Show time for Ford

Date: Friday, February 25, 2011

Alongside its much trumpeted new Ranger pick-up, Ford is to reveal the Euro stage 5 version of its Transit at the Commercial Vehicle Show.

More than any other model, the iconic panel van has been responsible for ensuring the blue oval’s leadership of the commercial vehicle market since its launch 45 years ago.

Excluding the baby Transit Connect version, well over 46,000 mid and large-sized Transits left showrooms in 2010, up 26% on the previous year.

Going forward, Ford is placing the emphasis on Econetic versions of the Transit, which the brand claims can deliver fuel consumption and CO2 emission reductions of at least 10%. It says the new 260SWB Econetic will offer fuel savings of £1077 over 80,000 miles compared to its Euro4 predecessor while the Econetic two-tonne 350LWB rear-wheel-drive will be £3680 cheaper than its non-Econetic equivalent over the same distance.

Boosting sales of Econetic Transits will help Ford meet the European Commission’s range-average CO2 emissions targets for van manufacturers of 175g/km by 2017 falling to 147g/km by 2020.

Although Ford’s smallest commercial vehicle, the Fiesta Van, is the only model on the market with sub-100g/km CO2 emissions it only accounts for about 5% of the brand’s sales – it is in the heavier segments where Ford dominates the market.

Ford is also set to display its all-electric Transit Connect BEV at the show, of which it will reveal further details at the exhibition itself.

But the new Ranger is likely to steal the headlines. CV boss Steve Clary lavished praise on the lifestyle-oriented pick-up that is the first commercial vehicle to come under the One Ford design banner.

“The interior is like the car range,” he says. “At last it’s worthy of carrying the blue oval. It’s a major leap forward and unrivalled in the segment.”

What Van? Britain's biggest and best van buyers' guide