While Ford Transit is a very familiar name for Europeans, Americans are quite weary wary of this strange new rear-wheel driven van that has come to replace their beloved and iconic E-Series. Set to go on sale throughout the US and Canada this summer, the 2015 Transit promises huge efficiency gains over its predecessor – Ford says the number is 46 percent better, on average, for the entire range.
“We are excited to serve our fleet and commercial customers in North America with the all-new Transit,” Kumar Galhotra, Ford vice president, Engineering was quoted as saying, adding that “Transit is Built Ford Tough and represents One Ford at its best, building on lessons learned from our decades of leadership in the commercial vehicle markets in the United States and Europe.”
Power for the American Transit will come either from a selection of V6 engines (275 hp 3.7-liter naturally aspirated and a 310 hp 3.5-liter EcoBoost turbo) or the preferable choice if you ask any Euro van driver, the 3.2-liter five-cylinder with a mere 185 hp, but peak torque of 350 lb-ft coming in between 1,500 – 2,500 rpm, with maximum power arriving at 3,000 rpm.
Another advantage of the Transit over the E-Series is its payload carrying capacity. It apparently can carry around 600 more pounds, on average, than the old van (4,650 lbs in total), while towing capacity is 7,500 lbs.
The way it’s built means the design is highly modular, and “customers can choose from van, wagon, chassis cab and cutaway body styles; three body lengths and two wheelbases for van and wagon, along with three roof heights; and XL and XLT trim levels.”
In regards to economy, Ford says the “EPA-estimated rating of 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway/16 mpg combined for all-new 2015 Transit low- and medium-roof regular wheelbase wagon,” though “actual mileage will vary.”
By Andrei Nedelea
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