Ford Transit Connect

Ford Transit Connect
2014–2015 Transit Connect in Germany
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Europe
Also called	Ford Tourneo Connect
Production	2002–present
Body and chassis
Class	Leisure activity vehicle Compact panel van
Body style	4/5-door panel van 4/5-door LAV
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Chronology
Predecessor	Global: Ford Escort Van Ford Fiesta Courier North America: Ford Freestar

First generation
Post-facelift model
Overview
Also called	Ford Tourneo Connect Azure Transit Connect Electric
Production	2002–2013
Assembly	Kocaeli, Turkey (Ford Otosan) Craiova, Romania (Ford Romania) 2.0L engine: Valencia, Spain (Ford Valencia)
Body and chassis
Body style	3/4-door panel van 5-door LAV
Platform	Ford C170 platform
Related	Ford Focus
Powertrain
Engine	1.8L Duratorq TDCi Diesel I4 1.8 Endura-D TDDi Diesel I4 2.0L Duratec Gasoline I4
Transmission	4-speed 4F27E automatic 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	SWB: 2,664 mm (104.9 in) LWB: 2,912 mm (114.6 in)
Length	2004–06 SWB: 4,278 mm (168.4 in) LWB: 4,555 mm (179.3 in) 2007–09 SWB: 4,308 mm (169.6 in) 2010– LWB: 4,590 mm (180.7 in) 2010– SWB: 4,275 mm (168.3 in)
Width	1,795 mm (70.7 in)
Height	Pre–2009 SWB: 1,814 mm (71.4 in) LWB: 1,981 mm (78.0 in) 2010– LWB: 2,014 mm (79.3 in) 2010– SWB: 1,815 mm (71.5 in)
Curb weight	XL with 2.0L: 3,373 lb (1,530 kg) XLT Wagon with 2.0L: 3,503 lb (1,589 kg) XLT Wagon (Premium) with 2.0L: 3,524 lb (1,598 kg)

Second generation
Overview
Production	2012–present
Model years	2013–present (Europe and Turkey) 2014–present (North America)
Assembly	Almussafes, Valencia, Spain (Valencia Body & Assembly)
Designer	Paul Wraith
Powertrain
Engine	1.0 L EcoBoost I3 1.6 L EcoBoost I4 2.5 L Duratec 25 I4 1.5 L Duratorq TDCi
Transmission	6-speed PowerShift semi-automatic (twin-clutch) 6-speed manual B6 5-speed manual iB5
Dimensions
Wheelbase	SWB: 104.8 in (2,660 mm) LWB: 120.6 in (3,060 mm)
Length	SWB: 173.9 in (4,420 mm) LWB: 189.7 in (4,820 mm)
Width	72.2 in (1,830 mm)
Height	SWB: 72.6 in (1,840 mm) LWB: 72.0 in (1,830 mm)
Curb weight	SWB Wagon: 3,630 lb (1,650 kg) LWB Wagon: 3,979 lb (1,805 kg)

The Ford Transit Connect is a compact panel van developed by Ford Europe and derived from the Ford Focus. The first generation was designed by Peter Horbury and introduced in 2002 to replace the older Ford Escort and Fiesta-based Courier van ranges, which had ceased production in the same year. It has been imported to the North American market since the 2010 model year. In North America, the Transit Connect does not have a direct predecessor; the closest vehicle to its size was the standard-length Ford Aerostar cargo van, which ceased production in 1997.

The Ford Tourneo Connect, a leisure activity vehicle, is a Transit Connect with side windows and rear seats. All Transit Connects bound for the United States are imported in this configuration to avoid the 25% "chicken tax" on imported light trucks. In 2013, US Customs told Ford that they must stop this practice of importing vans disguised as passenger cars.

The Transit Connect was introduced in Europe in October 2002 as the replacement for sedan delivery vans based on the Escort and the Fiesta. Production of the Escort in Europe ceased in 2000 (although the vans carried on for another two years), whilst the Fiesta Courier was also planned to be discontinued when the fifth generation Fiesta entered production in 2002. Ford elected not to develop a direct sedan delivery version of the Focus, instead pursuing a purpose built design.

Sharing few components with the much larger Transit, the Transit Connect was based on the front-wheel drive C170 platform shared with the international Ford Focus, then common with the first generation North American Ford Focus. Rather than adapting an existing bodystyle into a van, the Transit Connect was designed with sliding side doors.