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Ford Poised to Reenter U.S. Minivan Market
Ford Motor Co., which exited the American minivan market six years ago, plans to return to the segment a year from now with the Transit Connect Wagon.
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Ford Motor Co., which exited the American minivan market six years ago, plans to return to the segment a year from now with the Transit Connect Wagon. The new model is based on Ford's utilitarian Transit Connect commercial van, which debuted in the U.S. three years ago.
The Wagon will be built in Valencia, Spain. The European version of the van, which also goes on sale in 2013, will be badged as the Tourneo Connect. Ford presented the van in concept form at the Geneva auto show in March. The U.S. production model bows late this month at the Los Angeles auto show.
The front-drive vehicle, which Ford prefers to describe as an MPV, shares its C1 platform with the Focus small sedan. The company will offer the vehicle in two wheelbases: 104.8 inches for the five-passenger model and 120.6 inches for a seven-seat variant. The larger model is 15.8 feet long and 6 feet tall.
The 2014 model will be offered in the U.S. with a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or optional 1.6-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-banger. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Ford says the 1.6-liter engine is expected to deliver a highway fuel economy rating of at least 30 mpg.
Ford notes that the chassis can accept the hybrid powertrain option that is standard on the American version of the new C-Max small MPV. That powertrain combines a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, electric motor and lithium-ion battery.
Among the Wagon's standard features are a 60/40 second-row bench seat, fold-flat second- and third-row seatbacks, independent fore-aft adjustments for third-row seats and minivan-like sliding rear-passenger doors on both sides.
Options include a large panoramic roof, rearview camera, 6.5-inch touch screen navigation system, leather seats, electric windshield defroster and the choice of a traditional rear lift gate or side-hinged twin doors. The van has a 1,200-lb payload and, with the second- and third-row seats stowed, more than 100 cu. ft. of cargo space.