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Automotive Industry
AUTOS: Unique Ford Van Opens Whole New Niche
Transit Connect launched in U.S. after seven years of strong commercial sales around the world.
Bob Golfen  |  Posted July 14, 2009   Phoenix, AZ
The small van can be configured with rear windows as well as a back seat. (Photo: Ford)
A new work truck doesn’t usually excite anyone, but Ford’s Transit Connect is cool enough and different enough to deserve some attention.

Here’s a small van that looks strikingly modern, has loads of space inside, drives pretty well and sips gas. It can be configured for a myriad of commercial uses and ordered with an advance business computer system.

Mostly, it’s designed to do something that hasn’t been done for a long time: Give the small businessman a break.

“There’s nothing like it,” said Tim Stoehr, a Ford spokesman. “It addresses a lot of needs that have been completely unmet.”

A small handling course was set up at Firebird Raceway near Phoenix to test out Transit Connect's drivability. (Photo: Bob Golfen)
Assemled at a Ford plant in Turkey, Transit Connect comes to the United States after a highly successful run in Europe and many other parts of the globe. More than 600,000 of them have been sold in 58 countries since they were introduced in 2003, Ford says.

The idea is to provide a small, highly efficient vehicle for all kinds of small businesses in urban areas, such as flower shops and other delivery services; plumbers, electricians and contractors; and all kinds of mobile services.

This month, Ford has been taking a Transit Connect road show to urban areas around the country to introduce it to business and trades people, as well as those who think Transit might just make an interesting personal vehicle.

The show stopped in Phoenix on Monday, setting up on the parking lot of Firebird Raceway to give people a chance to check them out and drive them on a small handling course. More than 100 showed up to have a look.

One of them was Tom Murray of Phoenix, who has a mobile business that caters to pet owners called Paws Concierge. His trucks are driven to homes, transport dogs and cats, contain grooming supplies and other equipment, and generally serve as the face of the business.

Colorful graphics are wrapped on the trucks for advertising and name recognition. What he’s looking for is something distinctive and economical.

“These vehicles have to be revenue generators, just like a mobile office,” Murray said. “The trucks are used for a lot of different things during the day and have to be reconfigured quickly. This looks like it’s easy to reconfigure.”

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