Tag Archives: Transit

All-New Ford Transit Goes On Sales As Transit Custom Wins Van of the Year

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All-new Ford Transit 2-tonne model

The all-new Ford Transit 2-tonne model is now available to order.

The all-new Ford Transit two-tonne van is due to go on sale in the UK early in 2014, and is now available to order. Will it be as successful as the Transit Custom, which has just won the What Van? Van of the Year award for the second year running?

Don’t bet against it. Ford’s new vehicles — cars and vans — are really hitting a sweet spot at the moment, and the firm’s One Ford initiative, aimed at selling the same models in Europe and the US, is a policy that other manufacturers are starting to follow.

The big Transit is a completely new model, and will be pitched directly against other large vans, like the Sprinter and Ducato, leaving Ford’s smaller Transit Custom model to compete with smaller models like the Volkswagen Transporter and Mercedes-Benz Vito.

Ford’s two-pronged approach should enable it to compete more effectively in both the medium and large van markets than previously, when the Transit was a jack of all trades that participated in both markets.

According to Ford, the Transit ECOnetic will be able to deliver CO2 emissions from just 169g/km and fuel consumption of as little as 44mpg — impressive stuff.

Ford reckons that the new model will have best-in-class running costs and load capacity, and says that it will offer extended 2-year/30,000 mile service intervals, with just 4.2 hours of scheduled maintenance required during the first 90,000 miles — down from 5.4 hours for the outgoing model. Non-scheduled maintenance times have also been cut, according to Ford — for example, a rear brake disc replacement will take 1.3 hours, rather than the outgoing model’s deeply extravagant 2.6 hours.

The new Transit will be powered by a 2.2-litre Duratorq diesel with a choice of three power ratings (100PS, 125PS and 155PS) and a 6-speed manual transmission. The ECOnetic specification will be available up to 3.5t for the first time, and will feature Auto Start-Stop and Ford’s Acceleration Control feature, which limits the acceleration of unladen vans to avoid drivers hoofing it when empty…

Overall, the new model looks set to be a corker of a van that should be popular with van rental fleets and businesses alike — can’t wait to see how it compares to the new Sprinter.

Ford Transit Voted UK’s Favourite Large Used Van

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Ford Transit mk7 (2007-13)

Readers of Commercial Motor voted for the Transit as their favourite 3.5t used van.

There’s only one Ford Transit, and despite the motorway-conquering goodness of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, the Transit has a place in out hearts that is likely to outlast most of its competitors.

It’s not without good reason, either. As a used van, the Transit is a highly affordable, practical and reliable proposition. I’ve owned two, and neither have cost more than a family car to run, or given any serious trouble.

This eulogy to the Transit has been prompted by news that the readers of Commercial Motor magazine have voted for the Transit as the best large used van, praising the vehicle’s practicality, low costs of ownership and the strength of the service and repair network across the country.

Will Shiers, editor of Commercial Motor, said:

“Commercial Motor’s readers voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Ford Transit as their favourite used 3.5-tonne van. The Transit has been the nation’s favourite for the better part of half a century now, not only when new, but on the used market too. The van has defined the sector. Used buyers know exactly what they’re getting with a Transit, a van they can trust.”

According to Commercial Motor, there are currently around 700,000 new and used Ford Transit vans in operation on UK roads, over 9,000 of which are the recently launched Ford Transit Custom.

Ford Opens 100 ‘Transit Centres’ Across UK

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A new Ford Transit Centre specialist van dealer

Hartwell Ford in Abingdon is the first Transit Centre to launch in the UK.

Ford is launching 100 “Transit Centres” across the UK, offering new high-tech showrooms, elevated after sales and service standards and extended opening hours.

The new Transit Centres will provide a cutting-edge environment for Ford to showcase its next generation of commercial vehicles to customers, and will enable the launch of Ford’s Transit24 aftersales programme, announced in February this year, which is aimed at minimising vehicle downtime and reducing whole life costs for commercial vehicle operators.

The 100 Ford sites will be upgraded by the end of 2014 as part of the company’s on-going investment into Britain’s largest dealer network.

Each Transit Centre site employs a dedicated CV sales team as well as Ford-trained technicians and offers specialised workshop equipment, tools and training, and can manage all service, maintenance and warranty work (all Ford CVs come with a 100,000 mile/3 year warranty).

Transit24 will offer while-you-wait servicing to suit the customer, including regular late night appointments, and will respond within 20min to online service booking requests made through the 1Link online booking service. Collection and delivery of vehicles can also be arranged and every vehicle leaves the dealership washed and ready for work.

Jon Wellsman, Ford customer service division director, said:

“The launch of Ford’s new Transit Centre network will provide first class sales, service, maintenance and repair for all of our commercial vehicle operators across the UK. Ford has the largest and widest-spread dealer network in the country, offering a class-leading range of commercial vehicles and technologies and will continue to deliver the best care and assistance to customers.”

The launch of Ford’s Transit Centre network is aligned with the complete transformation of the blue oval’s commercial vehicle range, introducing four new models – Transit Courier, Transit Connect, Transit Custom and Transit – by 2014.

Autoglass Celebrates 44 Years of Transits

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Autoglass Ford Transit Custom LWB

One of the new Autoglass Ford Transit Custom LWB vans

Not many companies remain loyal to one brand of vehicle for nearly half a century, but Ford Transits have been the mainstay of the Autoglass fleet for 44 years.

The glass-fitting firm recently ordered 90 new long wheelbase Ford Transit Custom vans to update its 1,250-strong Transit van fleet.

The long wheelbase version of the Transit Custom was chosen because like cars, windscreens are getting bigger and more curvacious than they used to be, and require more storage space inside the van.

“The glass we have to carry is getting bigger and therefore so must our vehicles,” said Autoglass fleet manager Ged Raymond. “The 290 long wheel-base Transit Custom meets our needs perfectly and is being well received by our mobile technicians. They have always loved the Ford Transit and they like this one even more thanks to its comfort and drivability.”

Each Autoglass van is specially equipped with racking to carry the firm’s stock-in-trade as well as an electrical conversion unit to provide 240-volt power for tools and equipment. The Transit models used by Autoglass are all supplied through Heartlands Ford in Birmingham, and typically enjoy a four-year/100,000-mile working life.

Ford Scores Speedy 400-Van Order

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Equipment hire firm Speedy has placed an £8.6m order for 400 new vans and pick-ups with Ford, cementing an 18-year relationship between the two companies.

Ford Transit Custom belonging to Speedy

One of Speedy’s new Ford Transit Customs.

The Speedy order – comprising 380 Ford Transit vans, including new Transit Custom models, and 20 Ford Ranger pick-ups – will be operated through 283 fixed Speedy sites throughout the UK.

Karen Nixon, Ford UK regional fleet manager, said:

“This 400-vehicle order from Speedy is testament to the reliability of Ford’s award-winning commercial vehicle range and evidence of the outstanding commitment Ford makes to its fleet customers. Ford’s on-going investment in low-CO2 technology is helping companies like Speedy in their quest for lower whole life vehicle costs.”

As with all of Speedy’s fleet, the new Ford vehicles will be fitted with telematic equipment to provide comprehensive reporting of driver behaviour, in an effort to encourage improved fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions.

Speedy logistics director Richard Martin said:

“Our fleet is an extension of our company brand so it is important that we choose the right vehicles to meet our customers’ needs and requirements. Speedy operates through a large network of depots covering the whole of the UK and these Ford vehicles will be vital to transport assets and equipment.”

Speedy, which is based in Newton-le-Willows, close to St Helens and Wigan on Merseyside, is the largest equipment hire company in the UK and serves 10% of the UK market, through its network of 325 depots. The firm is also expanding into the Middle East and also offers a wide range of training services to its customers.

vanrental.co.uk verdict:

In my view, the new Transit Custom offers all the prestige and quality of certain highly-fashionable German manufacturers, along with a fresher, newer design than some comparable models.

Both the Transit Custom and the Ford Ranger have best-in-class five-star Euro NCAP ratings — despite their size and weight, vans and pick-ups have not scored well in safety tests, historically, and Ford is amongst the first manufacturers to start to correct that problem.

Brutal Testing Regime Tests Ford Transit Custom Limits

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Ford Transit Custom undergoing durability testing

Ouch. A Ford Transit Custom hits a 14cm kerb at no less than 35mph to see if the chassis or suspension will break…

Ford’s testing engineers put the Ford Transit Custom through the company’s toughest-yet set of tests before the van was allowed to go on sale late last year, simulating 10 years of ownership in just six months.

More than 150 professional test drivers, plus customer fleet drivers and Ford engineers, put the Ford Transit Custom through a punishing regime, covering the equivalent of three million miles. Ford Transit Custom tests included marathon non-stop driving tests to simulate an extremely demanding 10-year lifecycle in just six months, along with extreme climate testing and corrosive salt- and mud-baths.

“I don’t think many customers would believe what this vehicle has been through,” said Barry Gale, commercial vehicles chief engineer, Ford of Europe. “We inflict the worst possible treatment that a van could endure, and we’re only satisfied when our new vehicle comes through with flying colours – just as the Transit Custom has done.”

Ford analysed data from real-world Transit use gathered from more than 600 vehicles, over six million miles, in seven markets around the world; that helped inform worst-case usage durability targets based on a 10-year, 150,000-mile lifecycle. This in itself is interesting, although your mileage may vary, to coin a phrase; a courier doing long distance motorway work should be able to expect much higher trouble-free mileages than someone doing urban multi-drop.

Examples of the extreme challenges included:

  • Autobahnspeed: maintaining maximum speed for two months non-stop;
  • Figure Eight: executing figures-of-eight non-stop for one month;
  • Chassis strength: crashing into a 140mm kerb at more than 35mph;
  • Potholes and bumps: completing a potholed and bumpy course at speeds of up to 45mph – more than 5,000 times;
  • Corrosion resistance: driving over rough gravel roads, through salt- and mud-baths, and soaking in high-humidity chambers – for 12 weeks.

During its development, Ford Transit Custom prototypes also endured the toughest “real–world” conditions, surviving the extremes of 40degC heat in Dubai and -40degC biting cold in Finland, plus high-mileage road testing in the hands of professional fleet drivers. It also endured a specialsed door-slamming test at Ford’s test centre near Basildon — the van’s doors were slammed 550,000 times to simulate the higher duty cycle expected from van doors.

In the test labs, Ford subjected the all-new 2.2-litre Duratorq diesel engine – powering the all-new Transit Custom – to 46 days of continuous high-load urban driving on specialised rigs, as part of tens of thousands of hours of engine testing. Component test rigs simulating real-world punishment can prove-out a full 10-year vehicle lifecycle in as little as 30 days.

Ford has engineered more than 100 significant improvements as a direct result of its testing regime. These include the redesign and strengthening of the engine mount brackets and body rocker panels. The same regime will deliver similar benefits to the all-new Ford Transit and Ford Transit Connect models due for launch by 2014.

Ford And Vauxhall Vie For UK Van Market Leadership

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Vauxhall Vivaro - built in Britain

Vauxhall Vivaro - built in Britain

Despite the gloomy van registration statistics released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) this week, the battle between the UK’s two ‘homegrown’ van manufacturers shows no signs of letting up.

Small businesses love Vauxhalls

In 2012, Vauxhall maintained its position as the most popular van manufacturers with retail buyers; small business and private customers who buy direct from a Vauxhall dealer.

The Luton-based manufacturer sold over 11,000 vehicles to small businesses.  Market share was 16%, with Vauxhall topping the monthly retail sales charts in March, April, September and December.

Ford is fleet favourite

Ford, on the other hand, remains the most popular commercial vehicle manufacturer overall, with the Brentwood-based company accounting for one in every five commercial vehicles sold in the UK in 2012.

Although the British-built Vauxhall Vivaro was the most popular medium van in the retail segment, the Ford Transit dominated the medium van sector overall, accounting for 30% of all medium vans sold in 2012, up from 26.8% in 2011: it is a fine van, and much newer than the current Vivaro design, which is due for replacement.

It’s a pity that Transits aren’t going to be made in Southampton anymore, especially as Vauxhall has managed to keep Vivaro manufacturing at Luton .

What do you drive?

Some people get very passionate when debating the relative merits of Fords and Vauxhalls. Leaving German brands aside, which do you prefer?

Personally, I’ve owned three Fords (one car and two Transits) and one Vauxhall (car) so far in my life and there has been nothing between them in terms of reliability and running costs — although I have to admit that I’ve liked my Fords more than I liked my old Vectra…

Vauxhall Tops UK Van Production League

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Vauxhall Vivaro at Vauxhall's Luton factoryVauxhall produces more vans in the UK than any other manufacturer, making 60% of the commercial vehicles which are built in the UK.

The vast majority of these (57%) are Vauxhall Vivaro vans, which are built at the company’s Luton plant. The remainder of Vauxhall’s UK van production takes place at its Ellesmere Port plant (near Liverpool), where Astravans are built on the Astra production line.

In 2011, 64% of UK-built Vivaros were exported to Europe, highlighting the fact that despite public perception, Britain has a thriving motor industry that exports a substantial number of vehicles every year.

Ford is probably the next largest producer of light commercial vehicles in the UK, with many Transit models continuing to be made at its Southampton plant, despite the fact that some Transit models are now made in Turkey. Both Transit and Vivaro have always been popular choices with van hire companies and this trend looks set to continue, with the latest Transit update receiving excellent reviews and a new model Vivaro due to go into production in less than two years.

Ford Launches Transit SuperSportVan At NEC

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Ford has a proud tradition of producing one-off high performance versions of the Transit – now it has done it again with the Transit SuperSportVan.

Ford Transit SuperSportVan

The Transit SuperSportVan( SSV) is basically a production short wheelbase Transit Sport Van with the addition of the 200PS, 3.2 litre TDCi diesel engine that is usually only fitted to the largest, heaviest Transits. Add a custom paint job and pretty much all the extras on the option list, and you have the Transit SSV*.

The SSV is on display at the Birmingham NEC this week, as part of Ford’s contribution to the Commercial Vehicle Show.

The Transit SSV is the fourth such Transit that Ford has built over the years – the most recent was a Ford World Rally Transit, which came complete with a sub-8 second 0-60mph time, internal roll cage, rally-style data logger, lowered suspension and a Ford Martini World Rally livery:

Ford transit rally van

You can see pictures of the first three Transit Supervans here.

*I have to admit that although it is pretty tasty, the Transit SSV does seem just a little bit tame when compared to earlier Transit Supervans. The original 1971 Transit Supervan, for example, was powered by a 400hp V8 petrol engine taken from Ford’s Le Mans-winning GT40 supercar… Come on Ford – you know you want to!

Ford Expands Transit Econetic Range For 2011

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Ford is to expand the range of Transit models that are available in Econetic form in 2011. Ford’s Econetic badging is used to signify the company’s lowest emission, most fuel efficient vehicles.

At present, only one Transit Econetic model is available, the FWD, short wheelbase, low roof 280 with a 115PS engine and a 1 tonne payload. 2011 will see this range of Econetic choices expanded to include longer wheelbase models and some other variants.

Ford is also introducing a new Euro V engine to replace the current Euro IV options in the Transit. This will bring the company in line with other panel van models, such as the Mercedes Sprinter  and Volkswagen Transporter, which are already available with a range of Euro V engine options. At present, only the current Transit Econetic is available with an engine that meets Euro V emissions standards.

Like other Ford Econetic models, the Transit Econetic uses a combination of altered gearing, engine mapping and aerodynamic changes to minimise fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. These improvements are said to result in an approximate 10% improvement in both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to the standard models.

The current Transit Econetic model has an official combined fuel consumption figure of 39.2mpg. As a comparison, the best I have managed in my (mk6) Transit is 37mpg, and that was lightly loaded and with much higher CO2 emissions, thanks to the older engine design. Whether many fleet drivers will achieve the official 39.2mpg figure is another question, but there should be a relative improvement in fuel consumption compared to the standard van models, in any case.