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P L UMB I N G CO N N E C T I O N
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TRANSPORT
with Terry Martin
F
ord Australia has expanded its European-bred new-
generation Transit range with five key new heavier-duty
model variants joining the smaller Custom one-tonner
introduced last year.
Three long-wheelbase (3,750mm) vans – a 350L, 350E
Jumbo and 470E Jumbo – and a longer-wheelbase (3,954mm)
470E single and double cab chassis are now available, each
offering “significant increases”, Ford says, in key areas such as
safety, reliability, cargo capacity and standard equipment.
All are powered by a 2.2L Duratorq TDCi turbo-diesel engine,
producing 114kW of power at 3,500rpm and 385Nm of torque
from 1,600-2,300rpm and driving the rear wheels via a six-speed
manual gearbox – there is no automatic transmission available.
Standard safety features are a strongpoint, running to front,
side and curtain airbags, traction and stability control, a host
of other electronic handling aids (rollover mitigation, load
adaptive control, torque vectoring control and trailer sway
control, for example) and Ford’s Sync Emergency Assistance
system which can automatically dial emergency services in the
event of an accident.
Other items onboard include air conditioning, cruise control,
a trip computer, heated exterior mirrors (with a power fold
function), remote central locking, perimeter alarm, 3.5" display
screen, digital radio, CD stereo, USB input, Bluetooth phone
connection and audio streaming.
The vans have a side door and 270º rear swing doors, while
the load compartment includes lighting, wooden wall cladding,
tie-downs and a 12V power socket. Load volume is well up on
the previous generation, ranging from 11m³ on the 350L with
standard mid-roof – a high roof can also be ordered, creating
12.4m³ – to 15.1m³ on the Jumbo vans, which have an extended
body and high roof as standard.
The key difference between the 350E and 470E models – both
in van and cab chassis spec – is the fitment of dual rear wheels
on the latter. As such, gross combination mass increases from
5,500kg on the 350L and 350E to 7,000kg on the 470E van and
single cab chassis.
Maximum payload is 1,295kg for the 350L (high-roof version:
1,267kg), 1,122kg on the 350E Jumbo, 1,946kg on the 470E
Jumbo and 2,500kg on the 270E single cab chassis. GVM is
4,490kg on both Jumbo vans and the cab chassis, with the entry
350L at 3,550kg.
Pricing starts from $47,680 plus on-road costs for the
350L van (the high roof adds $1,500), rising to $51,180 for the
350E Jumbo and to $54,180 for the 470E Jumbo. The 470E
single cab chassis kicks off at $49,180, while the double is
priced from $52,680.
Ford Australia
www.ford.com.auFORD TRANSIT