New Ford Transit Connect!

[Franco Cozzo]

As the on-sale date of the first of Ford’s two new Transit Custom models draws near, Ford Australia has announced pricing for the next-gen vans, which will be available in two variants.

Both one-tonne models, the short-wheelbase Transit Custom 290S is priced at $37,490 (MLP) while the long-wheelbase Transit Custom 330L is priced at $39,490 (MLP).

As a further sweetener, for a limited time purchasers of either model will also receive a five-year/200,000km (whichever comes first) warranty, instead of the standard two-year/100,000km cover.

Vancare Roadside Assistance and myFord Capped Price servicing add additional incentive.

Ford Australia says the 290S will go on sale locally by the end of February 2014 while the 330L will follow in June. The ranks of the new-look Transit range will swell yet again with the arrival of a high-roof, high-capacity two-tonne model in the second quarter of 2014, while there are no plans at this stage to bring the more compact Transit Connect to our shores.

Both front-wheel-drive newcomers are powered by Ford’s 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel, for which the marque claims an output of 92kW at 3500rpm and 350Nm from 1450-2000rpm. For the 290S Ford claims combined-cycle economy of 7.1L/100km, that figure rising slightly to 7.3L/100km for the 330L.

Ford has stepped up the Transit’s safety appointments, with side thorax and curtain airbags now complementing the driver and front passenger airbags. Making its debut in the Transit is Ford’s Emergency Assistance system, which gives the driver a hands-free connection to emergency services in the event of a serious accident.

These have helped the Transit Custom achieve a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

The 290S packs in 5.95m³ of load space while the 330L yields 6.83m³. Maximum load lengths of 2555mm and 2922mm apply respectively, while a new standard integrated roof rack folds flat when not in use. A glazed steel bulkhead has a load-through facility and load area protection kit.

Sleek new styling underlines the Transit’s rebirth, while the fresh interior features numerous stowage compartments and a fold-down centre armrest that acts as a writing platform when the centre seat is not in use.

Techno niceties include Ford’s SYNC voice-command connectivity, Hill Launch Assist, Dynamic Stability Control (including ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Emergency Brake Assist) , and electronic cruise control, along with Trailer Sway Control, Roll Over Mitigation, Load Adaptive Control and Torque Vectoring Control.

The local media launch for the new Transit Custom models will be held later this month – watch this space...

http://www.carsales.com.au/news/comm...t-custom-41426

I'm a little disappointed with its looks, I reckon the current gen Transit Connect looks much better and it seems to be carrying over the same engine as the previous model.

The interior seems so much better though.

I cant wait to see the LWB and tall roof heavy duty versions out later this year, Mercedes has just updated their Sprinter and we're getting them through work now, hopefully the new heavy duty Transit can really stick it up Mercedes.

[XR Martin]

I think the lack of auto will hurt it.

[simon varley]

just wish Ford marketing would have the same idea on the cars, and import more manuals

[b2428]

I'm sorry but there is some great Ford products out there but I think I'm starting to dislike the current dash trend of using the design from the fiesta. For me it all looks just a bit to over the top and busy.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

I think the lack of auto will hurt it.

Again? Transit Connect is only the small model, of the big one has no auto there will be no emergency vehicle Transit.

[Dr Smith]

As much as I would love to buy this, no auto and under powered for my application of internal loads up to a tonne and towing up to 1500kg. Needs the Ranger powertrain.

[Franco Cozzo]

Yeah, I reckon this would make a cool camper vehicle though, chuck a mattress in the back, AC on the roof and 240V inlet to power AC and a few power points inside and you got a little mobile home.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

As much as I would love to buy this, no auto and under powered for my application of internal loads up to a tonne and towing up to 1500kg. Needs the Ranger powertrain.

Which is why there is also this model released later in the year.

[Franco Cozzo]

I'm looking forward to seeing the above Transit, they're the competitors for the Sprinter.

Sprinter has this $3000 option called the PSM, its a little module which you can program to give you any output from the car, for example you can get it to give you a head light trigger, indicators, AC etc, it makes aftermarket add-ons so much easier to do. Anything electrical the car has you can get it to give it to you through this module.

Hopefully the Transit has something similar.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Which is why there is also this model released later in the year.

image

I'm referring to the iLoad/Vito/Transporter et al class which can get into most city carparks. The Merc Vito has a V6 tdi with 165kW auto, the VW has 132kW dsg, even iLoad is near 130kW and has an auto.
At least in the US the larger Transit will come with their ecoboost V6, imagine a G6ET-powered delivery van, lol.

[Brazen]

I thought "what! 37k for a little Transit Connect" but I realise the title is wrong, the article refers to the Transit Custom.

[barra240t]

We got our first Custom yesterday and I am very impressed. It looks really nice, interior has improved 100% Some really nice features too like folding roof racks, floor liner (like the same stuff in a Falcon ute tub) little storage areas, all the cool features you'd see in Fiesta and Focus. Looks like tradies heaven to me!

[Franco Cozzo]

Chuck up some pictures in interested

[MAGPIE]

Why is Oz so far behind getting the Custom ?

[Franco Cozzo]

I dunno, same thing with the new Mondeo, delay after delay.

[2011G6E]

Love everything about it...but...erm...no idea what the front end has going on. It's a truck, trying to be a style statement. Previous Transits from many years gone by were never pretty, but by christ they did the job!

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I dunno, same thing with the new Mondeo, delay after delay.

Mondeo is a production delay which means nobody has it (except the yanks as the Fusion obviously), the Custom has been out for months though.

Strange

[Sloth]

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

Mondeo is a production delay which means nobody has it (except the yanks as the Fusion obviously), the Custom has been out for months though.

Strange

The first ones I saw were on a transporter on the Rimutakas and that was exactly a year ago. Different timing for different markets, occasionally theres a lengthy gap between oz and nz.

[Gadgetman]

What's it gonna take for Ford to realize that an auto in this segment is paramount?

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Gadgetman

What's it gonna take for Ford to realize that an auto in this segment is paramount?

Obviously our tastes in cars arnt influential enough for the Europeans to design them with an auto.
Im sure they did the sums and it didnt add up.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Obviously our tastes in cars arnt influential enough for the Europeans to design them with an auto.
Im sure they did the sums and it didnt add up.

Sadly the US isn't getting the Transit Custom as I'm sure they would have put an auto in it as they have for the 2 tonner Transit to be sold in the US.