Before we introduce Ford’s latest Transit full-size commercial van, allow us to take a moment of silence for the, er, who are we kidding—only a select few will mourn the loss of the ancient E-series van that this new global hauler will replace next year. That’s right, at long last Ford finally has unveiled the E-series’s successor, the 2014 Transit, which will be sold in basically the same form across several global markets.
Ford already pulled the cover off of two members of its next-generation van family earlier this year—the Tourneo Custom (Tourneo is Ford-speak for passenger versions of its cargo vans) and the Transit Custom—and sure enough, the full-size Transit borrows many of its styling cues from those two smaller vans. As spy photos of Transit mules previewed, the production model gets a similar face to the pair of Customs, although it gets a large single trapezoidal grille instead of those vans’ dual grilles. Out back, the Transit wears tall taillights that extend about midway up the rear end; the Customs’ taillights are mounted higher up, but follow a similar theme.
Looks aside, it’s worth pointing out that the full-size Transit shares little to nothing underneath with the Tourneo and Transit Custom. It also is in no way related to the smaller Transit Connect, which also was redesigned for next year. The Transit may not look a whole lot like the Transit Connect or share much mechanically with the Custom twins, but it will look the same here as it does overseas.
Just because the U.S.-market Transit will be visually identical to the European version, however, does not mean we will get similar equipment or an equal number of variations. Overseas, buyers will be able to spec their Transit one of a loosely verifiable eleventy billion ways, with choices in wheelbase; front-, rear-, or all-wheel drive; a ton of different gas and diesel engines; multiple cab and body styles; and several roof heights. Here, we may get some variety in terms of wheelbase and roof heights, but for now our powertrain options are limited to a twin-turbocharged, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 and an unspecified diesel engine driving only the rear wheels. Yet another gas engine is a possibility—we’re thinking the 3.7-liter V-6 from the F-150—but for now only the twin-turbo six and the mystery oil-burner are confirmed for America.
Thanks to: Car and Driver
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