Nanaimo, BC Dealership Blog » Commercial

Ford Super Duty Market Share in the Workplace

Karen Ann — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:19:32 +0000

Press Release

Numbers and Customers Tell the Story at New Website: Ford Super Duty Owns Work, Owners Can Tell Their Stories Too

A new website lets customers experience how Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks are used in the field and showcases Super Duty’s leadership in several key industries

Site features videos hosted by Dirty Jobs’ Mike Rowe to show Super Duty trucks at work on location including an oil field in Kansas and natural gas wells in Colorado

Interactive element asks visitors to create personalized “baseball” cards detailing use of their Super Duty. Some may be selected to tell their story in a video for the site

Dearborn, Mich., Nov. 7, 2011 – More than any other heavy-duty pickup in the market, Ford F-Series Super Duty is trusted by tradesmen to get the job done in the field, and a new online experience at www.ford.com/trucks/superduty/weownwork is helping customers realize just that.

Complete with videos and interactive elements, the “We Own Work” website clearly illustrates how Super Duty is the most popular truck in 21 industries.

“For more workers, Ford Super Duty is the most important tool they depend on to get the rest of their tools to the job site. There’s no other truck out there accomplishing as much in working conditions as F-Series Super Duty is,” said Brian Rathsburg, Super Duty Marketing manager. “Super Duty trucks are well known for their proven toughness and capability, and that’s why they are such a leading force in all sorts of industries. They have it all – durability, reliability, performance and fuel economy.”

On the website, visitors can view videos that share stories of workers who use Super Duty trucks to accomplish work on real job sites across the U.S. Hosted by Dirty Jobs’ Mike Rowe, the videos show the workers and trucks in action.

The site also features interesting statistics showing how Super Duty leads in a variety of fields. Some of these include:

74 percent of metal mining workers use Super Duty trucks
75 percent of road maintenance workers use Super Duty trucks
60 percent of utility workers use Super Duty trucks

Once users have gone through the videos, they have the option to share their own experiences of how they use their Super Duty. Some of the best stories may be chosen to be filmed for additional Mike Rowe videos on the site.

Based on a template that resembles a baseball trading card, visitors can create their own card to reflect the tough job their Super Duty helps them complete. Cards contain information like mileage, industry, region and tough facts about their truck and their job. Users also can upload an image of the truck they use. Once finished, they can embed the card in the website, share it on Twitter or Facebook, or print it.

The cards can be sorted by industry, year, region and toughness so the online community can scroll through the trucks to vote for the one they deem the toughest. The cards with the most votes for toughness will appear closest to the top.

Additionally, the site is programmed so that all functionality and animations are available for Apple iPad users.

Unmatched power for tough jobs

The 2012 Ford F-Series Super Duty gives customers what they are looking for in terms of power and capability, ensuring it stays at the head of the pack. The 2012 Ford F-Series Super Duty tow rating is 17,500 pounds with conventional bumper hitch and 24,500 pounds with fifth-wheel hitch.

The Ford-designed and Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V8 diesel engine delivers best-in-class fuel economy. The Power Stroke isn’t just fuel efficient, it’s also the most powerful diesel pickup engine money can buy, rated at 400 horsepower and 800 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine also can run on up to B20 biodiesel fuel.

The standard 6.2-liter V8 gas engine also has best-in-class fuel economy and produces a best-in-class 405 lb.-ft. of torque and 385 horsepower. It is capable of running on E85 ethanol. New for 2012 is a compressed natural gas/propane prep engine option.

Each Super Duty pickup – diesel or gas – is mated to a heavy-duty TorqShift® six-speed SelectShift Automatic™ transmission.

Impress Your Valentine with These Cool Date Night Features from Ford

Karen Ann — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 20:30:00 +0000

Just about everyone remembers the car they rode in on their first date. Was it a convertible with a great sound system, or a boat on wheels with lots of space? Whatever it was, both men and women agree that cars can make or break that first and often memorable impression. “A person’s car is most definitely an extension of themselves,” said Ellen Fein, dating expert and best-selling co-author of The Rules. “You often get one chance to make a right impression, and your car is one of the first personal things your date sees about you.”

As Valentine’s Day approaches, the all-important role that cars play in modern romance can’t be overlooked. And it’s not just the make and model of a car that matter. The features inside your ride can have a considerable impact on the setting and mood.

and not with this Ford American Idol commercial

Cramping My Style

Take interior space, for example. Cramped, tight spaces can really put a damper on a comfortable “car date.” But you don’t have to have a big car to get some elbow room.

The all-new Focus from Ford brings small car interior space to a new level, rivaling larger vehicles. It offers more shoulder room than an Audi A4 and more front headroom than a Toyota Camry. In the spacious second row, the new Focus provides more hip room than the Audi or Toyota.

Sweet sounds

There’s nothing like good tunes to spice things up. Music is essential on a date. Wouldn’t it be even better if you could simply ask your car to select the song your date wants to hear from your custom playlist on an iPod or MP3 player?

Ford’s next-generation voice control can interpret a single voice command, such “USB, play artist, Lifehouse” to change a song if the mood calls for something soft and slow. Connectivity for portable devices and media players, are available through two USB ports, three RCA jacks (video, right and left audio) and SD card reader.

The setting gets even better when the songs are played on a premium Sony® 10-speaker audio system with subwoofer found on most Ford models.

Careful component matching and tuning for the vehicle has ensured that the premium sound system delivers outstanding sound quality. System performance is enhanced by the center speaker, which provides highly authentic staging, while the subwoofer ensures that bass sounds have a full, rich quality.

Mood Lighting

Almost as important as mood music is mood lighting.

Ford’s advanced ambient lighting system uses LED technology to provide precise pools of illumination in the foot wells, cup holders, door handle releases and map pockets. The driver can choose between seven different accent colors and set the brightness level to suit his or her mood.

A search mode can also be activated, switching the lighting to a bright white color, helping occupants to find misplaced objects within the car.

The right kind of lighting, such as Ford’s new LED Crystal Blue interior lighting, ensures consistent levels of color and brightness are delivered in the right places and at the right times to set the right mood.

Roof with a view

If gazing at the stars is your idea of a romantic car date, you can while staying warm, dry and bug free while viewing from the inside of your car. Several of Ford’s crossover and sports utility models can be equipped with the panoramic Vista Roof. The large glass moon roof provides a grand view of the sky.

The roof features a large glass panel. The oversized front panel provides open-air touring. Close the forward roof and the enormous skylights allow natural light to flood the cabin while protecting it, and you, from the elements. Or sky-gazing on a hot, sunny day? Twin power-operated cloth shades can be closed simultaneously to block nearly 100 percent of ultra-violet rays.

Chillin’

Need to keep beverages chilled? Ford’s Flex cross-over vehicle boasts a class-exclusive refrigerated console that is mounted between the second-row captain’s chairs. The available refrigerator can cool up to seven 12-ounce cans, four half-liter bottles or two 20-ounce bottles from room temperature to 41 degrees in a little more than two-and-a-half hours – 40 percent faster than a standard home refrigerator.

Intimate Interiors

Attention to detail, including the look, touch, feel and operation of all controls, features and surfaces also help define the setting. Materials that feel luxurious to the touch, comfortable seats and a welcoming interior contribute to the appeal and allure of any interior space, including a car.

For example, Ford uses authentic chrome plating on the interior trim parts, such as door handle release, rather than painted coatings to improve the look and feel of its car interiors. Optimizing the softness and feel of key customer touch points, such as the steering wheel, door armrests and center console, also provides an overall feeling of comfort and style.

Peace and Tranquillity

An ideal date night is one without distractions or disruptions from noise generated by the external environment, such as traffic noise, pedestrian chatter, and other business taking place outside of the car.

Soundproofing cars to shut out distracting outside noises offers both privacy and tranquillity inside.

Windshields with a special acoustic layer and thicker side and rear glass on Ford cars and trucks significantly reduce high-frequency noises. Sound-absorbing carpets and self-expanding foams also help absorb sound, as well as help maintain a more consistent sound level distribution inside the vehicle.

So while your Ford car can help set a mood, it can’t guarantee a second date.

Simple and Easy Sale – Just How Simple and Easy is IT?

Karen Ann — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:00:13 +0000

In case you’ve missed the updates, we have been uploading videos this week to show just how Simple and Easy any vehicle purchase can be. While we have tried to lighten all the talking with some good humor, there’s still some great information to be gleaned about our dealership and how we take care of our guests. Watch all of them below, and as any more are added we will pop them into the Simple and Easy playlist!

If you’d like to get a head start on your vehicle purchase process, you can get preapproved financing before arriving at the dealership here, or you can search through our online inventory here, or if you are just looking for some more videos, try our YouTube.com channel, or our list of videos in our blog here.

It’s a Pretty Big Deal! 2011 Ford Fiesta

Karen Ann — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:44:00 +0000

Introducing the new Ford Fiesta. With 40 MPG, Push Button Start, and SYNC along with other class-exclusive technology. It’s a pretty big deal.

Cliff Your Ride – Winner

Karen Ann — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:07:24 +0000

On Saturday, May 8, Montrealer Félix Revelin-Couture ended his relationship with his car in a unique way: his 1992 Volvo 240 was launched off a rocky cliff just outside Calgary, Alberta. Félix was the official winner of the national Cliff Your Ride contest.

While the video is silent, it’s still fun to watch a car go off a cliff!!

Ford Transit Connect will be delivering Your Mail!

Karen Ann — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:04:44 +0000

Canada Post has chosen the compact commercial van to replace its current fleet of mail carriers. The Canadian post office went through a competitive bidding process to select a new vehicle that included total lifecycle costs, which favored the relatively fuel efficient Transit Connect that’s rated 30 mpg city, 36 mpg highway..

The Ford Transit Connect is truly becoming the greatest addition to Fleets in Canada!! Including Nanaimo, Check out Mid Island Towing’s Transit Connect!

CANADA POST SELECTS FORD TRANSIT CONNECT TO REPLACE AGING NATIONAL FLEET OF LIGHT VEHICLES

2010 Ford Transit Connect
Click here to download related images.

Through an open and competitive RFP process, Canada Post has selected the Ford Transit Connect to begin replacing its aging national fleet of vehicles and modernize its business. In total this year, 1,175 Ford Transit Connect vans will be purchased.
Purpose-built for business owners, the Ford Transit Connect is a versatile compact van that offers a fuel-efficient alternative to full-size commercial vans.
With its standard 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission, Transit Connect delivers best-in-class fuel economy of 30 mpg city, 36 mpg highway.
Environmental impact, employee health and safety requirements, performance, capacity and total lifecycle costs (purchase, fuel consumption and maintenance) were among the key requirements for Canada Post.

OAKVILLE, Ont., March 18, 2010 – Through an open and competitive RFP process, Canada Post has selected Ford Transit Connect to begin replacing its aging national fleet of light vehicles and modernize its business, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, announced today. In total this year, 1,175 Ford Transit Connect vans will be purchased. This is the largest fleet sale of Ford Transit Connect vehicles in Canada to date.

Criteria such as environmental impact, employee health and safety requirements, performance, capacity and total lifecycle costs (purchase, fuel consumption and maintenance) were essential in order to find a vehicle that best met Canada Post’s needs. The Ford Transit Connect is used by a number of Post Offices around the world and is well-suited for Canadian roads and winters.

It was named the 2010 North American Truck of the Year at the North American International Auto Show and has won numerous international awards.

“At Ford we are dedicated to delivering quality, safe and fuel efficient vehicles to Canadian businesses – and the Ford Transit Connect delivers on all fronts,” said David Mondragon, president and CEO, Ford of Canada. “The versatility of the vehicle will allow employees to work more efficiently, and the fuel economy delivered by the Transit Connect will help bring Canada Post one step closer to achieving important environmental goals.”

“We are pleased with the outcome and look forward to the delivery of our first vehicles as we begin to replace many of our aging light vehicles, with vehicles that are much more efficient and environmentally-friendly,” says Bill Michalopulos, General Manager, Sourcing, at Canada Post. “It will also help our efforts to modernize our operations as we introduce motorization to our delivery routes.”

Coolest looking futuristic Police Interceptor ever!

Karen Ann — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:49:11 +0000

Supporting those who Serve and Protect

Ford reveals its all-new, purpose-built Police Interceptor, engineered to exceed durability, safety and performance of today’s leading police car – the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
New Ford Police Interceptor sedan will offer two fuel-efficient powertrain options – including EcoBoost with all wheel-drive – along with an array of safety technologies; interior has been designed to meet unique law enforcement needs
Ford’s new Police Interceptor will be offered without interruption when production of the Ford Crown Victoria ends in late 2011
Ford confirms production of an additional Police Interceptor, a utility vehicle that will be pursuit-rated to complement the sedan; vehicle to be revealed later this year

Las Vegas, March 12, 2010 – Ford reveals its all-new, purpose-built Police Interceptor sedan today, showcasing a car for law enforcement officials that will exceed the durability, safety, performance and fuel economy of the industry’s leading police car – the Ford Crown Victoria – while also confirming production of a Police Interceptor utility vehicle.

Ford, the police vehicle market leader for 15 years, specifically designed and engineered an all-new Police Interceptor to handle the rigors of police work, including industry-leading powertrain, safety and technology innovations.

Ford will also add a second Police Interceptor to the lineup, a utility vehicle to provide customers a choice of the best vehicle to suit their needs. More details will be released in the third quarter of this year.

“Police nationwide asked for a new kind of weapon in the battle for public safety, and Ford is answering the call with a purpose-built vehicle – engineered and built in America – that’s as dynamic as it is durable,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas.

To develop the all-new Police Interceptor, Ford engineers worked hand-in-hand with Ford’s Police Advisory Board of law enforcement professionals, which provided input on key vehicle attributes such as safety, performance, durability, driver comfort and functionality.

“Their feedback mattered to us,” said Scott Tobin, Ford vehicle line director for cars and crossovers. “Safety and durability were at the top of their list. So safety and durability were at the top of ours.”

A focus on safety
Continuing Ford’s safety leadership includes engineering the Police Interceptor to pass 75-mph rear-end crash testing. Currently, the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is the only pursuit sedan to meet this test.

The new Police Interceptor also features Ford’s exclusive Safety Canopy® side-curtain air bag rollover protection system to help protect front and rear outboard passengers in both rollover and side-impact crashes. The multiple side-curtain air bags use Ford’s unique Roll Fold technology to help them slip between the occupant and the side window.

Increased power, enhanced sophistication
Ford’s Police Interceptor engine strategy will provide a V-6 lineup that performs equal to or better than V-8 engines. The lineup comes with two powertrain options, allowing police to choose the powerhouse that best meets their patrol requirements.

A highly efficient 3.5-liter V-6 engine delivering at least 263 horsepower and E85 compatibility is 25 percent more efficient than the 4.6-liter Single Overhead Cam (SOHC) V-8 offered in the current Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.

Plus, an all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V-6 twin-turbocharged, direct-injection engine will deliver at least 365 horsepower and 350 ft.-lb. of torque across a broad rpm range.

“We have an extremely powerful standard engine, and to top that off, we also offer our exclusive EcoBoost technology,” said Tobin. “Both are designed for the severe-duty cycle that police engage in on a daily basis.”

EcoBoost brings municipalities and police fleet administrators the first ultra high-performance, yet environmentally friendly, police pursuit vehicle. Offering performance that bests normally aspirated V-8 powered police cruisers and comparable fuel economy and CO2 emissions to the standard V-6, EcoBoost represents a triple-win for police departments, the tax-paying constituents they serve and the environment they help collectively to preserve.

A high-capacity six-speed SelectShift Automatic™ transmission delivers the power of EcoBoost to the road via the sophisticated torque-sensing all-wheel-drive system.

“Ford remains committed to leading the police vehicle market, and our new Police Interceptor demonstrates how much engineering and innovation we’re willing to invest to address the unique needs of those who protect and serve communities throughout America,” Fields said.

Rigidly tested, police-tuned
Throughout its development, Ford’s new Police Interceptor has been put through the paces, undergoing a battery of torture tests to ensure its individual components can hold up to the rigorous driving styles of police professionals.

Certification testing designed by the Michigan State Police and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department evaluates the durability and capability of the vehicle through a variety of tests where the car’s systems are pushed to the limits for nearly an hour and a half – far exceeding the demands most patrol cars ever experience.

To meet the rigors of the durability testing, the brakes have been increased in size and performance. The cooling package is purpose-built as well, featuring a heavy-duty alternator and larger radiator. Its honeycomb grille is designed to work in harmony with the interior components, offering more air flow throughout the vehicle. Plus, the standard 18-inch steel wheels are vented, designed to work in concert with the enhanced brake system.

“This vehicle is pursuit-ready,” said Carl Widmann, vehicle engineering manager. “It’s no nonsense, through and through.”

Functional, inside and out
Special features continue inside, too. “Working with our police partners, we’ve considered every detail,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president of Marketing, Sales and Service. “Approximately 90 percent of the interior has been redesigned to meet the needs of our special police customers.”

Front seats have been specially designed, with a lower bolster removed to better accommodate officers’ utility belts. Inserted into the seatback are anti-stab plates, designed to protect front-seat occupants.

The Police Interceptor second row also has been optimized to address police-specific needs.
The vinyl seats are specially sculpted and set back to improve second-row space and maximize legroom. The back door hinges are modified to open up another 10 degrees versus traditional rear doors.

The Ford Police Interceptor also is equipped with a column shift specifically designed so the console area is free for the ever-increasing amounts of aftermarket police equipment necessary for officers to do their jobs.

The new vehicle also features:

BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System): The system uses two radar sensors located in the rear quarter panels to detect vehicles in the surrounding lanes. If a vehicle enters the driver’s blind-spot zones, the system alerts the driver with a warning light in the side-view mirror.
Cross Traffic Alert: This system uses the existing BLIS radar modules to sense oncoming traffic when slowly backing out of a parking spot. This industry-exclusive system functions only while the vehicle is in reverse and warns when cross-traffic appears within three car-widths.
Rear View Camera System: When the vehicle is in rear camera mode, a color image with guidance markers on the rear view mirror will assist the driver in backing up.
Reverse Sensing System: An audible tone will alert the driver to certain objects up to 6 feet behind the vehicle.
Standard AdvanceTrac® ESC (electronic stability control): This helps maintain the intended path by measuring side-to-side yaw, or skidding, by the vehicle’s speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle. When wheel slip is sensed, AdvanceTrac reduces engine torque and applies selected brakes.
Ford SYNC®: The Ford-exclusive, hands-free information system has the potential to be customized and remapped to work specifically with police aftermarket equipment such as lights and sirens, allowing officers to focus on the task at hand.

Ford’s new Police Interceptor sedan will be manufactured at Ford’s Chicago (Ill.) Assembly Plant and will be offered without interruption when production of the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor ends in late 2011.

Mid Island Towing 2010 Ford Transit Connect

Karen Ann — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 01:08:54 +0000

The Ford Transit Connect is good for any company, but what better way to prove that than having a true Transit Connect out in use in your community. Watch for the Mid Island Towing Transit Connect!!

Click on any picture to see enlarged in new browser window.

Call today for any details 250-758-7311 or visit NanaimoTrucks.com edit you can also start your Ford Transit Connect search, we now have used Ford Transit Connect in stock! /edit

2010 Ford Transit Connect

Karen Ann — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:41:14 +0000

The 2010 Ford Transit Connect has been launched at the Chicago Auto show this past week. The work vehicle provides an industry-exclusive vehicle specifically developed to be a smart new choice for small business owners. Low operating and ownership costs, a fuel-efficient 2.0-liter engine, 135 cubic feet of cargo space, a 1,600 pound payload capacity, available Ford Work Solutions technology and various cargo management systems make Transit Connect a smart solution for any business.

At the Chicago Show 5 different small business owners were surprised to find that they had been given a Transit Connect outfitted with a cargo management system that fits their business need.

The business needs of those five certainly varied and absolutely shows how compatible this van will be for any company:

Dummies on The Run, CPR doll transportation;
Boo Boo Busters, a childproofing company;
Maid Pros;
Ten Mile Creek Kayaks;
and Circle Tail, training and transporting dogs to assist the disabled.

The Ford Transit Connect is also the tangible success of the ‘One Ford’ strategy meant to harness the best of Ford’s global products and offer them to other areas of the world.

Transit Connect should start arriving at our dealership in the summer. Please call Chris Stark at 1-888-571-0953 if you would like more information on the vehicle or to order the Transit Connect for your business.

Ford Press Release and more Photos:

Transit Connect: It’s Global
More than 600,000 Ford Transit Connects have been sold since 2003, to customers in 58 countries and on four continents. To fulfill the unmet needs of small business owners and entrepreneurs in the United States, Ford’s Global Product Development team was able to quickly adapt the Transit Connect for the American market, validate its durability and tailor the cargo space for the unique yet diverse needs of small business proprietors.

Transit Connect: It’s Capable
“Transit Connect was developed to bring small business owners a new vehicle choice, offering significantly improved fuel economy, generous and accessible cargo space with the agility and maneuverability to deliver the goods in tight quarters,” said Rob Stevens, chief engineer.

Transit Connect’s capability begins with capacity.

With 135 cubic feet of Transit Connect cargo volume, no other vehicle in the American market can deliver this combination of capacity and fuel economy.

Split rear cargo doors open at a standard 180 degrees, or an optionally available 255 degrees. When open, these doors provide access to 52.1 inches of available load height.
Lift-over height is less than two feet, when the Transit Connect is unloaded
Once inside, the cargo area opens up to 59.1 inches of floor to ceiling load height
The load width is 47.8 inches, between the wheel arches
Load length is a generous 72.6 inches or more than six feet of cargo floor space. Dual sliding rear side doors provide wide access to the generous cargo space as well

Transit Connect has more than double the cargo-carrying space of the Chevrolet HHR Panel, making it suitable for a broader range of commercial use applications.

The Transit Connect offers commercial users a cargo payload of 1,600 pounds. This capacity means that the Transit Connect can carry a larger payload than the full size Dodge Ram 1500 standard-cab short-box pickup truck.

“Transit Connect can swallow far more cargo than people might think,” added Stevens.

The Transit Connect’s capability story goes beyond capacity. Its size and nimble driving dynamics provide agility for urban routes. Power-assisted rack and pinion steering allows a 39-foot curb-to-curb turning circle assures that Transit Connect is maneuverable when delivering the goods for entrepreneurs in tight quarters.

The Transit Connect is expected to deliver at least 20 city and 24 highway mpg, pending EPA fuel economy certification.

Transit Connect: It’s Adaptable
Ford Transit Connect was conceived, developed and engineered to meet the needs of small business proprietors all over the world.

Once it arrives in the United States from the plant in Kocaeli, Turkey, Transit Connect can be outfitted for specific needs across a diverse range of users.

Bulkheads, racks, bins and other upfits can be mixed, matched and configured to suit many specific commercial applications and needs. Transit Connect is offered with a wide range of upfitted cargo management options, similar to the enduring, market-leading Ford E-Series commercial vehicles.

Small business owners have tremendous choice, with this unrivaled commercial application.

Transit Connect is available as a cargo van with no windows in the sliding side doors combined with rear cargo door privacy glass
A panel van version is offered with no side or rear cargo area windows
Transit Connect also can be configured with side and rear door privacy glass for maximum driver visibility
Plus, a wagon version of Transit Connect is available with a folding second-row bench seat, in either two- or three-passenger configurations. The wagon is ideally suited to the specialized needs of a small business owner that uses Transit Connect for carrying cargo for business and passengers or family during off-hours

Ford Transit Connect can be further adapted to individual business needs with the inclusion of Ford Work Solutions. The “solutions” behind this system allow customers to:

Run a business from inside the Transit Connect – right from the job site. An in-dash computer provides Internet access, productivity software and optional printing capabilities
Track tools. Tool Link™ gives the ability to organize, scan and track tools, inventory and other cargo items
Track the fleet. Crew Chief™ is a tailored telematics service to monitor and manage small or large fleets

The Ford Work Solutions in-dash computer allows small business owners to run their enterprises from inside the Transit Connect. Applications include downloading customer or product information, remotely accessing an office work station computer, sending and receiving text messages, navigating job or delivery locations with the Garmin navigation function and connecting with customers via hands-free phone functionality.

With a bright touch screen, for easy use and visibility, the in-dash computer runs the Windows CE 6.0 operating system. Word processing, spreadsheet, calculator and calendar applications are all included. With applicable subscriptions, the system can provide users with Internet access, remote document access and Garmin Online services such as traffic, weather and fuel prices.

The in-dash computer enables the availability of Tool Link, by DeWalt™. Using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags that adhere to the tools or objects themselves, Tool Link allows the Transit Connect Cargo to be scanned for the appropriate tools and inventory items, prior to leaving for the jobsite or route.

Tool Link helps manage valuable tools and ensures that specific items are on-board and available for use. Tool Link helps to keep all RFID-tagged objects on board, so at the end of the day, these items are secure and available for work on the next job.

Crew Chief™ is a tool for fleet managers to track vehicles, staff and Transit Connect diagnostics.
This system, not available in conjunction with the in-dash computer, provides a fleet manager with constant access to vehicle location information, the ability to track vehicle performance, automatic notification of vehicle maintenance needs and the ability to let drivers drive ─ not fill out written vehicle logs.

Crew Chief allows online access to vehicle location, speed, idle time, fuel usage and more than 30 diagnostic measures. Functions and reporting can be tailored to meet the specific needs of fleets large or small. Crew Chief has “geo-fencing” capability, allowing a fleet manager to set geographic or time of use boundaries.

Transit Connect is adaptable to multiple drivers, too. It features a six-way manually adjustable reclining driver’s seat with an armrest, and a four-way adjustable reclining passenger’s seat. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes to fit drivers of diverse sizes.

Transit Connect: It’s Durable
Ford Transit Connect has a global track record of durability. It’s a purpose-built commercial vehicle, built on a dedicated commercial vehicle platform in an exclusively commercial vehicle production facility. Transit Connect is designed, engineered and manufactured by Ford of Europe to beat tough, light commercial vehicle durability standards.

The Transit Connect is powered by a well-proven Duratec 2.0-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine, featuring four valves per cylinder and an aluminum block and head. Sequential multiport electronic fuel injection provides precise fuel metering for smooth and economical performance. This engine, delivering an estimated 136 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 128 ft.-lbs. of torque at 4,750 rpm, has proven American market durability.

This engine is mated to a four-speed automatic transaxle with overdrive for additional fuel economy. A final-drive ratio of 4.20 to 1 is designed to give Transit Connect pulling power for the long haul. Fifteen inch steel wheels with P205/65R-15 black sidewall tires put the Transit Connect in contact with the road.

The Transit Connect was developed at the outset to be durable, with a boron steel front crossmember, a high-strength steel reinforced body shell, twin- side cross members and side-impact protection. Several areas of the body structure are double-skinned for additional strength, increasing resistance to the minor scrapes inherent to urban delivery situations. Swage lines along the lower side door panels add rigidity and visual character.

As a nimble, purpose-built commercial vehicle, Transit Connect can be a smart choice for the small business proprietor currently over-taxing the capabilities of an aging minivan with the passenger seats removed.

Transit Connect: It’s Professional
While providing an ideal palette for identification and logo of a business on its body side, Transit Connect tells the world that its owner or operator has made a smart, savvy and efficient choice.

Transit Connect keeps passengers and cargo safe and secure, too. Front and side air bags help keep driver and first-row passenger safe. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) are standard, as well. A locking exterior hood release helps keep things secure up front. Lock-in-Latch shielded door locks help Transit Connect resist break-in.

Transit Connect helps small business professionals keep their cool with standard air-conditioning and an AM/FM Stereo receiver with two speakers. A similar audio unit is offered, adding a single disc CD player and an audio input jack.

A standard center console includes two large cupholders and twin storage bins for receipts, invoices and toll coins. The Transit Connect roofline allows an overhead storage shelf, holding the small items an entrepreneur needs to keep top-of-mind.

Transit Connect: It’s Accessible
With models starting at $21,475 (US), including destination, Transit Connect is accessible to a wide range of American small business owners.

Plus, low operating costs, excellent fuel economy and 7,500 mile service intervals make economic sense, for businesses on tight budgets. A comfortable ride, an automatic transaxle and small exterior dimensions make Transit Connect accessible to lots of drivers that might be intimidated by the prospect of a full-size commercial vehicle.

“Transit Connect will be a useful small business tool,” said Chief Engineer Stevens. “It drives like a car, works like a van and is engineered to be as tough as a truck.”