Ford has added the new Transit Connect PHEV to its family of electrified vans. The panel van with plug-in hybrid drive is scheduled to go on sale in the middle of this year.
The PHEV powertrain used for the first time in the Transit Connect is also familiar from the Volkswagen Group. It combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for a system output of 110 kW (150 PS) and a maximum torque of 350 Nm. A 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission sends power to the front wheels.
A high-voltage battery, designed to give an all-electric range of up to 110 kilometres, which can be charged with 11 kW of AC power from the on-board charger or 50 kW from DC fast chargers.
Ford Transit Connect PHEV
With the Transit Connect PHEV, the Blue Oval's electrified van family will cover four segments. The other three will be all-electric: the E-Transit, the E-Transit Custom and the E-Transit Courier planned for late 2024.
The Transit name is well known and is used by the company for more than one model range. The Transit itself is a small van with a length of 5.53 to 6.73 metres. The Transit Custom is one size smaller, ranging from 4.97 to 5.34 metres in length. The Transit Connect, which is the subject of this article, is no longer a van but a panel van (4.42 to 4.82 metres). The smallest model with the Transit badge is the Courier, which at 4.16 metres is based on the Ford Fiesta and B-Max. There are also car versions of the Custom, Connect and Courier called the Tourneo.
Ford Transit Connect
But back to the Transit Connect PHEV: in addition to the above-mentioned key data on the vehicle's propulsion and load capacity, Ford claims a towing capacity of 1.4 tonnes and a payload of 770 kilograms. By comparison, the diesel versions of the Transit Connect have a towing capacity of 1.5 tonnes and a payload of 820 kg. The part-time electric vehicle has a load capacity of up to 3.7 cubic metres.
All Transit Connect variants come with a range of driver assistance features and a ten-inch digital instrument cluster as standard. A central touchscreen, also ten inches, is used to control features such as smartphone integration via Apple Carplay and Android Auto, or navigation. Other options include a heated steering wheel and heated or ergonomically designed front seats.
Ford offers the Transit Connect as a two-seater panel van or a five-seater double cab - with either a short or long wheelbase. Customers can also choose from three trim levels: Trend, Limited and Active.
Customers will be able to order the model from spring 2024, with deliveries starting in the summer. The diesel versions will be launched first, but the PHEV version will also be available from the middle of the year. However, Ford says the Crew Cab will not be available until the end of 2024.
Source: Ford
