Ford Transit Connect
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| Ford Transit Connect | |
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| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Production | 2002- |
| Assembly | Kocaeli, Turkey |
| Class | Compact MPV |
| Body style(s) | 3-door minivan 4-door minivan |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Platform | Ford C170 platform |
| Engine(s) | 1.8L I4 |
| Transmission(s) | 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | SWB: 2665 mm (104.9 in) LWB: 2912 mm (114.6 in) |
| Length | SWB: 4308 mm (169.6 in) LWB: 4555 mm (179.3 in) |
| Width | 2044 mm (80.5 in) |
| Height | SWB: 1814 mm (71.4 in) LWB: 1981 mm (78 in) |
| Related | Ford Focus |
The Ford Transit Connect is a panel van developed by Ford Europe and introduced in 2002. It replaced the older Escort van range, which had ceased production two years earlier. The Tourneo Connect, a leisure activity vehicle, is basically a Transit Connect with side windows and rear seats.
Despite the name, it shares very few components with the Transit; in fact its closest architecture is the C170 platform of the original Ford Focus. The Connect is built by Otosan in an all new production plant near Kocaeli, Turkey.
The Ford Transit Connect was awarded "Van of the Year 2004" by Professional Van and Light Truck Magazine. However, it never gained the popularity of the Ford Escort Van and the Ford Fiesta-based Ford Courier.
In January 2007 a Turkish newspaper Sabah [1][2] announced that Transit Connect will be exported to the United States starting in the autumn of 2007. While Ford has been mum on this topic, in June 2007 a prototype was seen running in California. [3] At the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, the official U.S. unveiling of the Transit Connect took place [4].
Since the car is designed by Peter Horbury who earlier worked at Volvo there is some speculation if it was inspired by the 1977 Volvo City Taxi concept.[5]
The vehicle will be sold in select urban areas of the United States beginning in mid-2009 as a 2010 model, becoming the first Ford minivan since the 2007 Ford Freestar.
[edit] Electric vehicle
Smith Electric Vehicles, has launched the Smith Ampere, a new product aimed at the light van sector. Ampere, which utilises the Ford Transit Connect chassis, and will be joint branded Ford and Smith. [1]
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[edit] External links
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