New Ford Transit Connect!

[Franco Cozzo]

As the on-sale date of the first of Ford’s two new Transit Custom models draws near, Ford Australia has announced pricing for the next-gen vans, which will be available in two variants.

Both one-tonne models, the short-wheelbase Transit Custom 290S is priced at $37,490 (MLP) while the long-wheelbase Transit Custom 330L is priced at $39,490 (MLP).

As a further sweetener, for a limited time purchasers of either model will also receive a five-year/200,000km (whichever comes first) warranty, instead of the standard two-year/100,000km cover.

Vancare Roadside Assistance and myFord Capped Price servicing add additional incentive.

Ford Australia says the 290S will go on sale locally by the end of February 2014 while the 330L will follow in June. The ranks of the new-look Transit range will swell yet again with the arrival of a high-roof, high-capacity two-tonne model in the second quarter of 2014, while there are no plans at this stage to bring the more compact Transit Connect to our shores.

Both front-wheel-drive newcomers are powered by Ford’s 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel, for which the marque claims an output of 92kW at 3500rpm and 350Nm from 1450-2000rpm. For the 290S Ford claims combined-cycle economy of 7.1L/100km, that figure rising slightly to 7.3L/100km for the 330L.

Ford has stepped up the Transit’s safety appointments, with side thorax and curtain airbags now complementing the driver and front passenger airbags. Making its debut in the Transit is Ford’s Emergency Assistance system, which gives the driver a hands-free connection to emergency services in the event of a serious accident.

These have helped the Transit Custom achieve a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

The 290S packs in 5.95m³ of load space while the 330L yields 6.83m³. Maximum load lengths of 2555mm and 2922mm apply respectively, while a new standard integrated roof rack folds flat when not in use. A glazed steel bulkhead has a load-through facility and load area protection kit.

Sleek new styling underlines the Transit’s rebirth, while the fresh interior features numerous stowage compartments and a fold-down centre armrest that acts as a writing platform when the centre seat is not in use.

Techno niceties include Ford’s SYNC voice-command connectivity, Hill Launch Assist, Dynamic Stability Control (including ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Emergency Brake Assist) , and electronic cruise control, along with Trailer Sway Control, Roll Over Mitigation, Load Adaptive Control and Torque Vectoring Control.

The local media launch for the new Transit Custom models will be held later this month – watch this space...

http://www.carsales.com.au/news/comm...t-custom-41426

I'm a little disappointed with its looks, I reckon the current gen Transit Connect looks much better and it seems to be carrying over the same engine as the previous model.

The interior seems so much better though.

I cant wait to see the LWB and tall roof heavy duty versions out later this year, Mercedes has just updated their Sprinter and we're getting them through work now, hopefully the new heavy duty Transit can really stick it up Mercedes.