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Ford adds to commercial-market offering

3rd April 2015

By: Irma Venter

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

  

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Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) continues its product offensive for 2015 – a year in which it plans to launch ten new models – with the introduction of the new Transit Connect and the Tourneo Connect.

The new Transit Connect panel van focuses on the commercial market, while the Tourneo Connect multipurpose vehicle (MPV) can carry up to seven people.

The debut of the Connect twins follows the local introduction of the larger Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom panel and people vans, as well as their bigger siblings, the 2 t Transit van, chassis cab and Tourneo bus unveiled over the last two years, says FMCSA sales, service and marketing VP Mark Kaufman.

The Connect range will compete in the small panel van and MPV segment of the local market, which sells, on average, 850 units a month, with the Toyota Avanza the clear market leader here, selling 387 units in February.

Other competitors include the Citroën Berlingo, the Honda Mobilio, the Nissan NV200, the Suzuki Ertiga, the Renault Kangoo and the Volkswagen Caddy.

Ford expects this market segment to grow as buyers prefer carlike levels of comfort, safety and luxury features in their vehicles, yet also “great manoeuvrability and the ability to carry people and goods with ease” – this despite the significant price difference between the Connect panel van and a 1 t bakkie.

The panel van is priced at R272 900, including value-added tax.

FMCSA LCV brand manager Dale Reid says a large group of companies, such as delivery and medical companies, prefer panel vans to 1 t bakkies with canopies, as they offer better security, as well as zero visibility into the back.

Kaufman adds that the Connect also offers better load height and ease of use than a bakkie.

People Mover
The Tourneo Connect is available in a choice of three specification levels and two wheelbase configurations. Pricing starts at R269 900.

The Ambiente and the Trend use the short-wheelbase (SWB) five-seater platform, while the Titanium derivatives are based on the long-wheelbase (LWB) Grand Tourneo Connect layout, in either standard five-seat configuration or optional seven-seat form.

The second and third rows can be folded flat to ensure 2 761 ℓ of packing space in the case of the Grand Tourneo Connect or 2 620 ℓ for the SWB version.

Four models are on offer, starting off with the 1.0 EcoBoost engine Ambiente in SWB form.

The 1.0 EcoBoost Trend takes the equipment list up a notch further, and is followed by the range-topping 1.6 TDCi and 1.6 EcoBoost Titanium models, both in LWB Grand Tourneo Connect guise.

The 1.0 EcoBoost engine, which has been awarded the International Engine of the Year title for the last three years running, produces 74 kW of power and 170 Nm of torque.

It is paired with a six-speed manual transmission, with fuel consumption claimed at 5.6 ℓ/100 km in the combined cycle.

The 1.6 TDCi turbodiesel engine is linked to a six-speed manual transmission. With 85 kW and 285 Nm on tap, this van has a fuel consumption figure of 4.9 ℓ/100 km.

Headlining the range is the 1.6 EcoBoost engine, matched to a six-speed automatic transmission. It delivers a maximum output of 110 kW and a 240 Nm torque peak.

Average consumption is rated at 8 ℓ/100 km.

Goods Mover
The Transit Connect was awarded the International Van of the Year for 2014.

The primary target market here includes trade customers, such as courier companies, and traditional tradespeople, such as plumbers. It is also suitable to retailers and businesses in the food, hospitality and related industries.

Available in LWB panel van configuration and Ambiente trim, the Transit Connect offers a load area with a total volume of 3 222 ℓ – big enough to fit two euro pallets.

It is capable of carrying a 1 004 kg payload, and has a maximum towing capacity of 1 200 kg.

A single powertrain is offered, namely the 1.6 TDCi engine. This turbodiesel engine offers 85 kW of power and 285 Nm of torque.

Combined-cycle fuel consumption is stated as 4.9 ℓ/100 km.

On the safety front, the Transit Connect features disc brakes all round, an antilock braking system and electronic brakeforce distribution. These features are complemented by an electronic stability programme with traction control, hill launch assist, load adaptive control, roll-over mitigation and trailer sway control.

A passenger airbag is offered as an optional extra; as are front and rear parking sensors, linked to a rear view camera; front fog lights with adaptive corner lighting; tyre inflation monitor and load compartment lighting.

All Connect models are produced in Spain.

Both the Transit Connect and Tourneo Connect come standard with 60 000 km service plans (four-year for the diesel and three-year for the petrol derivatives), and a four-year/120 000 km warranty.

Service intervals are 20 000 km on the petrol models and 15 000 km on the diesel derivatives.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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