- A powerful, high-mounted LED downlighter for the new 2-tonne Ford Transit allows operators to work longer during winter days with reduced daylight hours
- Energy-efficient downlighter can be used to light a workspace behind the Transit, and will switch off automatically if the battery charge is low
- New Transit on sale in mid-2019 offers enhanced fuel efficiency, increased load-carrying capability, and FordPass Connect on-board modem
BRENTWOOD, Essex, Dec. 21, 2018 – The new Ford Transit will help boost productivity for operators on short winter days, thanks to a powerful LED downlighter to illuminate a workspace behind the vehicle.
A new energy-efficient downlighter, housed in a unit on the rear of the new Transit’s roof, is designed to allow tradespeople to continue working with tools and equipment on a workbench outdoors after the sun has gone down. Activated using a switch conveniently located inside the rear door, the downlighter switches off automatically if the battery charge is getting low, and automatically extinguishes if the driver pulls away without turning it off.
“Our new Transit has been designed to maximise productivity for businesses, and we listened carefully to feedback from operators about the ways we could make their lives easier. The new downlighter is an example of a simple idea that helps hard-working tradespeople get the job done for their customers,” said Michael McDonagh, Transit global chief programme engineer.
This year’s shortest day provides almost nine fewer daylight hours than the longest day and for many industries, short winter days, combined with falling temperatures, coincide with increased demand for services.
Alongside the new Transit’s LED downlighter is a rear-view camera that improves visibility when reversing. Further new Transit technologies designed to make life less stressful when manoeuvring and parking include a front wide-view camera, Parking Aid, Active Park Assist featuring Park-Out Assist, and Cross Traffic Alert.
The new Transit provides increased load-carrying capability and upgraded powertrains that optimise fuel efficiency by up to seven per cent, and offers a segment-first new diesel mild hybrid (mHEV) powertrain option that delivers an additional fuel efficiency improvement of around three per cent, compared with the standard diesel model, with up to eight per cent in stop-start traffic.**
The new Transit also features FordPass Connect on-board modem technology, which will help fleet professionals to improve vehicle utilisation and optimise running costs.
The new Transit goes on sale in Europe from mid-2019 and builds on the success of the outgoing model, which has helped to establish the Transit nameplate as the leader in its segment in the UK, Europe and North America. Sales growth for the Transit family in Europe has continued during 2018, with 284,600 sold year to date after sales hit a 25-year high in November.
** Officially homologated fuel-efficiency and CO2 emission figures will be published closer to on-sale date.
The declared Fuel/Energy Consumptions, CO2 emissions and electric range are measured according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EC) 692/2008 as last amended. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are specified for a vehicle variant and not for a single car. The applied standard test procedure enables comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers. In addition to the fuel efficiency of a car, driving behaviour as well as other non-technical factors play a role in determining a car’s fuel/energy consumption, CO2 emissions and electric range. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming.
From 1 September 2017, certain new vehicles will be type-approved using the World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) according (EU) 2017/1151 as last amended, which is a new, more realistic test procedure for measuring fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. From 1 September 2018 the WLTP will fully replace the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC), which is the current test procedure. During NEDC Phase-out, WLTP fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are being correlated back to NEDC. There will be some variance to the previous fuel economy and emissions as some elements of the tests have altered i.e., the same car might have different fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
*** Ford of Europe reports sales for its 20 European traditional markets where it is represented through National Sales Companies: Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland