Today, if there's one market segment where Ford holds an iron grip in Europe, it's the commercial vehicle sector . This area, while seemingly insignificant, is vital for manufacturers, as a large portion of their revenue comes from fleet sales to companies for transporting people and goods.
For this reason, the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover will take place from the 20th to the 27th of this month . Taking advantage of this event, Ford will reinforce its leading position in this segment by presenting the seventh generation of its largest and most versatile commercial vehicle, the Transit . Furthermore, to enhance the experience for attendees, the new Ranger Raptor will also be on display , following its unveiling at Gamescom.
The new 2-ton Ford Transit will arrive with a revamped engine range focused on fuel efficiency. The 2.0-liter EcoBlue diesel engine has been improved to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Alongside this, 48-volt mild-hybrid (mHEV) technology (in manual versions) will further reduce its environmental impact in large cities.
Alongside the updated combustion engines will come the Transit Custom PHEV . The hybrid system will allow Ford 's commercial vehicle to travel up to 50 kilometers without emitting a single gram of CO2 into the atmosphere. This powertrain will consist of the multi-award-winning 1.0 EcoBoost gasoline engine and a lithium-ion battery pack (located under the cargo floor) that will provide a total range of over 500 kilometers.
The remaining updates to the Transit family relate to active driver assistance systems and connectivity . The technological aspects are covered by services provided by Ford Telematics and Ford Data Service to support fleet management with services specifically designed for this type of business. These updates are complemented by increased payload capacity, thanks to an improved platform for the model.
The Transit is scheduled to arrive on the market next year, although we will see it in conceptual form beforehand at the Hanover Motor Show and other events on the official calendar.
Source – Ford