Ford's successful Transit Connect and Tourneo Connect have undergone extensive changes with a new fresh look, new features and higher quality levels. With all of these changes in design, safety and quality, the Connect range will be on sale in Britain this summer. In compliance with the new European that law that will go into effect in 2011, Ford is upgrading the active safety features of the Transit/Tourneo Connect by offering Electronic Stability Program (ESP) as standard across the entire range. There's also a new braking system electronics with ventilated discs at the front and rear solid discs for all versions while Ford's Hill Launch Assist (HLA) is also now standard. Sales of the facelifted Transit Connect and Tourneo Connect will begin in Europe this summer.
We don't have any photos of the interior yet, but Ford claims to have redesigned the dashboard influenced by the S-MAX MPV. The 2009 models also feature new seats and interior colors along with the use of higher quality materials throughout the cabin.
The Connect models are offered with a 1.8-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine available with three different power outputs: an entry-level version delivering 75HP at 4,000rpm and 175Nm of torque at 1,800rpm; a 90HP version producing a maximum torque of 220Nm at 1,750rpm (increasing to 240Nm in the "transient overboost" mode) and a top-of-the-range version with 110HP at 3,500rpm (max. torque 250Nm at 1,500 to 3,200rpm and 280Nm in transient overboost mode). All of these engines are combined with a five speed manual transmission.
