FORD CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF TRANSIT WITH SPECIAL EDITIONS AND NEW MODELS AT COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SHOW
26 February 2005 - Ford

The Ford Motor Company Limited stand (630, Hall 9) at this year''s Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC, Birmingham, will preview a number of new models and concepts, including: Transit Connect Crew Van, Transit Shuttle Bus, a Ranger Tipper and the Transit special editions launched to mark 40 years of Transit success.

Central to the stand will be a walk-through tunnel which tells the story of Transit over the last 40 years.

Jon Fisher, commercial vehicles marketing manager, Ford of Britain said: ''Transit is unique. No competitor has a product that has enjoyed market leadership its entire lifetime. That success does not come from a distress marketing strategy, it comes from continued reinvestment in an outstanding product that can stand the test of time.

''Transit touches everyone''s life,'' he added, ''whether it''s through the van in the motorway maintenance fleet, the plumber or electrician who turns up at your house or the supermarket delivery van that brings your dinner. Ford has created a British icon, built to work hard for businesses and individuals throughout the country.''

New Transit Connect Crew Van

Visitors will get their first chance to see an initial concept of a new Transit Connect Crew Van. It is the ideal means of transport where loads and people need to be combined. Created in response to the demand for increased versatility in a business environment where the requirements placed on commercial transportation are continuously changing, the flexibility of the Crew Van may be the ideal answer for many operators.

With a second row of foldable seats, the Crew Van can carry five (four plus driver) in comfort, with room in the back for a sizeable load. However, when needed, the easily-adjusted bulkhead can travel forward on the roof-mounted rails, lock securely in position behind the folded seats and allow larger loads to be accommodated with ease. Combine this flexibility with the class-leading durability, safety and security of the original panel van, and the Crew Van will be a significant addition to the Transit Connect range, when it goes on sale later this year.

New Transit Shuttle Bus

The second preview, the new nine-seat Shuttle Bus concept, has been created from the popular 12-seat Transit Minibus.

It allows operators to carry eight people plus the driver along with a useful amount of stowage. With over 2.5 cubic metres of loadspace behind the third row of seats, it comes with two side load doors, giving generous access to the second and third row seats. Categorised as a car, it can be driven by anyone holding a car drivers licence, making it an ideal shuttle or transfer bus. It is due to go on sale in mid 2005.

New Ranger Tipper
Ford''s Ranger smashed all its sales records in 2004 with an increase of nearly

40 per cent to 7,539. Show visitors will be able to preview the new Ranger Tipper concept. Planned as an extension to the market leading Transit ''One-Stop'' range of ready-for-work conversions, Ranger Tipper can uniquely meet operator machinery directive requirements, providing buyers with peace of mind in this increasingly complex legislative environment. This new model is expected to suit the urban building artisan or off-road forestry and agricultural operator.

Transit 40 Years Special Editions
Transit and Transit Connect buyers can benefit from additional comfort and convenience features on Ford''s celebratory range of special edition models, with savings from £100 to £1,500 (see chart attached). Each of the 40 year limited edition models will be identified by a unique ''Great Briton''s Van'' decal, celebrating 40 years of Transit success.

Transit Leader – The popular entry model of the Transit range, the short wheelbase, low roof models are available as a T260 with an 85PS engine and a

T280 with a 100PS engine. Front and rear mud flaps and a CD/radio will be standard. There is the choice of a new special ''ruby red'' paint, ''diamond white'' or ''dark true blue'' in the Leader line-up. Customer savings are up to £400.

Transit SilverBlue – designed to bring drivers a more relaxing and efficient working day, this limited edition is loaded with extras worth between £600 and £1,500. From a CD-player to power windows and mirrors, a ''Quickclear'' windscreen to front fog lights, the Transit SilverBlue is designed to improve operator comfort and convenience. Available as a 100PS T280 medium wheelbase, 115PS or 135PS T350 Long wheelbase and 135PS T350 Jumbo.

Transit Hallmark – In addition to the extras on SilverBlue, the short wheelbase Hallmark has as standard air conditioning, a full width unglazed bulkhead and a choice of five metallic or one solid paint colour. Hallmark is available as a T280 short wheelbase model with a 100PS or 125PS engine and low roof. The saving for buyers adds up to £500.

Transit Connect LX Plus – a side load door will be the main bonus for businesses, available on the long and short wheelbase special editions. Metallic paint, stereo CD, power windows, ''Quickclear'' heated front screen and power/heated mirrors are set to make this a popular package - with a customer saving of up to £250.

Transit Connect Hallmark - as with its Transit Connect sibling, the Hallmark special edition has all the additions of the LX Plus as well as air conditioning. Available on three models: the T230 long wheelbase with a 90PS engine with a £300 saving; T200 short wheelbase with a 75PS engine or the T220 short wheelbase with a 90PS engine each with a saving of £450.
Ranger

The striking Ranger Thunder Double and four-door Super Cab pickups will also be on display. The innovative four-door Super Cab features reverse-hinged rear doors that eliminate the ‘B’ pillar between the front and rear doors. This results in class-leading ease of access to and from the rear of the cab, either for storage of tools and goods, or for occasional passengers.

The rear of the cab can be used for keeping valuable items under lock and key, rather than on the load bed. If load bed space is a
key consideration for a customer, the Super Cab has 14.5 per cent more load space than the Double Cab. If transporting people in car-like comfort is the main consideration, the Double Cab with its five seats is the solution.

With security and occupant safety in mind, the unique rear side door panels of the four-door Super Cab have no exterior handles. The rear compartment is accessed by opening the front doors and using the handles on the inside of the reverse-hinged rear doors. As the front door panel latches onto the inner face of the rear door, the rear door must be closed first, in order to close the front door. The four-door Super Cab has the same high standard of torsional rigidity as the original Super Cab model and side-impact safety performance is unaffected.

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