•    Ford reinforces its commercial vehicle leadership with three new product offerings at the National Truck Equipment Association in Chicago:
o    Ford launches all-new 2010 Transit Connect, an industry-exclusive product specifically developed for small business proprietors, delivering 22 city, 25 highway miles per gallon
o    Ford shows the 2011 Ford F-59 Super Duty® commercial stripped chassis, available on a variety of wheelbase lengths and GVWR capabilities, ideal for walk-in bodies tailored to specific applications
o    Ford introduces new E-Series Super Duty Ambulance Preparation Package, powered by a 6.8-liter Triton® V-10 gasoline engine, available in van or cut-away configurations
•    Ford remains committed to the Blue Diamond collaboration, assuring a continued offering of Super Duty F-650 and F-750s in the medium-duty segment
CHICAGO, March 3, 2009 – Ford Motor Company has an expanded presence at the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) show to showcase three new commercial vehicle offerings, further bolstering its market-leading product portfolio.
“These new commercial vehicles demonstrate our ‘One Ford’ strategy by harnessing the best of our global products, adapting our existing resources to new market opportunities and combining innovative technologies to better deliver on the needs of our customers and end-users,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas.
With 40 percent market share, Ford is America’s commercial truck leader. In launching Transit Connect, F-59 Super Duty® Chassis and a gasoline E-Series Ambulance Prep Package, Ford aims to build on this commercial truck leadership.
Ford expanded its NTEA presence this year with a significantly larger display and event luncheon, reinforcing its commitment across multiple product segments of the commercial vehicle industry and to the body builders and upfitters that tailor Ford products to specific applications. It aims to demonstrate the technologies that help customers work smarter while using NTEA as a forum for listening to customers’ unmet needs and to help lower their cost of ownership and further improve productivity.
“Ford is at NTEA to showcase both our new and existing commercial vehicles, display our innovative technologies and listen to our customers,” said Group Vice President of Global Product Development, Derrick Kuzak. “The message is clear: We’re committed to the commercial vehicle market and to the upfitter industry that serves it. We’re here to stay, over the long haul.”
Transit Connect
Ford Transit Connect has been a global success story for Ford. More than 600,000 Transit Connects have been sold worldwide, to customers in 58 countries on four continents. It arrives in the United States with a global reputation for durability and toughness dating back to its 2003 launch, when an expert panel of commercial vehicle journalists named Transit Connect International Van of the Year.
Ford Transit Connect is built on a dedicated front-wheel drive commercial platform to exceed the unique needs of small business owners and entrepreneurs. To prepare Transit Connect for commercial use in North America, the powertrain was upgraded to include the proven Duratec 2.0-liter I-4 engine and a four-speed automatic overdrive transaxle. These components combine to provide EPA fuel economy of 22 city and 25 highway miles per gallon.
With 135 cubic feet of cargo space and a generous 1,600 pound payload, no other vehicle in the American market can deliver this combination of capacity and fuel economy. Transit Connect offers customers more than twice the cargo space of the Chevrolet HHR Panel and can carry a heavier payload than the full-size Dodge Ram 1500 standard-cab short-box pickup truck.
Ford Transit Connect is adaptable to a variety of commercial uses. It’s available in multiple window configurations from solid side and cargo doors, to both side and rear windows for maximum visibility.
Once it arrives from Ford of Europe’s Kocaeli, Turkey production facility, Transit Connect can be upfitted with all manner of bulkheads, racks and bins to suit many specific applications and needs.
Ford Transit Connect goes on sale this summer, starting at $21,475 including destination fees.
Ford F-59 Super Duty Chassis
Parcel/courier services, food distributors, laundry specialists, construction trades and government fleets – among other various end users – all will have a new commercial chassis choice for 2010. Ford is expanding its coverage of the commercial stripped chassis segment with three new gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR). These new chassis offerings enable body manufacturers to closely match their products to a task-appropriate chassis.....

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