The Ford Transit and E-Transit are set to receive a tech makeover that will make them more appealing to drivers; 2024 models will benefit from a host of new features, technology and safety upgrades to make the work day more efficient, easier and safer for drivers and operators.
The headline update, Delivery Assist, will be available on the long-wheelbase Transit and E-Transit panel vans. Drivers making frequent stops for deliveries will be able to use the technology to shave off vital seconds per stop, as the van performs repetitive security tasks automatically.
The system shuts down the engine, activates the hazard warning lights and alarm, and locks any unused doors — ones the driver doesn’t use to exit the cab or access parcels — when the vehicle is placed into Park. The engine can then be restarted by pressing the brake pedal, which also deactivates the hazard lights.
Cutting out the need to juggle a keyfob to lock or unlock the vehicle with hands potentially full of boxes, the driver can save time on each job. With as many as 150 jobs per day, the time saving could add up to as much as 50 minutes a day.
Across the Ford Transit range, the new model year will include Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment system with an upgraded screen. The new 12.0-inch touchscreen in the dashboard's centre gives access to the system’s apps, including navigation with real-time traffic information. Full connectivity is also available if the driver prefers to use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
As well as the infotainment centre, the driver will receive navigation instructions and other important information via an 8.0-inch digital instrument panel above the steering wheel.
An integrated 5G modem will facilitate high-speed over-the-air 'Ford Power-Up' updates and will allow smart technologies to be updated without the need to visit a dealership.
Ford will also fit an ‘Upfit Integration System’, which will enable drivers to control aftermarket installed equipment via digital buttons on the touchscreen. It also links to Ford Pro software packages which can remotely monitor things such as temperature in refrigerated vehicles.
The refreshed Transit and E-Transit models will also benefit from a broad array of advanced driver assistance systems, which should provide increased safety for drivers and could help to reduce downtime, repair, and insurance costs for operators. Pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping alert and aid, and intelligent speed assist will be included. Additional safety packs will be available, which offer a blind spot warning with cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with lane centring and stop & go, and automatic park assist with a 360-degree camera.
It’s not just tech that’s been upgraded; the core of the Transit has been revised a little, with a new eight-speed automatic transmission available for front-wheel drive configurations. This update improves performance, efficiency and load-hauling ability, increasing GVM to 4,250kg (up by 700kg) and GTM to 6,000kg (up 1,750kg). There’s a weight reduction of up to 27kg, thanks to new wheel hubs and braking systems, with the revised design also allowing them to be changed more easily, reducing servicing time by up to two hours on a four-disc replacement. 16-inch wheels will become standard across all models.
A new heavy-duty Gross Axle Weight Rating pack for front-wheel drive models will enhance conversion potential, boosting the front axle's maximum weight from 1,850kg to 2,000kg. This change will make load distribution less demanding for converters and operators. Ford Pro believes that this will likely attract horsebox operators or low loaders who require easy access to the load area and high payloads.
New Transit and E-Transit models will be available to order this month, with production expected to start next year. Customers can expect deliveries to begin in the summer of 2024.
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