Ford Transit SportVan Limited Edition goes Red

Four years after the presentation of the Transit SportVan and Ford UK continues to release special edition variants of its commercial vehicle. Following the sold-out limited production models finished in Performance Blue with white stripes (500 examples), 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), Ford is now launching the Transit SportVan with a Colorado Red paintwork and Le Mans-style white bonnet stripes.

The latest special edition Transit SportVan is based on the 260 short wheelbase model with front wheel drive, and is powered by a 140-horsepower 2.2-litre TDCi diesel engine matched to a six-speed manual transmission.

Aside from the unique paintwork, the SportVan also gets twin exhaust tail pipes, 18-inch graphite color alloy wheels shod in low profile 235/45 tires, front and rear lower spoilers, side skirts and extended wheel arches. Optionally, buyers can add LED cargo lights and LED daytime running lights.

Inside the cab, the driver will find velour trim along with standard air conditioning, six CD-player with remote steering-column-mounted controls, cruise control, power windows, powered and heated mirrors, leather steering wheel, tinted glass, leather gearshift knob and a perimeter alarm.

Also standard are the power deadlocks, rain-sensing wipers, auto headlights, front fog lights, a load area protection kit, ABS, ESP and driver and passenger airbags. Available options include leather seats and a navigation system with a 5-inch color display.

The red SportVan will be produced in a limited number of 100 units and will go on sale in Britain at end of October with prices starting at £22,630.

Ford and Chrysler Group Recalling Certain Models

The Chrysler LLC Group and Ford Motor Co. have announced two separate (and not related) recalls on some of their vehicles.

Starting with Ford, the Detroit automaker is recalling a total of 33,728 of its 2010MY Transit Connect vans manufactured from December 5, 2008 through May 31, 2010 over a potential safety issue concerning the retention pushpin located on the headliner above the B-pillar trim on both sides of the vehicles.

"During vehicle testing the vehicle exceeded head injury criteria requirements set by the standard," said Ford in a release posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. Ford said the safety recall for the Transit Connect is expected to begin "on or about" July 19, 2010.

The Chrysler Group is recalling an unspecified number of 2010MY left hand drive Jeep Liberty, Dodge Nitro and Ram 1500 Truck, as well as right and left hand drive Jeep Wrangler vehicles, to fix potential defective brake tubes that could lead to lead to loss of brake fluid.

The automaker said dealers will replace the brake tubes free of charge, with the safety recall expected to begin in August.

Boston Says "Yes, Please" to Ford Transit Connect Taxis

The city of Boston, Massachusetts has become the first city in America to officially approve of Ford's Transit Connect (2010 North American Truck of the Year) as a taxi.

Mark Cohen, Boston PD Licensing Division director, says this about the Transit Connect: "It's the closest thing to a purpose-built vehicle for taxi use that I've seen in 25 years." I guess he's never been to the UK...

For many places, the issue with replacing the large, Panther-based Crown Victorias has been the regulation of vehicles that are allowed to perform taxi duties. A successor would have to meet various size/measurement/cargo/safety standards before approval, and the city of Boston has deemed the TC Taxi worthy of the job.

Why is it a good follow-up? "Its open architecture provides excellent interior headroom and passenger visibility and, with 6.5 inches of ground clearance, passengers step easily through the sliding doors."

So it's roomy and ingress/egress are a cinch. That's important, but another factor has been on everyone's mind when it comes to purchasing fleet vehicles: efficiency.

The TC Taxis come standard engine with a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder and an automatic transmission, which are said to return up to 30% improved fuel economy. Other options include packages that can convert the taxis to run on either compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied propane gas (LPG), which will take cleanliness, efficiency, and cost savings to an even higher level.

"According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CNG is less expensive and burns cleaner than gasoline, resulting in 30 to 40 percent less greenhouse gas emissions. Propane also burns cleaner than gasoline."

CNG tanks can be stored behind the rear seats and there's still enough room for luggage, says Ford.

Other factory-installed fleet-vehicle necessities (or bonuses) include vinyl flooring, third-row windows, and a "wiring upfit" package. The rear seat (available in vinyl for durability and late-night clean-ups) was also moved back 3 inches for improved legroom, and a heating/cooling system was added for second-row passenger comfort.

When it comes to future tech, Ford is working with CMT (Creative Mobile Technologies) "to integrate premier payment processing and passenger information technologies in the taxi, including an 8.4-inch electronic infotainment and navigation screen that shows cab fares, news, weather, sports scores and stock ticker."

Congratulations, Boston, on becoming Test Market #1. Let's hope this works, because those Crown Vics are getting ratty.

By Phil Alex

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Ford Stops Production of Transit in China Over Accelerator Pedal Issue

While Toyota is the main car manufacturer to be affected by the faulty accelerator pedals (not to be confused with the floor-mat related sticky accelerator issues) made by Indiana-based supplier CTS Corp., it isn't the only one.

The Associated Press as well as the USA Today reported today that Ford has halted production of its Transit Classic van in China because it has a similar type of pedal assembly made by CTS as the ones blamed for Toyota's recall in the States.

"When anybody has an issue in the industry, we check everything about the Ford system and production process," said Ford CEO Alan Mulally. "It's our assessment right now that this is very isolated."

It is also reported that Toyota has issued a new recall of 75,000 vehicles in China for the same matter.

Earlier today, Toyota said that it is investigating the issue on its European models also.

Thanks for the tip 3Deuce27! , Via: USA Today

Ford Transit Minibus gets All-Wheel Drive Option

Ford's British division has added an all all-wheel drive option to its 15-seater Transit minibus. The AWD system, which automatically provides torque flow to the front wheels when traction loss at the rear is detected, costs an additional £3,995 and is available with the 140-horsepower 2.4-litre 140PS Duratorq TDCi diesel engine equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. The price

According to the company, compared with the standard rear-wheel-drive Transit minibus, the additional front axle weight is 70kg or 154 lbs while the rear axle weight is 10kg or 22 lbs heavier on the AWD model.

"We've had tremendous interest in AWD from construction, roadside assistance and utility companies," said Ford of Britain, commercial vehicles director, Steve Kimber On top of that we know that taxi companies and schools may also benefit from extra traction in many every-day situations."

Ford Launches Limited Edition Transit SportVan in White

In what could be described as the "white van man's" ultimate drive, Ford UK has launched a special edition version of its Transit SportVan in white with Le Mans-style blue bonnet stripes that will be produced in a limited run of just 80 units. In par with the classic Transit SportVan livery of Performance Blue with white stripes that is currently sold out, the white SportVan is spec'd up with twin exhausts, 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in low profile 235/45 tyres, front and rear lower spoilers, side skirts and extended wheel arches.

The model is based on the short wheelbase Transit with front wheel drive and is powered by a 140 HP 2.2-litre TDCi diesel engine that is linked to a six-speed manual gearbox.

The Transit SportVan's interior features include velour trim, air conditioning, six CD-player with remote 'steering-column'-mounted controls, cruise control, power windows, power and heated mirrors, leather steering wheel, tinted glass, leather gearshift knob and a perimeter alarm.

On-the-road prices have been set at £22,030. Aside from the new white finish, two other options remain available for the SportVan, Panther Black with silver stripes, and Sea Grey with silver stripes.

Ford Gets $5.9 Billion Gov. Tech Loans, Says Electric Focus will Arrive in 2011, Plug-in Hybrid by 2012

The U.S. Department of Energy announced today that Ford has been approved for a $5.9 billion government loan to develop fuel-saving technologies that will reduce the nation's dependency on foreign oil. Ford, which is the only American automaker not to receive emergency federal aid, said that it intends to apply the loans on a variety of fuel-saving technologies.

These include the development of hybrid-electric systems, alternative-fuel power plants, direct-injection engines as well as new dual clutch transmissions, aerodynamic improvements and weight reduction measures through platform efficiencies and greater use of aluminum, magnesium and high-strength steel.

Ford also outlined its electric and hybrid car strategy that accelerates with the introduction of a pure battery electric (BEV) Transit Connect commercial van in 2010 and a BEV Focus in 2011, as well as a plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) and next-generation hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) by 2012.

Both the electric Transit Connect, which Ford is developing with Smith Electric U.S and the electric Focus that will be produced in collaboration with Magna at the Michigan Assembly Plan, are expected to have a range of up to 100 miles or 160 kilometers.

"This green partnership between Ford and the U.S. government will help accelerate the development of advanced technologies for even better fuel efficiency and emissions," said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally. "Ford is absolutely committed to fuel economy leadership with every new model we introduce. In fact, we plan to invest nearly $14 billion in advanced technology vehicles in the next seven years."

"Our partnership with the Department of Energy also will help retool our U.S. plants more quickly to produce fuel efficient vehicles and help meet the new, rigorous fuel-economy requirements," Mulally concluded.