AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, 30 May 2017 – Available from June 2017, Ford New Zealand has revealed the new Transit Custom and Transit Custom Tourneo will be the first of the line in the country to be available with a much-anticipated 6-speed Select Shift automatic transmission in addition to the standard manual transmission.
Pricing and complete specifications are to be confirmed closed to launch.
The Ford Transit line up is also no powered by the new Ford EcoBlue advanced diesel engine that will offer optimised fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 and NOX emissions* for customers, using sophisticated technologies and innovative design.
Ford New Zealand says the new automatic transmission will be a welcome option for the nation’s fleet of delivery and trade vans.
“Making anything automatic is generally a welcome improvement,” said Cameron Thomas, Ford Marketing Manager. “But for a do-everything, hard-working van like the Ford Transit, the new automatic transmission will be a big plus and make for a far more relaxing driving experience; especially in our increasingly stop-go traffic conditions.”
The 6-speed Select Shift automatic transmission also allows drivers to change gears manually as required. Drivers will also have the ability to lock out gears in challenging driving scenarios such as driving on steep gradients or driving on slippery surfaces.
Building on the industry-leading performance and technology of Ford’s award-winning EcoBoost petrol engines, Ford’s EcoBlue diesel engine available in New Zealand has a power output of 170PS and 405nM.
Drivability is enhanced with 20 per cent more torque at 1,250 rpm compared with the outgoing equivalent power 2.2-litre TDCi diesel engine, helping commercial vehicle drivers effortlessly tackle challenging everyday driving scenarios such as creeping in traffic, or overtaking slower-moving vehicles. The new engine also delivers passenger car refinement to the commercial segment, reducing radiated noise by 4 decibels at idle.
“Ford’s EcoBoost created a new standard for petrol engines – smaller, more efficient with surprising performance. That same obsession to innovate for the customer is behind our new Ford EcoBlue diesel engine range,” said Jim Farley, chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe. “This new engine lifts fuel efficiency and reduces CO2 by over 10 per cent in Transit, part of Europe’s best-selling commercial vehicle line-up, lowering costs for our customers.”
An all-new engine architecture delivers reduced friction and a clean-burning combustion system. Sophisticated after-treatment processes for exhaust gasses enable ultra-low emissions in line with stringent Euro Stage VI standards that were introduced in September 2016, requiring a 55 per cent reduction in NOx emissions compared to Euro Stage V standards.
Advanced technologies include an integrated intake system with Ford’s first application of mirror-image porting for optimised engine breathing; a low-inertia turbocharger featuring rocket engine materials designed for high temperature applications; and an all-new high-pressure fuel injection system that is more responsive, quieter and offers more precise fuel delivery.
The 2.0-litre Ford EcoBlue engine will be the first diesel commercial vehicle powertrain from Ford to achieve passenger car noise, vibration and harshness criteria, contributing to enhanced driving appeal.
The new engine radiates half as much sound energy at idle as the 2.2-litre TDCi diesel engine. A noise-optimised a cylinder-head, block, stiffening ladder-frame and oil pan are specifically developed to be desensitised to activity inside the engine, and non-flat mating surfaces are carefully designed to offer tight seals that trap noise within the engine.
“The basic structure of an engine can act as a soundboard for the movements happening inside it, just like a bell. So we try to develop a bell that does not ring very well,” said Dominic Evans, NVH specialist, Ford of Europe. “We’ve engineered every significant noise-influencing component of this engine to be quieter and smoother operating – resulting in the most refined diesel commercial vehicles Ford has ever built.”
A moulded acoustic cover that provides foam encapsulation of the cylinder head, and a front cover made from sound deadened steel, further prevent engine noise being transmitted to the cabin for a quieter driving environment. Additional measures taken to enhance NVH include:
The new 2.0-litre Ford EcoBlue engine meets Ford’s demanding global commercial vehicle durability standards for extreme usage in markets as diverse as Europe, the U.S. and China.
The engine’s performance has been trialled through the equivalent of 5.5 million km (3.4 million miles) of durability testing including 400,000 km (250,000 miles) at the hands of real-world customers, comprehensive analysis in laboratories and at Ford vehicle proving grounds, and CAE evaluations at every stage of development.
The oil system – including the oil specification, oil pan and filter dimensions, bore distortion tolerances and piston ring specifications – has been engineered to extend oil life, and maintenance-free components include the camshaft belt, camshaft module, and water pump.
“We developed the 2.0-litre Ford EcoBlue engine using feedback from customers around the world,” Turner said. “The versatile design even allows the same block to be used for front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive applications, and the sophisticated design and technologies deliver future-proofed fuel efficiency and emissions.”
Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 201,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing, financing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs and electrified vehicles, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. To expand its business model, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities with investments in electrification, autonomoy and mobility. Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products and services, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
