DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- 

• All-new Transit joins the nation's best-selling lineup of commercial vehicles, giving Ford customers best-in-class fuel economy, the segment's lowest cost of ownership, increased capability and Built Ford Tough durability
• Ford Transit offers the broadest lineup of configurations for full-size van customers, available in more variations than the competition combined – three body lengths, two wheelbases, three roof heights and in van, wagon, chassis cab and cutaway variations
• Ford Transit will achieve an average of 25 percent better fuel economy and haul at least 300 pounds more than today's E-Series

The familiar van that delivers packages or shuttles you to the airport is about to change in a revolutionary way. Ford's all-new full-size 2014 Transit van will provide professional tradesmen and commercial fleet customers with unmatched fuel economy, innovative new configurations and leading versatility in the expanding commercial vehicle market.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121214/DE29486 )

"The all-new Transit is a game changer," said Joe Hinrichs, Ford's president of The Americas. "Transit raises the game for our customers in North America and around the world with even greater work capability and significantly lower operating costs, helping improve their productivity and bottom lines. These, literally, are the vehicles people trust and rely on for their livelihoods."

With global commercial vehicle sales expected to grow by 4.8 million during the next several years to 21 million units annually by 2017, Transit represents a major opportunity.   

Ford is the second-largest commercial vehicle manufacturer in the world and best-selling commercial vehicle brand in North America. The company is leveraging its One Ford product strategy to meet the needs of Transit customers on six continents and in 116 markets with vans that are Built Ford Tough, more fuel efficient and even more capable.

Transit joins the most fuel-efficient lineup in Ford Motor Company's history. Next year, Ford will offer eight vehicles rated at 40 mpg or higher – double 2011's total, and more than any other automaker. Ford tops Toyota in fuel economy in every segment in which both companies compete.

Transit is born from a combined total of nearly a century of hard-earned experience delivering two distinct full-size vans to customers in North America, Europe and other global markets.

For North America, Transit eventually replaces the E-Series nameplate, first sold in 1961 as Ford Econoline and America's best-selling commercial van for 33 years. In other global markets, this all-new vehicle will replace today's popular, market-specific Transit models, first sold in 1965 and the best-selling commercial van in Europe.

Transit also is joined by the upgraded 2014 Ford Transit Connect, which pioneered the small van market in the U.S. starting three years ago and has been a hit with cost-conscious commercial fleets and small business proprietors.

Superior cargo hauling and people moving capabilities combined with best-in-class fuel economy were design imperatives for the all-new Transit range.

Transit will be offered in three body lengths; two wheelbases; three roof heights; van, wagon, chassis cab and cutaway bodystyles; and in XL and XLT trim levels.

Power of choice
"The Transit is the new standard in full-size vans and customer choice," said Director of Ford Commercial Vehicle Operations Len Deluca. "We're going from an exclusively gasoline engine lineup of two V8s and a V10 in the E-Series to offering customers a standard 3.7-liter V6, the same 3.5-liter EcoBoost^® engine proven in Ford F-150 and an all-new 3.2-liter Power Stroke^® Diesel option."

Ford will offer Transit's 3.7-liter V6 with a compressed natural gas/liquid propane gas (CNG/LPG) prep kit to assist customers running their vehicles with this abundant, affordable, clean fuel alternative. The 3.7-liter V6 is also engineered for optimal performance with E85 flex- fuel capability.

The all-new 3.2-liter Power Stroke five-cylinder common rail turbo diesel, based on Ford's proven Duratorq global diesel engine architecture, features state-of-the-art fuel, turbo and emissions systems that meet stringent U.S. clean diesel standards, providing an ideal balance of fuel economy and job capability.

For maximum capability, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost promises to be a trusted workhorse, whether carrying materials to the job site or towing a trailer with Transit's available Class IV hitch.

Each engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission for efficient rear-wheel-drive operation.

Biggest range ever
For Transit, the power of choice goes beyond powertrain options to encompass multiple lengths and three roof heights to provide full-size van buyers with the precise combination and configuration they require.

The high-roof Transit features 81.5 inches of interior cargo height, enough headroom for a person six feet, five inches tall to stand upright in the cargo area. The medium-roof can accommodate up to 72.0 inches of cargo height and the low-roof has almost 56.0 inches of cargo height to provide an ideal combination of payload management, upfit readiness and garageability.

Cargo volume ranges from about 250 to almost 500 cubic feet as a jumbo configuration – nearly 80 percent more space than the largest E-Series – and over twice the volume of today's standard E-Series. Essentially, one jumbo van can haul the volume of two current models in a fuel-efficient manner.

Transit's rear cargo doors can open up to 270 degrees for easy loading and unloading.

The Transit interior has been developed for easy upfit of racks, bins, shelving and other cargo storage and hauling solutions. The largest passenger version can carry up to 15 people.

A 6.5-inch touch screen display with navigation and SYNC^® with MyFord Touch^® – Ford's highly acclaimed voice-activated communications and entertainment system – is also available.

Driving quality
The all-new Ford Transit was designed with improved handling, steering and ride qualities.

A power rack-and-pinion steering setup provides exceptionally communicative steering feel to the driver, serving as a confidence builder.

The front suspension consists of subframe-mounted MacPherson struts and a stabilizer bar for smoother, flatter cornering, combined with progressive rear leaf springs and heavy-duty gas-charged dampers for well-controlled ride quality – regardless of load status.

Minimized operating costs
Transit's global design delivers on the same customer expectations in 116 markets worldwide where this sturdy commercial vehicle will be available, requirements such as versatility, fuel efficiency and low operating costs.

Transit has been developed to be efficient to service and maintain, with specialized technical service support and extended operating hours available at more than 600 Ford Business Preferred Network dealers.

Designed and developed to provide efficient service over the long haul, Ford Transit scheduled maintenance costs for a three-year usage cycle are projected to be more than 30 percent less than a Chevrolet Express 1500 with the standard 4.3-liter V6, helping give Transit the segment's lowest cost of ownership per cubic foot or pounds of cargo transported.

Built Ford Tough
The all-new Ford Transit has been engineered to deliver a severe-usage service life of 10 years and 150,000 miles. Transit features rugged unibody construction and extensive application of high-strength and boron steel that's been tested to the same standards as E-Series vehicles at Ford's proving grounds and in the hands of real-world fleet customers in North America.

A durability program to deliver on Built Ford Tough customer requirements included 148 prototype vehicles, with a regimen of 215 separate tests to validate the long-haul functionality of various vehicle systems and hardware.

Cumulatively, Transit durability test vehicles were driven more than 4.6 million miles, or far enough to circle the globe 185 times.

Transit van and wagon models will be available at Ford dealers starting next fall. They will be built at Ford's recently upgraded Kansas City manufacturing facility.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 172,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company