TRANSIT CONNECT FAMILY ONE CONCEPT OFFERS FUN, CONNECTIVITY TO ENGAGE CHILDREN, PARENTS ALIKE

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The Ford Transit Connect Family One concept vehicle combines high-technology features to keep children and parents organized and entertained with simple, clever touches that make family outings more fun.

“The Transit Connect Family One concept showcases futuristic technologies that can help keep busy, active families in the right place, at the right time, with the right stuff,” said Andrew Georgescu, product marketing manager. “Parents will appreciate Family One for helping them manage their busy lifestyles, while children consider the vehicle a place of their own.”

In a single day, the Family One can help busy parents by confirming that Timmy’s backpack and homework folder are on board, provide assurance that Josh’s child safety seat is properly installed and that the whole family can have a base camp – with shade – during soccer practice. Family One also can provide turn-by-turn directions to a new organic grocery store, coach drivers to maximize fuel economy and entertain a second-row passenger with cartoons while another passenger converts fractions to decimals in a Web-based homework application.

Family Works Connectivity
The Transit Connect Family One concept employs an innovative in-dash computer with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology designed to keep an active children and parents organized, on schedule and properly equipped. The concept vehicle uses Ford Work Solutions™ technologyas a foundation for family applications for the not-too-distant future.

Ford WorkSolutions is an available collection of technologies and industry-first features that provide customers connectivity, flexibility and security to better run key aspects of their business – or their lives – from their Ford vehicle. It will be available in key Ford vehicles, starting this summer.

The concept’s forward-looking Family Works application uses predictive algorithms, based on learning from past usage, to remind parents of scheduled events and the equipment required for them. If the system is aware of a regularly scheduled band practice, for instance, it will simplify the process by notifying the driver if the needed musical instrument is not on board.

RFID tags can be affixed to any number of items such as backpacks, homework folders or sports equipment so time and fuel can be saved by avoiding unnecessary trips for forgotten items.

The system synchronizes with a smart phone to integrate with the parents’ digital lifestyle to help with hands-free calling, schedules, reminders and to-do lists, helping parents to be smarter and better prepared.

Safety and peace-of-mind for parents are enhanced, as the system wirelessly communicates with sensors in the child seat, assuring the driver that the unit is secured and the attaching tether is tensioned properly. According to the 2005 LATCH study, published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost 40 percent of child seats are improperly attached.

Family One features intuitively-operated navigation, which easily helps get families where they need to go. The SmartGauge™ instrument cluster even will tell the driver how economically the vehicle is being driven, with an easily understood graphic interface.

Digital Infotainment
Entertained and engaged young passengers are happy passengers, making life easier for parents. Second-row passengers in the Transit Connect Family One concept look up to see a transparent sunshade mounted on the bulkhead behind the driver’s area. The sunshade transforms to become a digital infotainment center featuring a pair of projected floating screens with high-resolution imaging and exceptional color contrast. The screens can display digital media entertainment, three-dimensional gaming, interactive educational opportunities and wireless Web connectivity.

Tactile Touches
The Transit Connect Family One concept also features a wide array of clever amenities to make family outings easier and more fun, including:

• Twin folding scooters, mounted to the inside of the rear cargo doors
• Integrated sunscreen and hand sanitizer dispensers
• Whiteboard rear side-door interior surfaces for erasable water-marker creativity
• Rechargeable family radio walkie-talkies
• Backpack attachments and handy, integrated toy storage
• Subfloor onboard storage for folding stroller
• Protracting, roof-mounted awning offers shade over rear opening
• Lava-lamp effect rear headliner graphics

TRANSIT CONNECT BRINGS 22 CITY, 25 HIGHWAY MPG TO MARKET-LEADING COMMERCIAL TRUCK LINEUP

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• Transit Connect is rated at 22 city, 25 highway EPA miles per gallon, goes on sale in the U.S. this summer, starting at $21,475, including destination
• Ford fills an unmet U.S. commercial business need with new Transit Connect, an industry-exclusive vehicle specifically developed to be a smart new choice for small business owners
• Low operating and ownership costs, 135 cubic feet of cargo space and a 1,600 pound payload make Transit Connect a smart solution

Dearborn, Mich., Feb. 24, 2009 – Ford today confirmed EPA fuel economy for the 2010 Ford Transit Connect at 22 miles per gallon in city driving and 25 miles per gallon on the highway.

“No other vehicle on the road in the U.S. today delivers the combination of fuel economy and useful space as the Ford Transit Connect,” said Rob Stevens, chief engineer. “It’s a unique package, offering a 1,600 pound payload, 135 cubic feet of cargo space and superior fuel economy.”

To deliver a more fuel efficient commercial vehicle, Ford is tapping its global portfolio of products to meet the unique needs of American small business owners with the 2010 Transit Connect. It represents a spacious new alternative to larger commercial vehicles and is ideal for navigating congested cities.

Transit Connect arrives with a global reputation for durability and toughness dating back to its 2003 launch, when an expert jury of European commercial vehicle journalists named it International Van of the Year.

Transit Connect: It’s Durable
Ford Transit Connect is a purpose-built commercial vehicle, built on a dedicated commercial vehicle platform in an exclusive commercial vehicle production facility. It is designed, engineered and manufactured by Ford of Europe to beat tough, light commercial vehicle durability standards.

The Transit Connect is powered by a proven Duratec 2.0-liter DOHC I-4 engine, featuring four valves per cylinder and an aluminum block and head. Sequential multiport electronic fuel injection provides precise fuel metering for smooth and economical performance. This engine, delivering an estimated 136 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 128 ft.-lbs. of torque at 4,750 rpm, has proven American market durability.

This efficient engine is mated to a four-speed automatic transaxle with overdrive. A final-drive ratio of 4.20 to 1 is specified to give Transit Connect pulling power for the long haul and fifteen-inch steel wheels with P205/65R-15 black sidewall tires put it in contact with the road.

The Transit Connect was developed at the outset to be durable, with a boron steel front crossmember, a high-strength steel reinforced body shell, twin- side cross members and side-impact protection. Several areas of the body structure are double-skinned for additional strength, increasing resistance to the minor scrapes inherent to urban delivery situations.

“Transit Connect will be a useful small business tool,” said Chief Engineer Stevens. “It drives like a car, works like a van and is engineered to be as tough as a truck.”

NEW FORD PROGRAMME TO HELP SCHOOLS GET THE BEST TRANSIT MINIBUS DEAL

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Ford has introduced a new programme that means state education facilities such as schools and colleges can get a preferential discount of up to 14 per cent when they buy a Ford Transit minibus.

The Transit minibus range starts with the nine-seat Shuttle bus and includes 12-,15- and 17-seat minibuses. All models are designed to carry everyone in a light, spacious, well-equipped interior. The superb driving experience gives car-like ride and handling. Standard safety features on a Ford minibus include ABS, ESP, driver and passenger airbag on all models with additional generation seatbelts that suit adults and children on 15- and 17-seat models.

Steve Kimber, commercial vehicles director, Ford of Britain, said: "Transit is a durable vehicle which is essential for instance when you need to get a sports team to matches on time. The safety and design features in Transit minibuses include car-rated seatbelt safety, electronic stability programme, ABS and dependability that leads its class."

FORD LAUNCHES ALL-NEW TRANSIT CONNECT, ADDING TO MARKET-LEADING COMMERCIAL VEHICLE FLEET

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• Ford fills an unmet U.S. commercial business need with new Transit Connect, an industry-exclusive vehicle specifically developed to be a smart new choice for small business owners
• Low operating and ownership costs, a fuel-efficient 2.0-liter engine, 135 cubic feet of cargo space, a 1,600 pound payload capacity, available Ford Work Solutions technology and various cargo management systems make Transit Connect a smart solution
• Transit Connect, a strong global Ford product, goes on sale in the U.S. this summer, starting at $21,475, including destination

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 9, 2009 – Ford is tapping its global portfolio of products to meet the unique needs of American small business owners with the 2010 Transit Connect, a spacious new fuel-efficient alternative to larger commercial vehicles that’s ideal for navigating U.S. cities.

“Transit Connect is a tangible success of our ‘One Ford’ strategy to harness the best of our global products and offer new choices and solutions to customers in other parts of the world,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “With 40 percent market share, Ford is the reigning Commercial Truck leader in the United States, and we’re looking for Transit Connect to further grow our leadership and allow even more customers to experience the ‘Built Ford Tough’ difference.”

The 2010 Ford Transit Connect will be unveiled at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. It arrives with a global reputation for durability and toughness dating back to its 2003 launch, when an expert jury of European commercial vehicle journalists named it International Van of the Year.

Ford Transit Connect is built on a dedicated front-wheel drive commercial vehicle platform to meet and exceed the needs of small business owners and entrepreneurs. To prepare the Transit Connect for the unique needs of small businesses in the United States, the powertrain was upgraded to include a proven Duratec 2.0-liter dual-overhead cam (DOHC) four-cylinder engine and a four-speed automatic overdrive transaxle. Several design details, including the grille and interior touches, have been updated to lend the vehicle a fresh, new look for its American debut.

“This workhorse is like nothing available today in the American market,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development. “We’re offering small business owners a real choice to meet their needs, instead of asking them to pull seats out of minivans or compromise on one or more of their needs. Transit Connect is good news for small business owners nationwide.”

Transit Connect: It’s Global
More than 600,000 Ford Transit Connects have been sold since 2003, to customers in 58 countries and on four continents. To fulfill the unmet needs of small business owners and entrepreneurs in the United States, Ford’s Global Product Development team was able to quickly adapt the Transit Connect for the American market, validate its durability and tailor the cargo space for the unique yet diverse needs of small business proprietors.

Transit Connect: It’s Capable
“Transit Connect was developed to bring small business owners a new vehicle choice, offering significantly improved fuel economy, generous and accessible cargo space with the agility and maneuverability to deliver the goods in tight quarters,” said Rob Stevens, chief engineer.

Transit Connect’s capability begins with capacity.

With 135 cubic feet of Transit Connect cargo volume, no other vehicle in the American market can deliver this combination of capacity and fuel economy.

• Split rear cargo doors open at a standard 180 degrees, or an optionally available 255 degrees. When open, these doors provide access to 52.1 inches of available load height.
• Lift-over height is less than two feet, when the Transit Connect is unloaded
• Once inside, the cargo area opens up to 59.1 inches of floor to ceiling load height
• The load width is 47.8 inches, between the wheel arches
• Load length is a generous 72.6 inches or more than six feet of cargo floor space. Dual sliding rear side doors provide wide access to the generous cargo space as well

Transit Connect has more than double the cargo-carrying space of the Chevrolet HHR Panel, making it suitable for a broader range of commercial use applications.

The Transit Connect offers commercial users a cargo payload of 1,600 pounds. This capacity means that the Transit Connect can carry a larger payload than the full size Dodge Ram 1500 standard-cab short-box pickup truck.

“Transit Connect can swallow far more cargo than people might think,” added Stevens.

The Transit Connect's capability story goes beyond capacity. Its size and nimble driving dynamics provide agility for urban routes. Power-assisted rack and pinion steering allows a 39-foot curb-to-curb turning circle assures that Transit Connect is maneuverable when delivering the goods for entrepreneurs in tight quarters.

The Transit Connect is expected to deliver at least 20 city and 24 highway mpg, pending EPA fuel economy certification.

Transit Connect: It’s Adaptable
Ford Transit Connect was conceived, developed and engineered to meet the needs of small business proprietors all over the world.

Once it arrives in the United States from the plant in Kocaeli, Turkey, Transit Connect can be outfitted for specific needs across a diverse range of users.

Bulkheads, racks, bins and other upfits can be mixed, matched and configured to suit many specific commercial applications and needs. Transit Connect is offered with a wide range of upfitted cargo management options, similar to the enduring, market-leading Ford E-Series commercial vehicles.

Small business owners have tremendous choice, with this unrivaled commercial application.

• Transit Connect is available as a cargo van with no windows in the sliding side doors combined with rear cargo door privacy glass
• A panel van version is offered with no side or rear cargo area windows
• Transit Connect also can be configured with side and rear door privacy glass for maximum driver visibility
• Plus, a wagon version of Transit Connect is available with a folding second-row bench seat, in either two- or three-passenger configurations. The wagon is ideally suited to the specialized needs of a small business owner that uses Transit Connect for carrying cargo for business and passengers or family during off-hours

Ford Transit Connect can be further adapted to individual business needs with the inclusion of Ford Work Solutions. The “solutions” behind this system allow customers to:

• Run a business from inside the Transit Connect – right from the job site. An in-dash computer provides Internet access, productivity software and optional printing capabilities
• Track tools. Tool Link™ gives the ability to organize, scan and track tools, inventory and other cargo items
• Track the fleet. Crew Chief™ is a tailored telematics service to monitor and manage small or large fleets

The Ford Work Solutions in-dash computer allows small business owners to run their enterprises from inside the Transit Connect. Applications include downloading customer or product information, remotely accessing an office work station computer, sending and receiving text messages, navigating job or delivery locations with the Garmin navigation function and connecting with customers via hands-free phone functionality.

With a bright touch screen, for easy use and visibility, the in-dash computer runs the Windows CE 6.0 operating system. Word processing, spreadsheet, calculator and calendar applications are all included. With applicable subscriptions, the system can provide users with Internet access, remote document access and Garmin Online services such as traffic, weather and fuel prices.

The in-dash computer enables the availability of Tool Link, by DeWalt™. Using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags that adhere to the tools or objects themselves, Tool Link allows the Transit Connect Cargo to be scanned for the appropriate tools and inventory items, prior to leaving for the jobsite or route.

Tool Link helps manage valuable tools and ensures that specific items are on-board and available for use. Tool Link helps to keep all RFID-tagged objects on board, so at the end of the day, these items are secure and available for work on the next job.

Crew Chief™ is a tool for fleet managers to track vehicles, staff and Transit Connect diagnostics.
This system, not available in conjunction with the in-dash computer, provides a fleet manager with constant access to vehicle location information, the ability to track vehicle performance, automatic notification of vehicle maintenance needs and the ability to let drivers drive ─ not fill out written vehicle logs.

Crew Chief allows online access to vehicle location, speed, idle time, fuel usage and more than 30 diagnostic measures. Functions and reporting can be tailored to meet the specific needs of fleets large or small. Crew Chief has “geo-fencing” capability, allowing a fleet manager to set geographic or time of use boundaries.

Transit Connect is adaptable to multiple drivers, too. It features a six-way manually adjustable reclining driver’s seat with an armrest, and a four-way adjustable reclining passenger’s seat. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes to fit drivers of diverse sizes.

Transit Connect: It’s Durable
Ford Transit Connect has a global track record of durability. It’s a purpose-built commercial vehicle, built on a dedicated commercial vehicle platform in an exclusively commercial vehicle production facility. Transit Connect is designed, engineered and manufactured by Ford of Europe to beat tough, light commercial vehicle durability standards.

The Transit Connect is powered by a well-proven Duratec 2.0-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine, featuring four valves per cylinder and an aluminum block and head. Sequential multiport electronic fuel injection provides precise fuel metering for smooth and economical performance. This engine, delivering an estimated 136 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 128 ft.-lbs. of torque at 4,750 rpm, has proven American market durability.

This engine is mated to a four-speed automatic transaxle with overdrive for additional fuel economy. A final-drive ratio of 4.20 to 1 is designed to give Transit Connect pulling power for the long haul. Fifteen inch steel wheels with P205/65R-15 black sidewall tires put the Transit Connect in contact with the road.

The Transit Connect was developed at the outset to be durable, with a boron steel front crossmember, a high-strength steel reinforced body shell, twin- side cross members and side-impact protection. Several areas of the body structure are double-skinned for additional strength, increasing resistance to the minor scrapes inherent to urban delivery situations. Swage lines along the lower side door panels add rigidity and visual character.

As a nimble, purpose-built commercial vehicle, Transit Connect can be a smart choice for the small business proprietor currently over-taxing the capabilities of an aging minivan with the passenger seats removed.

Transit Connect: It’s Professional
While providing an ideal palette for identification and logo of a business on its body side, Transit Connect tells the world that its owner or operator has made a smart, savvy and efficient choice.

Transit Connect keeps passengers and cargo safe and secure, too. Front and side air bags help keep driver and first-row passenger safe. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) are standard, as well. A locking exterior hood release helps keep things secure up front. Lock-in-Latch shielded door locks help Transit Connect resist break-in.

Transit Connect helps small business professionals keep their cool with standard air-conditioning and an AM/FM Stereo receiver with two speakers. A similar audio unit is offered, adding a single disc CD player and an audio input jack.

A standard center console includes two large cupholders and twin storage bins for receipts, invoices and toll coins. The Transit Connect roofline allows an overhead storage shelf, holding the small items an entrepreneur needs to keep top-of-mind.

Transit Connect: It’s Accessible
With models starting at $21,475, including destination, Transit Connect is accessible to a wide range of American small business owners.

Plus, low operating costs, excellent fuel economy and 7,500 mile service intervals make economic sense, for businesses on tight budgets. A comfortable ride, an automatic transaxle and small exterior dimensions make Transit Connect accessible to lots of drivers that might be intimidated by the prospect of a full-size commercial vehicle.

“Transit Connect will be a useful small business tool,” said Chief Engineer Stevens. “It drives like a car, works like a van and is engineered to be as tough as a truck.”

TRANSIT CONNECT WINNER: DUMMIES ON THE RUN

Image via WikipediaDon’t let the name fool you. Jerry Buffman, owner of Dummies on the Run in Ann Arbor, Mich., is actually one smart cookie. She knew that Ford’s Transit Connect was the perfect vehicle for her mobile cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first-aid instruction company the moment she saw it. Now, she couldn’t be more excited to own one.

Buffman is one of five grand prize winners in Ford’s Connect with Connect contest. Winners will receive a customized Transit Connect, the versatile new van that debuts in February at the Chicago Auto Show. With a cargo capacity of 143 cu. ft., compact maneuverability, and efficient 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway, it’s the perfect vehicle for small businesses on the go.

That description fits Buffman’s company to a T, she said, because all of her classes are on-site—whether the venue is a child care center or assisted living facility. She needs to pack everything necessary for a class—including breathing shields, books, and bandages—along with bulky duffel bags filled with CPR dummies.

She’s adamant that her students have the opportunity and the resources to learn—no matter what type of personal challenges that represents.

“One unique aspect of my business is I don’t like putting anyone on the spot,” she said. “So I use one dummy per person so they can concentrate on learning the skills and not worry about someone watching them. Most of my classes are about 20 students, so I’m packing 20 dummies right there. And if I’m teaching infant CPR, that’s two dummies—an infant and adult—per person. I walk in that room with so many bags hanging off me I look like a pack horse. But that’s OK.”

So she needs space. And she needs it organized. The Transit Connect, she said, is a perfect solution.

“Right now, I’m just cramming everything in,” she said. “And that’s not good, because if you get to a class and you find out your package of breathing shields is empty, you panic. With the Transit Connect, there’ll be more room, easier loading—I can carry more inventory, so if I need something, it’ll be right there. It just has so much potential.”