All-New Ford Transit Custom's Smart Storage Solutions

MELBOURNE – Feb 20, 2014: Ford’s all-new Transit Custom van delivers exceptional load-carrying ability to make lighter work for plumbers, electricians and all trades which rely on a van to run their business.

Transit Custom’s combination of smart features; including the large side door opening, wide load area between the wheel arches and the ability to carry two Australian pallets is coupled with innovations inspired by talking to and observing customers.

When developing the all-new Ford Transit, engineers watched and then engaged different trades using their vans over several months and then asked which features would make life easier. Their feedback was instrumental in designing and developing a van that makes maximum use of the load area space and has smarter storage solutions.

Ford’s Transit Custom van is a stylish all-new design with a car-like interior and driving experience, combined with legendary Transit durability and low cost-of-ownership. It is designed to expand the appeal of the range to trades and small businesses that might not have considered a Transit before.

By shaping the Transit Custom bulkhead (which partitions the cab from the load area), and the bodysides to deliver maximum volume, the designers created a 5.95 m3 loadspace in the SWB model and 6.83 m3 in the LWB model, capable of swallowing two loaded pallets.

Builders, carpenters and other tradespeople, for whom loading vans with bulky items is a daily requirement, will also welcome the tall and wide opening side door; along with ample space between the wheel arches inside the load area, allowing wide loads to be easily loaded and stored.

Feedback from van customers was critical in developing innovative practical storage solutions, which will help Transit Custom users transport larger, more awkward items.

The unique foldable roof rack system means users can not only load bulky items on the roof, but also store the roof bars away into recesses in the roof panel when they are not required. This unique system is expected to help cut fuel bills when the bars are folded down – and allow the van to fit under two-metre car park height restrictions. The roof rack system is capable of supporting loads up to 130kg.

The roof rack system not only gives customers a flexible and convenient way of adding extra carrying capacity when they need it, it can also reduce the extra drag caused by leaving an empty roof rack on the vehicle.

Inside the van, decorators or plumbers will appreciate a special load-through hatch in the bulkhead, which enables loads up to three metres in length, such as pipes or ladders, to be carried inside a short wheelbase vehicle. Critical too for a vehicle destined to spend time in the inner city, the 280S has a turning circle of 10.9 m while the 330L has a turning circle of 12.2 m.