- New Transit chassis cab derivative with a special low-height chassis is ideal for conversions requiring a low load floor for easy access
- Skeletal chassis also delivers 200kg weight saving over standard chassis cab for enhanced payload and reduced cost of ownership
- Transit skeletal chassis cab is available to order now from Ford’s network of 115 UK Transit centres
BRENTWOOD, Essex, July 27, 2018 – Ford has introduced a new Transit skeletal chassis cab derivative that provides a versatile, low-height platform for a wide variety of body conversions – ideal for applications ranging from general delivery and distribution to removals.
The new skeletal Transit offers a 100mm lower chassis height than the standard front-wheel drive chassis cab model, providing easier access to the load floor. A lower step height also removes the need for a separate tail lift. It is available to order now from Ford’s national network of 115 Transit Centres.
With a 200kg weight reduction compared to the equivalent chassis cab, the optimised design of the skeletal chassis also provides operators with a significant payload advantage – particularly in combination with lightweight body conversions – in addition to the potential for enhanced fuel efficiency.
The skeletal chassis derivative will build on the success of the Transit two-tonne model, which continues to generate increased demand in the UK and across Europe. Transit has achieved 52,000 sales for 2018 year-to-date, 20,000 of those in the UK alone.
“Ford’s Transit is already legendary for its huge range of body styles, drivelines and size variants, and this new model takes our offering a significant step further,” said Hans Schep, general manager, Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe. “The new Transit skeletal chassis opens up exciting new opportunities for grocery delivery vehicles and other low-floor body conversions where ease of access is paramount.”
The skeletal chassis model is based on a front-wheel drive Transit platform, and features an open-backed cab design that supports easy walk-through from the cab to the load space of the converted body.
Customers can specify a choice of three different wheelbase lengths to suit a variety of body conversions, with a wide-track rear axle for the longest variant and an optional wide-track rear axle for the 2 shorter variants. All versions offer a gross vehicle mass of 3.5 tonnes.
The Transit skeletal chassis derivative is offered with Ford’s powerful and fuel efficient 2.0‑litre EcoBlue diesel engine in 130PS or 170PS outputs, paired with a standard six-speed manual transmission. Customers can also choose a six-speed automatic transmission, ideally suited to urban delivery applications.