2017 Ford Transit and Transit Custom to offer automatic transmission for the first ti
The freshened Ford Transit and Transit Custom will welcome a 6-speed automatic transmission to position one of the world’s top-selling commercial vans for significant growth locally in the heart of the segment.
The automatic Transit and Transit Custom will arrive with all-new next generation 2.0L EcoBlue engines providing more power and greater torque while also providing more than 10% gains in fuel efficiency, lower emissions and longer service intervals
Transit and Transit Custom can be personalised with a choice of more than 100 colours, designed to match your business and lifestyle as the stand-out van
The new Transit 350L FWD Automatic will be available with optional SYNC® 3, Ford’s latest in-vehicle communications and entertainment platform, featuring Apple CarPlay™, Android AutoTM, faster performance, more conversational voice recognition, intuitive smart phone-like touch-screen with swipe, pinch to zoom and an improved graphic user interface^
Ford’s 2017 $450 million R&D investment in Australia includes the high-tech Asia Pacific Product Development Centre in Melbourne as part of a $50 million capital investment to advance R&D facilities through a new virtual reality engineering facility that speeds development, improves efficiency of next-gen vehicles for Australia and global markets
MELBOURNE, April 20, 2017 – The Ford Transit is set to become the automatic choice for consumers with the arrival
of the automatic transmission in 2017, along with new more powerful and economical 2.0L EcoBlue engine and wind
stabilisation technology to help drivers stay in lane in high crosswinds.
This expansion positions Transit Custom to compete in 85 percent of the medium van segment compared to 34 percent, giving van consumers even greater choice. The additions also build on Ford’s $2 billion investment in R&D in Australia over the past six years.
“The arrival of an automatic variant for Transit and Transit Custom widens our small business opportunities and expands consideration to include large fleet and Government buyers,” said Graeme Whickman, President and CEO, Ford Australia. “We’re enabling customers to make a real go of things with a broader range and even stronger offering with a vehicle that’s recognised globally as the benchmark. On top of this, longer service intervals mean less time off the road, while a longer warranty brings peace of mind so owners can focus on their business success.”
All-new Next Generation 2.0L EcoBlue Engine:
In addition to the automatic transmission, the 2017 Transit range will also welcome the next generation of high-performance 2.0L EcoBlue engines, which offer more power and torque whilst also providing better fuel economy and improved emissions to help Transit customers achieve more.
“The all-new 2.0L turbo EcoBlue engine in the Transit and Transit Custom offer better performance and better fuel economy, and coupled with the automatic transmission, combine to provide customers a technology-packed option in the van segment to help them get their work done more efficiently,” added Whickman.
2.0L EcoBlue Engines; More Power, Less Emissions:
1. Fuel consumption and emissions as per ADR 81/02 (combined cycle) and to be used for vehicle comparison purposes only. It is unlikely that this fuel consumption figure will be achieved in real world driving conditions. Actual fuel consumption will depend on many factors including the driver's habits, prevailing conditions and the vehicle's equipment, condition and use.
2. Figures will vary greatly depending on load being carried, driving style and whether the vehicle is towing a trailer.
The new-generation 2.0L EcoBlue engines available in the updated Transit and Transit Custom will comply with the latest European Stage 6 emissions standards, driving significant improvements in emissions.
Extended Service Intervals and Warranty Driving Customers Further:
Customers who travel significant kilometres each year will find the new 2.0L EcoBlue in Transit Custom and Transit 350L front-wheel drive enables less vehicle downtime, courtesy of recommended standard service intervals increasing to 12 months/30,000km, whichever occurs first.
This represents an additional 15,000km over the current Transit and Transit Custom range. Small Business and private customers will benefit from Transit and Transit Custom’s longer warranty, which will be a factory warranty of three-years/200,000km, whichever occurs first factory warranty, providing an additional 100,000km over the current standard new vehicle warranty.
More Customisation with an extensive colour palette Transit and Transit Custom offer a massive array of colours: with more than 100 to choose from, Transit will have the shade to turn the competition green, brighten your day like a bright blue sky and make a serious impression to match your business’s attitude, style and verve. “It’s another thing we’re doing to help consumers buy not just a van, but a vehicle that works for their brand and really stands out,” said Graeme Whickman. “It’s not just a van, but a part of your life, and a vehicle to actually want and desire.”
SYNC® 3^ available to Transit 350L FWD Automatic consumers for the first time:
In more exciting news for customers, the new Transit 350L FWD Automatic can be optioned with a City Nav Pack that includes SYNC® 3 for the first time, Ford’s new in-vehicle communications and entertainment platform that features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, faster performance, more conversational voice recognition, intuitive smart-phone-like touch-screen and an improved graphic user interface.
SYNC® 3 highlights:
New ‘Home’ screen with clearer layout and large icons for quicker access to functions including audio system, climate control, smart-phone (including compatible apps) and satellite navigation (where fitted).
New 6.0-inch touch-screen with capacitive touch technology allows ‘pinch and swipe’ capability on select features (similar to a smart-phone or tablet).
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration includes ability to access Apple Siri and Google Now#. Compatible apps include Spotify, Pandora and Google Maps+.
More customisable and easier-to-navigate settings and user preferences.
More Tech Across the Range:
The arrival of the 2017 Transit and Transit Custom come with new tech options that make the Transit range even more versatile.
In addition to the City Nav Pack, all Transit Custom and Transit models benefit from a larger reversing camera display that’s now located on the audio system screen rather than in the rear-view mirror.
For the Transit Custom, new options include Dual Side Load doors, which mean the Transit Custom’s cargo is always kerbside accessible no matter which way it’s loaded, while a Rear Liftgate Door offers flexibility of full access to the load area for those who need it.
Other new Additions:
The standard Multi-Function Display screen size of the Transit and Transit Custom featuring the new 2.0L EcoBlue engine will be upgraded to a 4.0-inch TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) colour screen. Transit carryover models with the existing 2.2L engine will remain unchanged with the 3.4-inch LCD dot matrix screen.
Transit Custom vehicles will come standard with full wheel covers, replacing the hub caps of the prior model.
A new chrome insert has been added to the front grille of Transit Custom and Transit (FWD) to visually signal the new 2.0L EcoBlue engines and differentiate against prior and carry over 2.2L models.
New Side Wind Stabilisation and Driver Assist Tech:
The new 2.0L EcoBlue Ford Transit and Transit Custom vehicles are fitted as standard with a new technology that helps drivers stay in lane when their van is hit by a sudden crosswind or the turbulence created by a large truck. Side Wind Stabilisation is an advanced feature that was developed by Ford engineers, and is designed to carefully apply the brakes on one side of the vehicle to reduce the effect of a side wind gust on the vehicle’s path.
“No-one likes that feeling when your vehicle gets caught by a wind gust, or you are passing close to a fast-moving truck,” said Marc Suermann, chassis controls supervisor, Ford of Europe.
At vehicle speeds of more than 80 km/h, the Side Wind Stabilisation system sensors monitor stability 100 times per second. If a sudden gust is detected, the feature is designed to become active within less than 200 milliseconds.
Ford engineers tested the new system at a special test track which uses six powerful fans to generate crosswinds of up to 80km/h, as well as on public roads in areas which are notorious for strong winds.
The Side Wind Stabilisation feature is also designed to help combat fatigue by reducing the driver’s workload. “This new technology will help make highway driving less stressful for Transit drivers,” said Suermann.
Going Further for Australia and Australian Customers
The expansion and update of Ford Transit and Transit Custom range is just another way Ford is going further for its Australian customers as it continues to introduce 20 new or updated models by 2020 and comes on top of a $2 billion investment in local R&D since 2009.
Ford is home to 2,000 team members, most making up one of the company’s three global product development hubs, with the company set to become the largest auto employer in the nation after 2017.
Transit and Transit Custom Pricing:
Transit and Transit Custom vehicles featuring the new 2.0L EcoBlue engine will reflect a new recommended Manufacturer’s List Prices (MLP) effective March 2017.
2017 Ford Transit and Transit Custom to offer automatic transmission for the first ti
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