8-powered Ford Transit van, which can roast tires with extreme prejudice. It also sounds fantastic, whips up donuts faster than Dunkin and drifts through turns with grace.
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that transit authorities can duke it out for a share of $101.4 million in federal funds by proposing innovative projects that promote the use of "clean fuels" for public transit. Says Secretary LaHood:
Ford Transit SportVan – Click above for high-res image gallery
Ford Transit Connect Electric – Click above for high-res image gallery
Ford Transit Connect at Chicago 2009 – Click above for high-res image gallery
2009 Ford Fiesta - Click above for a high-res gallery
