"Transit always had the image of being the original, tough van. That's part of its heritage, and we had to find a way of getting it to stand out in the crowd without reverting to more generic styling cues, like some manufacturers do by putting car-like curvy lines on the front of their vans. We wanted to go the other way and have a lot of presence and enhance what the Transit buyer is looking for. We tested everything using foam models to make sure it all functioned properly before we even started on the clay."
Chris Bird, Director Design – Ford of Europe

Exterior design

Since the outgoing Transit was launched six years ago, there has been a subtle shift in the commercial vehicle market, especially in the one-tonne segment, towards what are generically known as 'artisan owners'.

These are self-employed men and women, running their own businesses who view their van as an extension of their own – and their company's – image. It is this trend, exemplified by more car-like interiors, materials and colours as well as dynamics that drove the Transit's redesign. Seen from the side, the new Ford Transit has a much stronger, distinctive profile. The doors also retain a low belt line for good visibility whilst maintaining the Transit's signature window shape but with a redesigned graphic panel.

It is from the front, what Chris Bird calls 'the view rear mirror view', that you can clearly see the Transit's new design direction with its strong two bar grille proudly carrying the largest Ford blue oval badge currently used anywhere in the world on a vehicle, at 23.5cm wide. A painted front bumper is now available on all metallic and 'Frozen White' body colours.

Raising the hood around the cowl gives the Transit a more imposing stance and an impression of strength and power, as well as providing a convenient hand-hold for when cleaning the windscreen. With the vertically oriented headlights there is a clear link to the Ford Transit Connect, establishing a design element that echoes themes found in other Ford of Europe products.

The high-tech appearance of the headlights is enhanced by square shaped surrounds and the cast metal appearance of the inner bezel. Rear lamp graphics have also been modernised and now feature a simple clear glass lens with coloured direction indicator bulbs.

A three-piece bumper design has been retained, and now features cut-in steps at either side so it is easier for users to reach the windscreen.

Fresh Colours and New Wheels

The market growth of 'artisan' buyers for commercial vehicles like the Ford Transit means a move away from solid, uniform colours and specifications to more personalised options. 'White van man' is no longer dominant. It is the same for wheels, especially in image conscious segments of the market like hire buses and for conversions into camper vans.

Even putting aside Special Vehicle Operations – from which potential Transit customers can select from a palette of more than 160 colours – there are additional bright and vibrant standard colours available: Frozen White, Tonic, Sublime and Blue Ambition, recognising the trend towards more contemporary metallic finishes.

In line with the design changes, new 16-inch five spoke alloy wheels were engineered using Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) and are available for both one and two-tonne single rear wheel applications. Visually the wheels pick up on the moulded edges to the headlamp bezels. These wheels, which come with factory-fitted locking wheel nuts, will be particularly appealing to buyers of the nine-seat bus, Kombi vans, Kombi, Tourneo and camper chassis cab.

Optional wheel trims, finished in silver and featuring a multi-hole design that echoes details from the front grille, can be specified for either 15 or 16-inch single wheels.

Two new tyre sizes are introduced with the new Transit: 195/75 R16C 107/105 R introduced for 1850 kg front axle on dual rear wheel entities; 215/75 R16C 116/114 R tyre introduced for 350 extended length single rear wheel entitie s.

Interior Design

Interior design elements that embrace ergonomics, quality materials and good build quality are now deciding factors when it comes to choosing between one vehicle and another. Drivers generally demand that the cabin – which is their workplace – should be as sophisticated and as comfortable as the car they drive in their free time.

But an effective design for a Transit cabin is far more complex to achieve than the interior of a passenger car. This is because this small space must at the same time be a working environment, an office, a place for the driver and passenger(s) to eat and relax as well as its primary function of being the driver's workstation.

It has to be treated more as a piece of industrial design and not just interior styling, although pleasing aesthetics, quality materials and finish play a role. Furthermore, it needs to incorporate the very latest communications technology, including Satellite Navigation and Bluetooth wireless connectivity for mobile telephones with the vehicle's audio system.

The interior of the new Transit has been transformed, and features an all-new, two-tone instrument panel, car-like steering wheel and high mounted gear shifter.

The changes largely resulted from research carried out by Ford's ergonomics team into how Ford Transit owners of all ages and both sexes used them on a daily basis. This included seeing how they interacted with the instruments and controls, examining what they carried in the cabin and what type of storage facilities were needed.

It was this research that drove the relocation of the gear shifter from the floor up into the centre console. This has a number of advantages: it frees up floor space and allows 'walk through' cabin access, it provides a more car-like driving experience and it reduces noise, vibration and harshness transmission into the cabin.

The instrument panel and centre stack of the new Transit have been designed for the working driver. In a conventional design sense, the interior design aesthetics did not start until the design team had laid out where all the elements should ideally be positioned, thereafter it became a case of harmonising it all.

The new two-tone finish of the instrument panel includes a practical, dark colour for the upper surfaces complemented by a lighter shade in the lower areas to enhance the feeling of spaciousness and car-like quality, as well as achieving the sense of functional harmony.

New Professional Pack

New Transit customers can also choose a new 'Professional Pack' option, which has been specifically designed to satisfy the artisan owner by adding visual impact to the exterior of the new Transit, and making the interior even more car-like.

While the content of the Professional Pack will vary according to individual market specifications and derivatives, the core exterior content will include full wheel trims, remote locking, body colour bumpers and grille plus metallic paint, mud flaps and front fog lamps.

Inside the Professional Pack offers new and proven technologies that further enhance the driving experience. The core elements include a new 'Visibility Pack' - including rain-sensing wipers, automatic lights and auto rear wipe (when reverse gear is selected), plus power windows, power and heated mirrors, a trip computer, air conditioning and an upgraded audio system including single slot Compact Disc player.

"We appreciate that appearance and aesthetics can generate a strong emotional connection between vehicle and owner. The criteria for a commercial vehicle may be different than for a car, but we're convinced that customers will buy the new Transit because it looks better than ever, and it's still as functional as ever."
Chris Bird, Director Design – Ford of Europe