The iconic Ford Transit has a new addition to the family, in the new low price Transit Leader. Likewise, the Ford Transit Connect has a new low price Transit Connect Leader to add to the family.
These 2 new additions to the Ford Van family are unlikely to become favourites, but do offer a low budget solution to companies and van drivers.
The Transit Leader van is a diesel 2.2 litre 260 SWB 85ps van that is only available in white. While the Transit Connect Leader van is a diesel 1.8 litre 200 SWB 95ps van that is only availab
Ford has introduced several upgrades to the Transit Van and the Transit Minibus models in a bid to further improve its vans range.
The Ford Transit Van upgrade means that all van models with rear-wheel-drive from 100ps to 200ps will come with a six speed gearbox as standard from September. This change will also mean an improved miles per gallon and lower CO2 performance.
With the 6 millionth transit van being produced at the Swaythling plant, Vansdirect have looked into the history of the factory that has produced the most successful commerical vehicle EVER!
The factory itself was built for Cunliffe-Owen, an aircraft component manufacturer at the start of the 1930's.
In 1939, the factory opened for production with a key role soon becoming the manufacturing of key components for the Spitfire Aircraft.
The
Times has published a "need to know" summary of the world economy today. The article details the key players within each industry sector and it's not surprising that the automotive industry dominates the column inches under the "engineering" banner. Vansdirect.co.uk has continuously reported on the crumbling van and car market and today's article is further evidence of the state of the world's affairs. Here is the "engineering" section presented in full:
A story such as this may normally grace the front pages of all the newspapers on April 1st. However, Friday 13th challenges that convention. Below is an abridged version of the full article available at
www.whatVan.co.uk:
Transit SportVan owners in Ford HQ protest
The US car and van giant,
Ford, has today announced that 850 British jobs are to disappear in response to falling demand. More than 50% of these losses will be at their Southampton plant which manufacturers the
Ford Transit van.
