Ford Motor Company announced yesterday the introduction of the all-new Transit chassis cab and cutaway models at the NTEA/Work Truck Show 2013, which it says is engineered to tackle an almost unlimited variety of specialized jobs and vocations. The company also unveiled the next-generation Transit Connect compact van/wagon. The Work Truck Show 2013 is March 6-8 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Tim Stoehr, commercial truck marketing manager for Ford, says the Transit Connect jumped-started the compact van market in the United States, and this next-generation model will build and improve on that legacy. The new model will have the choice of 105- or 121-inch wheelbases.
A new tow package will allow trailering payloads of up to 2,000 pounds. Base power for the Transit Connect will be a 2.5 liter engine with a fuel efficient 1.6 liter four-cylinder available as an option. Both van and wagon versions have a payload capacity in excess of 1,670 pounds. Upfits run approximately $9,500 to $12,500, depending on fuel tank capacity.
The larger, more powerful Transit van marks a new day for Ford commercial vehicles – a clear European design that is a marked departure from the “Scooby Doo Mystery Machine” box vans that have dominated the North American market for the better part of the past four decades.
According to Chris Brewer, chief engineer, commercial vehicles, says Ford will offer Transit in a range of full-size vans, wagons, cutaway and chassis cab models powered by a 3.7-liter V6 equipped with a CNG/LPG prep kit.
Transit will be offered with a range of fuel-efficient engines, including a standard 3.7-liter V6, and the same 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine found in the Ford F-150, as well as an all-new 3.2-liter Power Stroke Diesel option.
Additionally, Ford will offer the Transit 3.7-liter V6 with a compressed natural gas/liquid propane gas (CNG/LPG) prep kit. This 3.7-liter V6 is also engineered for optimal performance with E85 flex- fuel capability.
Each fuel-conscious engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission for efficient rear-wheel-drive operation.
In addition to the standard van configuration, Ford also introduced a highly-adaptable Transit chassis cab model, which features an enclosed passenger compartment and bare frame ready to accept aftermarket body modules ranging from custom cargo delivery to utility body. Transit cutaway is similar to the chassis cab, but with the rear of the passenger compartment open so it can be paired with specialty body modules such as shuttle or school bus bodies.