The Courier was joined on the blue oval stand by production versions of the Transit Connect and two-tonne Transit, which go on sale late this year and early next year respectively, as well as the Transit Custom, which it revealed in 2012 but which also appeared in high roof guise for the first time this year
(giving it a load volume of 8.3m3) as well as in Econetic and Sport Van modes.
The new baby in the family, the Courier, arrives in showrooms in 2014. The powertrains on offer will be two diesels – a 1.5 75hp and a 1.6 90hp unit – and Ford’s 1.0-litre petrol Ecoboost engine. It has a payload capacity of 660kg and a load volume of 2.3m3 and features overhead and under seat stowage as well as the Ford Sync communication package and a rear view reversing camera as standard. The Courier gives Ford a model to compete in the compact van sector against the Peugeot Bipper, the Citroen Nemo and the Fiat Fiorino.
Visitors to the Ford stand were also able to run the rule over the new 1.5-litre, 87g/km Fiesta Van as well as the Ranger pick-up, which Ford first showcased at the NEC event in 2011.
Phil Hollins, Ford of Britain’s fleet director, pointed out that the Transit is the brand’s third biggest selling model line after the Fiesta and Focus passenger cars. Ford aims to sell 400,000 Transit-badged vans a year in Europe by 2016 – an increase of 66% on 2012.
Hollins said the CV Show presented Ford with “an opportunity to tell everybody about the breadth of the Transit range.”
With four out of five Transits being sold to fleets running at least 10 vans, Hollins added: “The CV Show is important because it’s a great opportunity to show fleets the product.”
The Ford stand was directly opposite the Mercedes display at the show where the Citan light van, a competitor to the new Connect, took pride of place.
Hollins was bullish about the threat posed by the new rival: “We’re pretty confident we can beat the Citan on fuel economy and CO2,” he said.