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NEWS
Ford Transit Courier breaks cover in UK
Blue Oval's Fiesta-based van will rival Opel-built Combo, but won't be coming to OzFord's new Transit Courier, as the pictures here clearly show, is based on the B-Segment (Fiesta) platform and will slot into the company's commercial range beneath the Focus-based Transit Connect.
Like the Transit Connect, the Transit Courier is not a priority for Ford Australia, and has been described by company Brand Communications Manager Neil McDonald as "European only".
Even though both vehicles are to be built in right-hand drive for the UK market, they are simply not on the agenda for Australia. That's not too surprising, given the total market last year for vans under 2.5-tonne GVM amounted to just 3316 vehicles sold – of which Volkswagen's Caddy alone took nearly 56 per cent (1852 units). Transit Connect makes more sense, in a market of 17,000 vehicles, but it's up against well established names like Toyota HiAce (6387 sales last year) and the Hyundai iLoad (5854) to get noticed.
Both the Ford vans were unveiled at last week's commercial vehicle show in Birmingham. According to the manufacturer Transit Courier is the final piece in the four-model range, comprising the two-tonne Transit, the one-tonne Transit Custom, Transit Connect and now Transit Courier. Ford is so certain the Transit Courier will be a major success in overseas markets it's predicting commercial vehicle sales growth of up to 50 per cent for the brand, albeit with some help from a new generation of the larger Transit models.
“Ford has now completely transformed its commercial vehicle line-up, with four all-new, class-leading Transits for European customers,” said Barb Samardzich, vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe. “With the all-new Transit range, we expect sales to grow to 400,000 units per year by 2016, well over 50 per cent more than we sell today.”
At the show, the Transit Courier was also joined by a new Transit Connect, now built on the same third-generation C-Segment platform as the current Focus. And Ford has also introduced a high-roof version of the Transit Custom at the Birmingham event, as well as an 'all-new' two-tonne Transit. While Transit Courier made its public debut in Birmingham, it will not go on sale globally before the second quarter of next year, according to Ford's press material.
Ford describes the Transit Courier as 'class-leading' in respect of load volume (2.3m3 SAE) and the load floor length (1.62 metres). The manufacturer rates the Transit Courier's load volume and floor area advantage at 10 per cent better than its nearest rivals in the market segment. It also features the widest sliding door aperture in its class and the full height steel bulkhead complies with DIN and ISO safety standards for load restraints.
Powerplants available in Europe will include both petrol and diesel – with a 1.5-litre petrol four and a 1.6-litre diesel four joined by the 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine.
It slots in below the new Transit Connect, which is Focus-based, but in two different wheelbase lengths. People mover variants in the longer (3.4-metre) wheelbase variant of the Transit Connect can seat five or seven, depending on buyer preference. The short-wheelbase models measure 3.0 metres between front and rear axle lines.
With 1.6-litre diesel in three different states of tune, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost triple and a 1.6-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost with a six-speed automatic transmission, the new Transit Connect is claimed by Ford to be as much as 30 per cent more economical than the model it replaces, thanks in part to the adoption of auto-stop/start and an active grille shutter.
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Written byKen Gratton
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