The 2014 Ford Transit Connect Van

2014 Ford Transit Connect XL

A 2.5L 4-cylinder, 6-speed automatic. No CVT!
169 hp & 171 lb-ft

Starting at $25,754
This one $30,729

That white, boxy panel van has been discontinued, and all automakers are simultaneously rolling out their new cargo van offerings, all with this European styling.

Chevy and Dodge have revealed their pre-production models, Nissan’s NV is for sale, and this is Ford’s entry, the Transit Connect.

Suits me, huh.

What’s missing….

No rearview mirror!

My tester didn’t have a rear view camera, or rear windows, so all backing up was done while holding my breath. If you order one, choose one of the two, but not neither.

Ford’s really pushing the customizing aspect of their van, because it’s geared towards the small business owner.

A flower shop or plumber could set up in here, or bet you could even run a food truck out of one.

Here’s my full review for the newspaper. There’s some good customizing example photos in the gallery there.

And confirmed, it will fit into a deep underground parking space, like mine here, which is a kilometre below the earth.

 

 

Fuel Economy Hasn’t Changed in 80+ Years

See the 3rd line down on the left.

Meaning, this 1931 Ford Model A achieved 20 MPG or 11.7 L/100km.

11 L/100km… the same as many cars today.

Come ON. Eyes are rolling out of my head.

Yes, today’s cars have way more features, both safety and comfort ones, are much heavier, and probably burn that fuel more efficiently, but for all the fuss made about the efficiency of today’s engines, shouldn’t this number be much lower?

(not picking on Ford, they make efficient engines, including their all-new 1.0L which I quite liked, review here.)

(Note – the fuel economy ratings are changing this year; here’s a column about that.)

 

 

Touring the Ford F150 Factory

It was a rare opportunity that photos were permitted while touring Ford’s assembly plan in Dearborn, Michigan.

Where the F150s come from.

Natural light streams in through skylights, and there are no uniforms – employees can wear whatever they wish.

There are 1,000 workers on the floor at any time, and the place runs 24-hours/day.

Read it online at Autonet.

Favourite line:

There are robots workers too, and the two that install windshields even have names – Bumper and Blinker. 

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Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

 

 

How Ford Tests its F150 (& uses Men from Craigslist)

From inside the factory – how Ford tests its F150 pickup truck before putting it into final production.

From the robots to the dynos, actually Ford’s toughest test involves men it hired off Craigslist – the ‘Big Man Test’.

Read it online at Autonet.

Favourite line:

One of the toughest tests Ford has created doesn’t involve robots, or any tech at all. Instead they used 6’7″ 300 lbs men they hired from Craigslist, and called it the “Big Man Test”.

Fun fact: Ford’s PR team said this is the first time the ‘Big Man Test’ story has ever been published in Canada.

YES to my story finding skills.

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From when I travelled with Ford to their proving grounds and factory last week.

Torque test.

Seat test for rattles.

That’s Mark, a 165 lb fake-human.

The tests run 24/7 for days.

There are robots everywhere.

This robot tests the fabric wear on the seats.

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