According to Ford, the newly updated Transit and Transit Custom commercial vehicles powered by the new state-of-the-art 2.0-litre Ford EcoBlue diesel engine will offer improved cost of ownership and performance for customers from mid-2016.
Ford claims the next-generation Ford EcoBlue engine enhances fuel efficiency by up to 13 per cent compared with the outgoing 2.2-litre TDCi engine, and delivers significant improvements in low-rpm torque for enhanced driveability.
The new engine is available to order now, and it will also deliver up to 2-year/60,000 km (37,000 mile ) variable service intervals for Transit and Transit Custom operators.
The blue oval brand says the new downsized 2.0-litre Ford EcoBlue diesel engine has been engineered to meet Ford’s rigorous commercial vehicle durability standards, powering Transit vehicles through the equivalent of 5.5 million km (3.4 million miles ) of punishing durability testing, including 400,000km (250,000 miles ) of testing at the hands of real-world Transit customers.
“The challenge was to take our best-selling Transit and make it cheaper to operate, improve performance, cleaner in terms of emissions, quieter in the cabin, safer and even more durable,” said Pete Reyes, Ford of Europe’s head of commercial vehicles. “That’s exactly what we did with the new Transit and Transit Custom with the all-new Ford EcoBlue engine.”
In addition to the new engine line-up, Transit and Transit Custom vehicles also are available to order now with advanced driver assistance technologies including ‘side wind stabilisation’ and ‘pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection’. From late 2016, customers also will be able to specify a six-speed automatic transmission in place of a manual gearbox, and a new rear air suspension option on Transit Custom Kombi models.
The two-tonne Transit and one-tonne Transit Custom vehicles are core models within Ford’s renewed Transit range, which also includes the smaller popular all-new Transit Connect and slow-selling Transit Courier vans.
For the Transit and Transit Custom models, the 2.0-litre Ford EcoBlue engine is offered in 105PS, 130PS and 170PS power ratings, each of which offers increased power and torque compared to the outgoing 2.2-litre engine. Improved low-end pulling power – with 20 per cent more torque at 1,250rpm. Ford says this delivers more flexible and responsive performance in everyday driving.
Promised lower running costs are supported by significantly improved fuel efficiency. Transit models equipped with optional auto-start-stop achieve CO2 emissions from 174g/km and average fuel consumption from 6.6 l/100km (42.8mpg ) – a 10 per cent reduction over the equivalent outgoing model.
Transit Custom vehicles fitted with optional auto-start-stop deliver CO2 emissions from 157g/km with average fuel consumption from 6.1 l/100km (46.3mpg ) – a claimed 13 per cent down from the equivalent outgoing model.
Ford anticipates a fuel cost saving of up to €1,600 over 130,000km (80,000 miles ) for the operator of a new 105 PS Transit Custom van compared with the previous 100 PS model.
Inside the cabin, Ford says that Transit customers can now specify Ford’s SYNC 2 voice-activated connectivity system with a new high-resolution 6-inch colour touch screen, featuring advanced voice control of audio, navigation and mobile phones.
On Transit Custom vehicles, a new four-inch colour display is standard on vehicles equipped with the SYNC connectivity system, in place of the previous 3.5-inch screen. From the outside, new Transit and Transit Custom models fitted with the all-new Ford 2.0-litre EcoBlue engine are identified by a new chrome finish strip in the lower front grille.
For improved comfort and convenience in urban driving, customers of Transit front-wheel drive derivatives and Transit Custom models will be able to specify a six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission from late 2016. The transmission offers smooth, responsive and efficient performance in partnership with the Ford EcoBlue diesel, including auto-start-stop where fitted, and also provides the option of manual shifting using buttons mounted on the gear lever.
The unique-to-segment rear air suspension system is developed specially for the Transit Custom and Ford says that it meets their full commercial vehicle durability standards. Ford claims that the air suspension system delivers a supple, controlled and level ride across a wide range of load conditions, providing improved passenger comfort and vehicle dynamics on Kombi M1 models.
