To establish a durability benchmark, key competitors were evaluated using the high durability standards set by Ford for the Transit, which use a process based on detailed research into driving patterns of actual vehicle owners. Customers choosing Transit Connect will be satisfied with the knowledge that it is constructed and tested to medium commercial vehicle standards. The industry norm for durability is accepted as 100,000 miles. Transit Connect has been developed and engineered in real world testing to 150,000 miles.

Durability is enhanced through: 

  · Extensive use of high-strength steel and heavy duty components
  · Polycarbonate headlamp/tail lamp lenses for increased durability
  · Body swage lines for added stiffening
  · Exterior panels have high grade steel for resistance to denting
  · High strength extends useful vehicle life 

Powertrains

The selection of 1.8 litre engines gives customers a choice of British-built modern power units of varying performance to suit most requirements. Advanced combustion and catalytic converter technology is common to all engines, as well as lightweight and low internal friction.                   
The goal was to achieve significant gains in fuel economy without compromising on responsiveness and driveability. 
Measures to minimise noise and maintenance requirements have resulted in extended durability:
     
  · Smooth, quiet operation and enhanced driving refinement
  · Improved engine response
  · Clean, fuel efficient engines
  · Engineered for maximum reliability
  · Engines to suit a wide range of requirements  
 
Duratorq 1.8 TDdi
Built at Ford's UK Dagenham plant, the 75PS/55kW Duratorq TDdi unit has been designed to minimise engine weight, and special attention has been paid to minimising noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), both within the engine itself and its transmission to the body and cab area. Maximum torque is 175 Nm@1800rpm. The engine already exceeds all existing European emissions level requirements.
 
Duratorq 1.8 TDCi
Also built at Dagenham is the new Duratorq 1.8-litre TDCi (90PS/66kW) engine incorporates the latest diesel technology, 
with high-pressure common-rail fuel injection providing outstanding performance and refinement. This second-generation common rail system gives smoother, quieter operation while still offering competitive fuel economy. The four solenoid injectors deliver fuel to the combustion chambers up to 150 times per second to provide ultra-smooth response.  
Maximum torque is 220 Nm@1700rpm. 
New to the range is the introduction of Euro IV diesel engines and a more powerful 110PS diesel.  More details will follow soon.

Transmission
All engines are mated with the MTX75 five-speed transmission providing a high torque capacity and low internal friction to prolong transmission life. It features a low-effort gear shifter and gears run on needle roller bearings to reduce friction and reduce maintenance.

Payload 
SWB models have two gross payload levels of 625kg with all engines. A 825kg option is available on both diesel versions. LWB petrol models have a 700kg gross payload and diesel models offer 825kg and 900kg payload with 75PS and 90PS engines respectively.

Load box

Crucially for any business, Transit Connect provides a large, useable load space area, greater than any competitor. For the customer, this manifests itself in the width between wheel arches, the ability to load two euro pallets (SWB) and 8x4 boards (LWB) and a flexible load restraint system to name a few. It is also 100mm wider at the roof height than any competitor. 
The tumblehome has been minimised to give customers a more usable cube, particularly when racking is being used.                       

Seating  
By means of a sophisticated folding mechanism, the passenger seat can be folded fully flat with the head restraint still fitted into the load floor with no obtrusive lip, enabling the driver to extend the load area capability of the vehicle. None of the competitors of the long wheelbase model offer this feature.
Transit Connect can be fitted with a wide variety of bulkheads behind the seats. A ladder bulkhead is standard for all models.
People in business, particularly sole operators for example, need a vehicle that can adapt to meet their ever-changing ergonomic needs. Transit Connect is designed to offer load space functionality, load space versatility and ultimate space utilisation. It combines innovation, comfort and roominess to make it a more pleasurable vehicle to drive and own.  
The driver’s seat is six-way adjustable. It has rake, front/rear and height adjustment, while the passenger seat can be specified as a folding seat that integrates into the passenger load floor to give a flat, extended load platform, or alternatively with four-way adjustment for rake, and front/rear movement with stowage underneath. Lumbar support and a foldable and removable armrest can be specified on the driver’s seat. Two durable trim levels are available, including cloth and vinyl upholstery. 

Interior stowage
Interior stowage space is plentiful and class-leading. This creates a neat and tidy appearance and prevents items from scattering while driving. The centre console features a coin tray, a pen/pencil holder, a large indented section for additional loose items and a cup holder designed to accommodate most drink container sizes or two standard drink cans. A glove box is provided of A4 size for notebooks or maps. It also features a hook on the front to hold a ‘take-away’ meal or to hold carrier bags upright and securely. The front passenger four-way seat features a storage area under the seat, which can hold up to 4.5 kg – ideal for stowing a laptop computer out of sight! Map pockets can be found in the backrest of the driver’s and co-driver's seats. The front doors feature compartmentalised door bins to take drink bottles or to keep the cabin tidy, while rear door stowage nets are fitted within the doors.  Additionally, a full-width overhead stowage shelf above the windscreen is standard on the long wheelbase model (optional on short wheelbase). Coat hooks and a stowage strap for small items, such as tickets, is incorporated into each sun visor as standard on all models.  

Doors
The driver and passenger doors have large door apertures, designed for ease of entry/exit. This attribute, in conjunction with the optimised seat height, is particularly attractive for couriers and delivery fleets where the operator enters and leaves the vehicle many times a day.

Side load doors

Transit Connect is available with single or dual sliding side doors on both SWB and LWB models.
New to the range, side load door is now standard on the L & LX models.

The rigid, partially double-skinned doors have been designed to prevent flexing, reduce noise, vibration and harshness, and allow for good quality closing. The reinforced side track and roller mechanisms are built into the side of the vehicle in a smooth, integrated design. 
A nearside side load door is standard on the long wheelbase model.

Rear doors/tailgate
Rear doors, either glazed or unglazed, are fitted with reinforced hinges and can be secured at 90, 172 or even at 250 degrees. Thoughtfully, twin roof mounted lights are fitted in the cargo area to illuminate the load space, while the optional tailgate on short wheelbase can be specified glazed or unglazed to aid security.
Security
Security of the vehicle and its contents is paramount to businesses that rely on their work vehicle for their livelihood. Transit Connect will be among the leaders in security worldwide. It will either meet or exceed two minutes to break into the vehicle 
and five minutes to drive away. This is why:

  · Boasts pioneering lock-in-latch system of Transit
  · Shielded wiring protected from attack
  · Key operated bonnet lock
  · Double locking system for additional security
  · Visible VIN theft deterrent
  · Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS) engine immobiliser is completely integrated.
  · Remote locking is standard on all models and operates in the same way as on the Ford Transit.

This is particularly beneficial to fleet operators whose employees have to drive Transit and Transit Connect.    
Transit Connect meets fully the insurance categories for vehicle security established by Thatcham (UK).

Safety
From the foundation of its strengthened and reinforced platform, to its comprehensive list of safety features, Transit Connect has been designed to offer outstanding vehicle and occupant safety. Structural strength is achieved through the use of heavy gauge thicker metals and extensive inclusion of ultra-high-strength and high-strength steels and additional reinforcements. 

Side impact protection beams in the front doors are made from high-strength steel designed to withstand intrusion under normal conditions. These structural elements have been developed using the latest computer modelling techniques, so that both derivatives meet the latest crash legislation.

Transit Connect is available with a full airbag system. A driver’s dual-stage airbag is fitted as standard and there are optional front passenger and side airbags (side airbags are not available with the fold-flat seat). Anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Traction Assist (TA) and rear disc brakes are options available on all models. Driving dynamics
In keeping with Ford's commitment to driving quality, both front and rear suspension systems have been designed and engineered to provide class-leading levels of durability, reliability, ride and handling characteristics. This approach enhances driver control to provide high standards of active safety.
Front MacPherson struts feature gas-pressurised shock absorbers for longer service life, increased durability and good ride and handling while with the combination of large diameter front springs, Transit Connect offers durability, balance and improved driving dynamics.
 
The rear suspension features multi-leaf springs with anti-roll bar as standard, to give the correct travel and vehicle height, laden or unladen. Reinforced rear spring front hangers and side members provide durability and contribute to the 
class- leading handling characteristics, as well as enhancing driver control.
For vehicles that regularly carry a full payload an optional rear suspension attitude/ride height pack has been developed. 
This provides increased ground clearances and maintains vehicle attitude when carrying heavy loads. Polyurethane jounce bumpers improve ride and energy absorption as well as enhancing durability.
Both front and rear anti-roll bars are fitted to all Transit Connect models to reduce body roll in cornering and further improve ride.

Steering
Accurate and responsive rack and pinion, power-assisted steering is fitted as standard on all models. The system requires little effort for ease of use, which is designed to respond immediately to input, feels smooth in operation and sends clear signals to the driver's hands. Additionally, the steering column is adjustable for both rake and reach. None of the competitor vehicles offer the range of adjustment on the driver's seat and steering wheel that is standard on Transit Connect.

Brakes
At the front, 278mm x 24mm ventilated front discs and large pads are designed to cope with heavy use and keep operating temperatures to a minimum. At the rear, 228mm x 55mm drums are fitted. The system is designed to meet all current and planned regulatory brake tests and exceeds all EU braking requirements.
A combined Anti-Lock Brake and Traction Assist (ABS/TA) system can be specified as an option on all models. TA shares the ABS wheel sensors but acts to reduce wheel spin during acceleration from rest on steep slopes or on slippery roads. 
The ABS/TA system features rear 278 mm x 11 mm disc brakes and incorporates an integrated disc parking brake.

Wheels
Transit Connect is fitted as standard with five-stud 15x6 inch wheels. The stamped steel wheel is available with a centre cap on base models or partial wheel cover on LX models. The five-stud wheels provide a far greater load-carrying capacity than the more commonly used four-stud wheels and therefore are a more durable choice for light and medium commercial vehicles. Unique, optional, light-alloy five-spoke wheels and locking wheel nuts can also be specified.
Cost of ownership
Transit Connect has been thoroughly and thoughtfully engineered to be immensely durable, easy to repair, to follow straightforward servicing procedures at extended service intervals, to provide competitive fuel economy, low insurance ratings and low running costs for owners and operators. Service intervals under normal operating conditions on diesel engines are at 15,000 miles, and on petrol engines at 12,000 miles.
Ford offers a three years/100, 000 miles manufacturer warranty, a 10-year anti-perforation guarantee and three years breakdown cover on all Transit Connect models.

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