All-New Ford Transit Connect Offers Smart Cargo Solutions for Class-Leading Every-Day Load Carrying

COLOGNE, Germany--July 5, 2013: Ford’s all-new Transit Connect offers class-leading load-carrying ability to make work easier for plumbers, electricians and other trades.

The new Transit Connect that will be launched late this year enables businesses to load and transport awkward and bulky items with a load-through hatch in the bulkhead, fold-up front passenger seat and – via the widest opening in the class on the long wheelbase model (L2) – the unique ability to load a Europallet through the sliding side door.

A special profile at the top of the full steel bulkhead also offers the unique-in-class ability to accommodate 2.4 m x 1.2 m (8 ft x 4 ft) sheets in the L2 van; while the Kombi L2 offers rear seats which fold into a flat load platform.

“We watched tradespeople loading and unloading vehicles to make sure we got the design of the all-new Transit Connect just right,” said Stephen Lesh, Transit Connect chief program engineer, Ford of Europe. “This van is ready for anything. It can haul all manner of tools and materials – and transport a work crew in safety and comfort.”

Ford engineers developed the innovative load-through system to ensure the Transit Connect could safely transport long items such as pipes or rolls of flooring up to 3.4 metres (L2) and up to 3.0 metres in the short wheelbase (L1) version. This involved the development of a hinged access panel in the bulkhead and a special “fold and dive” mechanism for the outer passenger seat; creating a dished profile in the surface of the passenger seat back; and designing the instrument panel so long items could slide underneath.

The all-new Transit Connect also offers customers further smart features including:

Flexible dual passenger seat which enables two passengers to travel with the driver. The outer passenger seat folds upwards to allow large boxes on the cab floor, or flat to accommodate longer items through the bulkhead Ultra-bright LED lighting for the cargo space, enabling it to function as a working area Standard bodyside fixing points at waist and shoulder height in the load compartment, which allow additional tie-down loops, racking or framework to be fitted more easily Functional mobile office features in the cab including Ford SYNC connectivity and generous stowage space; the inner dual passenger seat folds flat as working space, or flips up to reveal a stowage box Versatile rear seating in Kombi and Double-Cab-in-Van models, with a movable mesh bulkhead; L2 models offer class-unique fold-flat seating for the second and third rows to create a flat load platform.

The all-new Transit Connect van offers total load volumes of 2.9 m3 (L1) and 3.6 m3 (L2) with full bulkhead fitted, or 3.7 m3 (L1) and 4.4 m3 (L2) without bulkhead including the front loadspace area, both measured according to SAE; the van has a maximum payload of up to 1,000 kg, matching the class-best figure. Deliveries of the new model are scheduled to start at the end of 2013.