Ford Transit Drives into 2009 with many more options

• New Double Cab-in-Van model on a MBW platform with low roof
• Chassis cab with converted rear compartment for safe storage
• Light tint glass option now available on Tourneo
• New shift indicator light for optimum driving economy
• Thatcham alarm option now available on double chassis cab

A host of new options are now available for businesses to help them continue to use Ford Transit as the backbone of Britain.

Transit Double Cab Utility Chassis has been introduced as a Special Vehicle Option (SVO) featuring unglazed second row cab doors with the rear seats removed. An additional option means customers can also combine this new style of cab with a panel van bulkhead to form a secure load area for valued equipment. Consequently, a bed-mounted box is not required which would add weight, take up load space and reduce payload. The 'Utility' will be available to order next Spring, prices will be announced nearer the on-sale date.

For the growing number of businesses requiring dual usage from their vehicles to move both crews and equipment, the Transit Double Cab-in-Van (DCIV) range provides the answer. A new front wheel drive, medium wheelbase, low roof model comes with a choice of three 2.2-litre TDCi powertrains – 85PS, 115PS, 140PS. With a GVM of 2800kg and a payload of 903kg to 915 kg. It is on sale now, priced from £17,420.

The eight- and nine-seat Transit Tourneo is now available with a light tint glass option priced at £80.00 to cater for the private hire operators who need tinted windows to gain local authority approvals to operate their taxi business.

A new standard fitting on all diesel engine Transits is the shift indicator light (SIL). Located in the instrument cluster, it illuminates for a short period at the optimum time to change to a higher gear. This can improve fuel economy, reduce CO2 emissions and decrease wear on engine and transmission components. It does not illuminate during periods of high acceleration, braking or when the clutch pedal is depressed.

A Thatcham approved Category 1 alarm is now available as an option priced at £175.00 on all Transit double chassis cabs.

Steve Kimber, commercial vehicles director, Ford of Britain, said: "We are always looking to build on Transit core values of cost, economy and durability. Large and small companies alike are always looking for security options, a good environment for the driver and a vehicle that is bespoke for their needs. Listening to those requests for new options creates the strength of Transit and its siblings."

For more information regarding the Ford range please visit Lifestyle Ford

New Chairman And Managing Director For Ford Of Britain

• Joe Greenwell appointed chairman, Ford of Britain
• Nigel Sharp appointed managing director, Ford of Britain
• Roelant de Waard becomes vice-president of sales, Ford of Europe

Joe Greenwell has been appointed chairman, Ford of Britain, and Nigel Sharp has been named managing director, from January 1, 2009. They replace Roelant de Waard, who has held both roles since February 1, 2006. Roelant de Waard becomes vice-president of sales for Ford of Europe.

Joe Greenwell has been Ford Motor Company's UK-based vice-president for governmental affairs since 2005, and was previously chairman and CEO of Jaguar and Land Rover.

Nigel Sharp became sales director on January 1, 2006 after holding senior finance, sales and marketing appointments across Europe, including stints as managing director of Ford's operations in Switzerland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Turkey.

In his new role, Roelant de Waard will be responsible for sales across the company's European organisation, including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain and Russia. He will be based at Ford's European headquarters in Cologne, Germany.

"Roelant has done an excellent job of leading the Ford of Britain organisation since February 2006. With these appointments, we are putting in place the final elements of a re-organisation of our sales organisation which we started planning following Stephen Odell's move to Volvo earlier this year," said Ingvar Sviggum, vice-president, marketing, sales and service, Ford of Europe.

"We have created a structure which, under Roelant's leadership, will allow us to maximise our sales opportunities across all of the 51 markets in which Ford of Europe is now represented.

"In Britain, we felt the requirement for the company and the industry to have a strong voice with government and other key external organisations meant it was appropriate, once again, to separate the chairman and managing director roles. Joe Greenwell has considerable experience in this field, including as chairman and CEO of Jaguar and Land Rover. He was recently confirmed as the 2009 president of the UK automotive industry's trade organisation, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. As Ford of Britain chairman, Joe will play a vital ambassadorial role for the company and he and Nigel Sharp will make a formidable team," Sviggum added.

Other changes to the sales organisation announced today include:
Jon Wellsman replaces Nigel Sharp as sales director, Ford of Britain Bernhard Soltermann, currently managing director of Ford Austria, is appointed regional director of the newly-integrated Ford Austria and Ford Switzerland

Wolfgang Kopplin moves from his position as managing director Ford Switzerland, to become director of product marketing for Ford of Europe, replacing Wellsman

For more information on the Ford range please visit Lifestyle Ford

Five What Van? 2008 Awards for Ford Commercial Vehicles

• Transit wins Best Security, Panel Van
• Transit Connect wins Best Security, Light Van
• Transit wins Best Minibus
• Transit is highly commended as Small Panel Van of the Year
• The Ford One Stop Shop range is highly commended

Judges at Britain's leading van magazine, What Van? have recognised Ford's range of commercial vehicles as winners and leaders in their 2008 awards.

What Van? editor, Neil McIntee, presented the awards at a special London ceremony. Transit collected the Best Security award for the fifth successive year and Transit Connect won Best Security for the seventh time. Transit Minibus triumphed for a third consecutive year. Also recognised was the Transit, highly commended as Small Panel Van of the Year and the Ford One Stop Shop range – highly commended for its wide range of specialist applications and bespoke conversions.

Commercial vehicles director for Ford of Britain, Steve Kimber, said: "The strength of our brand is in its constant evolution. Security is paramount to all business operators and alongside economy, cost-of-ownership and durability, security is always high on our agenda."

For more information regarding the Ford range please visit Lifestyle Van Centre

Ford Hits Vital CO2 Targets

• Ford has the UK's most comprehensive range of low CO2 cars
• Low CO2 models provide tax, fuel and environmental benefits

Ford's latest C-MAX MPV delivers the lowest CO2 emissions in its segment. Engineering developments to Ford C-MAX 1.6 TDCi models have resulted in emissions of just 119g/km of CO2.

As a result vehicle excise duty (VED) for these models reduces immediately from £120 to £35. There will be a further reduction to £30 from April 2009, when new VED bands come into force. The official European Drive Cycle combined fuel consumption figure for these models is improved to 62.8mpg*.

C-MAX is one of over 50 Ford models emitting under 120g CO2/km. A total of 51 different Ford C-MAX, Focus, Fiesta, Fusion and new Ka models provide the tax, fuel economy and environmental benefits attached to sub-120g motoring.

After April, Fiesta 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre TDCi models will pay only £20 VED since they will fall in to the new 101g CO2/km to 110g CO2/km bracket. Fiesta ECOnetic models already qualify for zero VED because they emit just 98g CO2/km. Fiesta ECOnetic has an official European Drive Cycle combined figure of 76.3mpg*.

Larger cars benefit too
In the larger car segments Ford offers the most comprehensive UK line-up of sub-160g CO2/km cars of any manufacturer. This is particularly important for fleet buyers who can take full advantage of the changes to capital allowances which will be introduced in April next year.

Ford’s sub-160g line-up includes a comprehensive range of Fiesta, Focus, C-MAX, Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy models.

The latest addition to the sub-160 range is a new Ford Kuga with front-wheel drive which emits just 159g/km of CO2 from its 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi engine. This new addition shares the same standard equipment and option line-up as the all-wheel drive Kuga.

From April 2009, fleets will be able to write down the asset value of cars purchased outright which emit 160g/km of CO2 or less by 20 per cent a year, while cars emitting 161g/km or more will have to be written down at 10 per cent a year. Fleets with Fiesta TDCi models will benefit from the 100 per cent write down that applies to cars emitting under 110g/km of CO2 – meaning considerably less corporation tax to be paid.

Additionally, after April any leased cars emitting 160g/km or less will qualify for 100 per cent of their finance payments to be offset against corporation tax, with no disallowances applied.

Reducing CO2 output also increases fuel economy: the recent development of the 2.0-litre TDCi engines in S-MAX and Galaxy to reduce emissions below the sub-160 threshold also improved the official European Drive Cycle combined figure to 47.1 mpg*.

* Note: Fuel economy figures quoted are based on the European Fuel Economy Directive EU 80/1268/EEC and will differ from fuel economy drive cycle results in other regions of the world.

Ford more information regarding the Ford range please visit Lifestyle Ford

Ford Vans Retain Fleet Industry Crown For 14th Year

• Ford vans rewarded for best reliability and low running costs
• Ford Transit awarded Fleet Panel Van of the Year for the 14th successive year
• Transit Connect wins Fleet Light Van for the sixth successive year

Fleet insiders at the Association of Car Fleet Operators (ACFO) have once again given their top commercial vehicle award to Transit and Transit Connect. Ford Transit was awarded Fleet Panel Van of the Year for the 14th successive year and Transit Connect won Fleet Light Van for the sixth successive year.

ACFO represents professional businesses running vehicle fleets across the UK. Members have a wealth of knowledge about which cars and vans can give them the reliability and low running costs imperative to good fleet management.

Ford’s director of fleet operations, Kevin Griffin, said: "Claiming the ACFO title for the 14th consecutive year is testament to Ford's understanding of the van business and our laser focus on reliability, cost and service support."

For more information on the Ford Range please visit Lifestyle Van Centre

Ford Collects Ultimate Fleet Van Award

Ford claimed the ultimate accolade at the inaugural Fleet Van Awards ceremony this week (Tuesday) - Van Manufacturer of the Year. The award was based on a recent survey conducted by Fleet News on more than 169,000 vans. The Fleet Van Awards was launched by Fleet Van magazine to reflect the growing size and importance of the light commercial vehicle sector and the critical role it plays in keeping Britain's economy moving. The awards were judged by a team of experts, selected by Fleet Van magazine. The judges utilised industry research to choose winners in each category. On collecting the award, Steve Kimber, commercial vehicles director, Ford of Britain, said: “We know that Ford vans are famed for their reliability and cost of ownership, and to have this recognised by real users is always rewarding.Together with our dealer partners we can see that our efforts to keep our van range evolving is paying off. Thank you Fleet Van!" For more information about the Ford Van range please visit Lifestyle Ford Van Centre