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| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
|---|---|
| Production | 2002- |
| Assembly | Kocaeli, Turkey Craiova, Romania |
| Predecessor | Ford Escort Van |
| Class | Compact MPV |
| Body style(s) | 3-door minivan 4-door minivan |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Platform | Ford C170 platform |
| Engine(s) | 1.8L Duratorq TDCi Diesel I4 2.0L Duratec Gasoline I4 |
| Transmission(s) | 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | SWB: 2,664 mm (104.9 in) LWB: 2,912 mm (114.6 in) |
| Length | 2007-09 SWB: 4,308 mm (169.6 in) 2004-06 SWB: 4,278 mm (168.4 in) LWB: 4,555 mm (179.3 in) 2010- LWB: 180.7 in (4590 mm) 2010- SWB: 4,275 mm (168.3 in) |
| Width | 1,795 mm (70.7 in) |
| Height | Pre-2009 SWB: 1,814 mm (71.4 in) LWB: 1,981 mm (78.0 in) 2010- LWB: 79.3 in (2014 mm) 2010- SWB: 1,815 mm (71.5 in) |
| Related | Ford Focus Ford Tourneo Connect |
The Ford Transit Connect is a compact panel van developed by Ford Otosan[1], designed by Peter Horbury and introduced by American carmaker Ford in 2002 to replace the older Ford Escort van range, which had ceased production in the same year.
The Ford Tourneo Connect, a leisure activity vehicle, is a basically Transit Connect with side windows and rear seats. All North American Transit Connects are imported as passenger vehicles to circumvent the 25% "Chicken Tax" on imported light trucks.[2]
The Transit Connect employs the Ford C170 platform of the original international Ford Focus — the same platform currently used with the North American Ford Focus.[3] Other than the name, it shares few components with the Transit. The Connect is manufactured by Otosan in an all new production plant at Gölcük, near Kocaeli, Turkey, and in Romania by Automobile Craiova.[4]
The Ford Transit Connect was awarded "Van of the Year 2004" by Professional Van and Light Truck Magazine.
Contents |
Ford Transit Connect X-Press
The Ford Transit Connect X-press is a much faster[5] version of the Ford Transit Connect. It was created by a team of Ford engineers using the 212BHP[6] engine from the Ford Focus RS as shown on Fifth Gear.
Facelifted (2009-): global model
Starting in mid-2009, the Transit Connect will be imported to the United States and Canada. It was first shown in the U.S. at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show and the 2010 model was introduced at the following year's show on February 11, 2009.[7]
Initially, only the long wheelbase version of the van[8], outfitted with a 2.0L four-cylinder gasoline engine and 4 speed automatic transmission will be offered in the U.S., whereas elsewhere, the 1.8L diesel engine and 5 speed manual transmission is the only available powertrain. An electric version will follow about a year after launch, converted by Smith Electric Vehicles at a U.S. facility.[9]
To build up interest and awareness in North America, Transit Connects specifically equipped as "mobile showrooms" were taken to industrial parks and other appropriate venues in 13 U.S. urban areas in May 2009, with the goal of offering 3,000 test drives to small business owners.[10]
To circumvent the 25% tariff on imported light trucks (known as the 1964 Chicken tax), Ford imports all Transit Connects as passenger vehicles with rear windows, rear seats and rear seatbelts.[11] The vehicles are exported from Turkey on cargo ships owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, arrive in Baltimore, and are converted into commercial vehicles at WWL Vehicle Services Americas Inc. facility: rear windows are replaced with metal panels and rear seats removed.[11] The removed parts are then recycled.[11] The process exploits a loophole in the customs definition of a commercial vehicle. As cargo doesn't need seats with seat belts or rear windows, presence of those items exempts the vehicle from commercial vehicle status. The process costs Ford only hundreds of dollars per van, but saves thousands.[11]
Electric vehicles
Ford confirmed at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show its development with Smith Electric Vehicles of a battery-powered version of the Transit Connect.[12] Then at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show Ford showed a prototype electric version of the Ford Tourneo Connect passenger van, which is closely related to the Ford Transit Connect. Ford originally announced Smith Electric Vehicles would install electric drivetrains and lithium-ion battery packs in the vehicles,[13], but Ford later announced it would partner with Azure Dynamics Corporation instead[14] with Johnson Controls-Saft as battery supplier.[15]
Aftermarket
In 2008 Smith Electric Vehicles launched the Smith Ampere battery electric vehicle based on the Ford Transit Connect chassis, and stated it would be joint branded Ford and Smith.[16]
References
- ^ http://www.kobifinans.com.tr/en/sector/0102/16414
- ^ To Outfox the Chicken Tax, Ford Strips Its Own Vans, Wall Street Journal, September 22 2009
- ^ "Ford Imports Transit Connect from Europe". Nextautos.com, Evan McCausland, 02/06/2008. http://www.nextautos.com/body-stylesmarket-segment/minivans/08-chicago-ford-imports-transit-connect-from-europe/.
- ^ Ford to start production on September 8 in Craiova, South Romania
- ^ http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/45035/ford_transit_connect_xpress.html
- ^ http://jalopnik.com/225660/speedy-delivery-the-ford-transit-connect-x+press
- ^ http://www.media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=29829
- ^ Ford 2010 Transit Connect brochure, ref. # 10TCONCAT
- ^ http://www.freep.com/article/20090209/BUSINESS01/902090358/1014/Plug-in+Ford+Transit+Connect+to+make+its+debut+in+2010
- ^ http://www.media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=30371
- ^ a b c d "To Outfox the Chicken Tax, Ford Strips Its Own Vans". The Wall Street Journal, Matthew Dolan, September 22, 2009. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125357990638429655.html.
- ^ Sam Abuelsamid (2009-02-09). "Ford confirms Transit Connect EV with Smith Electric for 2010". AutoblogGreen. http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/09/ford-confirms-transit-connect-ev-with-smith-electric-for-2010/. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
- ^ "Ford Transit Connect to be assembled in Kansas City". Ford. 2009-03-27. http://ford.digitalsnippets.com/2009/03/27/ford-transit-connect-to-be-assembled-in-kansas-city/. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
- ^ Josie Garthwaite (2009-10-30). "Why Ford & Smith Electric Have Called It Quits on Electric Van Partnership". Earth2Tech. http://earth2tech.com/2009/10/30/why-ford-smith-electric-have-called-it-quits-on-electric-van-partnership/. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
- ^ Ford Motor Company (2009-10-29). "FORD AND AZURE DYNAMICS TEAM UP TO DELIVER BATTERY ELECTRIC COMMERCIAL VAN IN 2010". Press release. http://www.ford.com/about-ford/news-announcements/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-ford-and-azure-dynamics-team-up-to-31292. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
- ^ "LAUNCH OF NEW ZERO-EMISSION ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN COLLABORATION WITH FORD". press release. Tanfield Group. 2008-04-15. http://www.smithelectricvehicles.com/newsevents_news.asp?p=n&itemid=204. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
External links
- Official UK site
- Official US site
- transit-Connect.net owners site and knowledge base for the transit connect
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ford Transit Connect |
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| Ford Motor Company light truck timeline, United States and Canada, 1980s–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | |
| Compact crossover | Escape | Escape | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size crossover | Edge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size crossover | Flex | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Freestyle | Taurus X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact SUV | Bronco II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size SUV | Explorer | Explorer | Explorer | Explorer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size SUV | Bronco | Expedition | Expedition | Expedition | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Excursion | Expedition EL/Max | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact pickup | Courier | Ranger | Ranger | Ranger | Ranger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size pickup | Explorer Sport Trac | Explorer Sport Trac | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size pickup | F-Series | F-Series | F-Series | F-Series | F-Series | F-Series | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Super Duty | Super Duty | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minivan | Aerostar | Transit Connect | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Windstar | Freestar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Van | Econoline | Econoline/E-Series | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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