American legacy automaker Ford unveiled the new Transit Connect PHEV on Tuesday, January 30. According to the press release, the new plug-in hybrid commercial vehicle will hit the European market before the end of the year.
Technical details
Ford’s new Transit Connect compact van will ride on Volkswagen’s MQB platform. Therefore, it will be a sister model of the Volkswagen Caddy.
It would be the first time for the Transit Connect to include a PHEV drivetrain. Impressively, it integrates a 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine with an electric motor to generate an output of 110 kW (150 PS) and 350 Nm of torque. It also features a high-voltage battery pack that enables an all-electric driving range of up to 110 kilometers. In addition, it can support both onboard chargers and DC fast chargers for 11 kW AC and 50 kW capacities, respectively.
“Over the past two years, we’ve electrified the Transit family to help every kind of customer accelerate their productivity and electrify their business. Our all-new Transit Connect is another key step in that mission. Transit Connect’s new PHEV and all-wheel drive options, high-tech interior, and support from Ford Pro pack serious, hard-working appeal into a stylish and compact body.”
Hans Schep, Ford Pro Europe General Manager
Other notable features
Apart from the enticing technical specifications mentioned above, the Transit Connect PHEV also boasts 1.4 tonnes of towing capacity and 770 kilograms of payload capacity. It also has a 6-speed automatic transmission with a dual-clutch technology.
In addition, all Transit Connect variants will offer driving assistant features, such as the following:
- Pre-Collision Assist with Auto Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Warning
- Evasive Steer Assist
- Intersection Assist to help prevent or mitigate collisions with other road users
They will also feature a 10″ digital instrument cluster on board ex works and a 10″ central touchscreen for control purposes, such as smartphone integration via Apple Carplay and Android Auto or for navigation. They also offer heated steering wheel and heated front seats as options.
Ford’s Transit commercial EV lineup
The arrival of the new Transit Connect PHEV will enable Ford to penetrate four market segments. The other three models will be battery-electrics, including the E-Transit, the E-Transit Custom, and the E-Transit Courier, planned for the end of the year.
These four models will serve as the American automaker’s new-gen lineup of high-productivity electrified Transit commercial vehicles in Europe.
“Transit Connect PHEV is the final piece of Ford Pro electrifying its Transit family in Europe, following the introduction of the segment-leading E-Transit, electric E-Transit Custom – the first electric version of Europe’s best-selling one-tonne van – and the E-Transit Courier.”
Ford
Notably, Ford plans to officially start the production of the Transit Connect in the spring of 2024. It will follow a multi-phased strategy, starting with the diesel van’s deliveries this summer.
The Transit Connect PHEV is expected to join the range before the end of 2024, with the AWD and Kombi models fulfilling the lineup in early 2025. Ford has yet to reveal the pricing of the new models in its lineup.
