Ford Transit wins award

The Ford Fiesta Van, the Ford Transit One Stop Shop programme and Ford’s ECOnetic technologies were also highly commended.

Paul Barker, editor of What Van? said: “The new Stage 5 Ford Transit has made impressive improvements to the UK’s most popular light commercial vehicle, and brought new levels of refinement and economy to the iconic model.

“Efficiency gains will save operators money, more important than ever in the current climate, and add further appeal to a range of vehicles that have all-round appeal.

“The expert What Van? judging panel were also happy to give a number of highly commended acknowledgments to a range of Ford products, proving the breadth of appeal from the UK’s biggest-selling van brand,” continued Barker.

ECOnetic technologies available on Ford commercial vehicles include Auto-Start-Stop (which automatically shuts down the engine when at idle, and with the transmission and clutch disengaged) and 70mph Speed Limiter. There are also two new Ford Transit ECOnetic models with CO2 levels from as low as 173g/km – an improvement of up to 8.5 per cent in fuel economy and emissions versus the original Transit ECOnetic. The latest Ford Fiesta Van ECOnetic has a class-leading 95g/km CO2.

Ford’s successful Transit One-Stop Shop programme creates a variety of bespoke conversions of Ford Transit chassis cabs such as tippers and dropsides, to ambulances and motor homes.

Offering the widest possible choice in terms of load lengths, payload and passenger carrying ability – with three wheelbases, four frame lengths, rear- , front- or all-wheel drive, high-traction dual and single wheels and single or double cab style – it creates hundreds of different vehicles to keep businesses moving.

Ford of Britain commercial vehicles director, Steve Clary, said: “The Ford Transit is going from strength to strength and is unique in having 46 years at the top of the van sales charts. In a tough economic climate, operators are choosing Transit for its reliability and cost of ownership now further improved by the latest models meeting Stage 5 emissions standards.”

In the last six years, The Ford Transit van has won 15 What Van? awards.

Ford has once again come to the aid of disabled Service skiers to compete in international winter sports events with the provision of a new Transit minibus.

The Ford Transit, a nine-seater Tourneo 280 short wheelbase, will be used by the Combined Services Disabled Ski Team (CSDST) to transport athletes and their equipment around the Alps this winter. It is the third consecutive year that Ford has assisted the team.

The CSDST is a registered charity which provides quality race coaching to serving members of the Armed Forces, and to veterans, all of whom have a permanent disability. Most members were injured on active service, and several are double amputees.

Last season the team won three gold, four silver and four bronze medals in international events and this season will train in Austria ahead of Army competitions in January and the Inter Services Championships in February. Several CSDST members are hoping to make the British Disabled Ski Team and represent their country in the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia.

“Ford’s assistance in providing the Tourneo is greatly appreciated,” said Lt Col Mike Quaile, team deputy chairman. “The vehicle enables us to move both the disabled skiers and their equipment during training and competitions, and without it we would struggle to provide these opportunities to disabled service men and women.”

Transit brand manager David Petts added: “Ford is very pleased to again assist the Combined Services Disabled Ski Team. The work being done by the team’s trainers, and the efforts being made by team members themselves, is not only inspirational but gives everyone great pride.”

As Britain basks in an Indian summer, a Ford Transit has helped Ford drivers to keep cool.

The 1998 model Ford Transit ice cream van, called ‘Ginger’, has been on duty in Marsh Mills on the Plymouth coast and at the British Street Food Awards in Suffolk, as part of this month’s Ford Centenary Tour.

Claire Kelsey, founder of Ginger’s Comfort Emporium – which specialises in making distinctive ice cream desserts – created a distinctive new flavour, rhubarb crumble and ginger, in honour of Ford of Britain’s centenary, titled “Ford 99 plus 1” and provided free samples to the first 100 customers to arrive at Vospers Ford dealership in Plymouth.

The 13-year-old Ford Transit has also helped its owner scoop one of the top prizes at the 2011 British Street Food Awards. Ginger’s Comfort Emporium took the award for Best Dessert with a roast banana, salt caramel and peanut flavoured ice cream. The Ford Transit claimed second place in the Best Mobiler category, an award for mobile catering.

The judges of the awards included celebrity TV chef, Antony Worrall Thompson, and ‘Cold Feet’ and ‘Reggie Perrin’ actress, Fay Ripley.

Antony Worrall Thompson said: “I’m not normally a sweet eater but this is absolutely delicious. Not only is the ice cream incredibly tasty, the Ford van is actually very pretty too!”

“It’s a dream come true to win this award – I was delighted when the judges announced we’d won Best Dessert. It’s a flavour I’ve been making for quite some time now and it has obviously gone down well with the judges.” said Claire Kelsey, who started her mobile business, Ginger’s Comfort Emporium, just over 12 months ago.

The Ford Centenary Tour, ending this month, covered a distance of over 2,200 miles across Britain, from Inverness to Southampton and Cardiff to London, in celebration of 100 years of Ford of Britain.

Historic Transits on show

The 11 Ford Transit vans displayed – with a combined age of 315 years – provided a fascinating insight into the history of this motoring icon. From the oldest – a 1969 Mark I SWB Transit – to the most recent 2005 Mark VI, the collection of Ford Transits showcased the evolution of Ford vans.

Ford Transit owner and enthusiast, Major Cliff Parfitt, an English-born Australian, brought his custom Transit ‘Last Post’ to the UK from its home 10,000 miles away in Melbourne, Australia, to take part in the celebrations.

Major Parfitt said: “I was offered the chance of working in the UK again and as I had put so much time and money into customising and personalising my old post office Transit, I decided to ship it over.”

Peter Lee, founding member of the Ford Transit Van Owners Club and a former Ford employee, said: “The Ford Transit is quite simply the backbone of British motoring. If you have ever ordered anything, chances are it has been delivered to you in a Ford Transit.

“As well as owning nine Transit vans, I’ve also got what is probably the world’s largest Ford Transit memorabilia collection at home with the top floor of my house holding something like 28,000 models and other collectables.”

The centenary celebrations at Ford Southampton plant also featured Talullah Rendall, music artist and singer/songwriter, performing for over 400 workers.

Talullah said: “A couple of years ago, I used to travel all over the country in my Ford Transit. Me, the band and Nina – our Transit – must have travelled over 10,000 miles playing all over the country, including Glastonbury.”

The Ford Centenary Tour came to an end after one month, covering a distance of over 2,200 miles across Britain, from Inverness to Southampton and Cardiff to London.

For Ford of Britain’s centenary, the Ford Transit team has released 180 special edition Transit SportVan models in a smart new livery – metallic silver and graphite.

Ford of Britain’s marketing director, Anthony Ireson, said: “Demand for our Transit SportVan has been exceptional so we are delighted to now offer this latest edition. Transit remains as popular as ever with more than 40,000 sales so far this year and this SportVan gives customers the chance to own a really special Transit.”

The Transit SportVan is based on the popular 260, short wheelbase model with front wheel drive, with 140PS 2.2-litre TDCi diesel engine and a six-speed transmission. The exterior features Moondust Silver paintwork, Le Mans-style graphite bonnet stripes, twin exhausts, 18in graphite colour alloy wheels, low profile 235/45 tyres, front and rear lower spoilers, side skirts and extended wheel arches. Standard safety features include ABS, ESP and driver and passenger airbags.

Inside the cab: velour trim, air conditioning, Sony radio/CD with DAB with remote steering-column-mounted controls, Bluetooth, cruise control, power windows, powered and heated mirrors, leather steering wheel, tinted glass, leather gearshift knob and a perimeter alarm are also standard.

Additional standard equipment includes power deadlocks, rain-sensing wipers, auto headlights, front fog lights and a load area protection kit. Optional are leather seats, Satellite Navigation FX system with 5in colour screen and a rear view camera with cab-mounted 7in LCD colour display monitor. LED cargo lights in rear and LED daytime running lights are available as a dealer-fit accessory.

The Ford Transit SportVan was first created in 2007 for customers wanting to make a bold statement with their commercial vehicle. All previous models are sold out: Performance Blue with white stripes (500), Sea Grey with silver stripes (80), Panther Black with silver stripes (500), Frozen White with blue stripes (80) and Ink Blue with silver stripes (150), Colorado Red with white stripes (250).

Internet music sensation and new band ‘Cults’ have just received their new Ford Transit tour vehicle.
Ever since posting songs anonymously on the internet last year, excitement and intrigue has been swirling around Cults, with the buzz now building with their first string of sell-out UK shows.
The band members – Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin – picked up the keys in London partway through their UK-wide tour, which continues throughout August including this month’s Reading Festival.
Brian and Madeline said: “Holding our first dates in the UK is very exciting and to have a proper tour vehicle to get around in feels like a rite of passage for a new band.”
Said Steve Clary, Director Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Britain: “It’s a tradition as enduring as the vehicle itself — Transit has been the default choice tour vehicle for fresh new musical talent since the first models were launched in the 1960s. Cults are a perfect fit with this tradition.”

Mad, Modified Ford Transit

Looking back the Transit SuperSport Van at the CV Show earlier this year, FOrd are going to have to pull their socks up to beat this 440BHP monster for next year’s show!

Ford increased its July UK market share in each sector in which it competes – cars, light commercials (LCVs) and medium commercials (MCVs) – compared with July 2010.

Total Ford commercial vehicle (CV) sales increased in July to 5,436 from 5,242, compared with July 2010 and for the year to date have increased to 42,713 from 34,674, compared with the same period last year.

Ford Fiesta Van and Ford Transit led the charge for Ford in the LCV and MCV sectors, respectively. Ford Fiesta Van share in July was 16.7 per cent, up from 13.8 per cent in July 2010 and Ford Transit share was 28.5 per cent up from 25.4 per cent.

Ford Transit has been the CV industry leader since it was launched in 1965 and its sales continue to climb with July sales of 4,457 up from 3,905 in July 2010. For the year to date, Transit sales rise to 33,760, from 24,987 during the same period in 2010.

Nigel Sharp, Ford of Britain managing director, said: “Ford’s best ever vehicle range demonstrated the breadth of its appeal by helping the company to increase share in all the key market sectors in July. Our latest addition, the new Ford Focus Studio, priced at under £14,000, will help us maintain this momentum as we and our dealers gear-up for the September sales rush.”

Source

Not your typical rally – nor your typical rally vehicle. Oxford to London – in a Ford Connect van – and electric Connect no less. The rally was made up of ‘green’ vehicles – hybrids and electrics amongst them coering the 75 mile course in the 2011 Bridgestone Eco Rally.

The rally took place on Sunday 31st July, this year starting from Broad Street, Oxford and finishing in the UK’s largest sustainable transport exhibition at The Mall in London.

The convoy comprised more than 30 of the latest low and zero emission vehicles including cars, motorbikes, vans, trucks and taxis.

Graham Hoare, executive director powertrain engineering, Ford of Europe, said: “Ford is developing a portfolio of electric vehicles that offer customers affordable, environmentally friendly technologies in vehicles they want and value. The Bridgestone Eco-Rally is a great opportunity to showcase the first of these vehicles to go on sale, the Transit Connect Electric.”

The Transit Connect Electric, developed in conjunction with Ford’s electric vehicles partner, Azure Dynamics, is the first of five electrified Ford models to be made available in Europe. It is a pure electric-powered version of the award-winning Transit Connect light commercial vehicle. It has a proprietary Force Drive™ battery electric drivetrain powered by an advanced battery pack from Johnson Controls, carrying a range of up to 80 miles with a payload of up to 500kg.

Ford has committed to introduce five full-electric and hybrid models in Europe by 2013 as part of its global electrification strategy. These include the Transit Connect Electric this year, the next generation Ford Focus Electric in 2012, followed by hybrid and plug-in hybrid derivatives of the all-new C-MAX and another hybrid-electric model in 2013.