Ford Ranger And New Transit Custom Claim Top Spots At What Van? Awards

BRENTWOOD, UNITED KINGDOM – Dec 5, 2012: The new Ford Transit Custom has been awarded the prestigious What Van? Van of the Year Award for 2013, with the Ford Ranger collecting the Pick-up of the Year title.

The Transit Custom, which was also voted International Van of the Year 2013, impressed What Van?’s judging panel with its interior and exterior quality, as well as a host of innovations new to the light commercial vehicle sector. It also picked up the Medium Van of the Year title, meaning that in the last seven years, the Ford Transit has won 17 What Van? Awards.

Paul Barker, What Van? editor, said: “The new Transit Custom does the name and heritage of the UK’s dominant van proud by improving vastly over its award-winning predecessor, particularly in terms of innovation and interior quality, which is superior to anything van drivers are used to.

“The Transit Custom is not the only good news for Ford, with the excellent Ranger also a clear winner in our Pick-up of the Year category, and a trio of highly commended acknowledgements making Ford by far the most successful brand in the 2013 What Van? Awards.”

Mark Ovenden, Ford of Britain managing director, said: “It's been an amazing start for the Ford Transit Custom, now made even more significant with this superb recognition from the What Van? judging panel. The Transit has been the best-selling van in the UK for 46 years, and continues to go from strength to strength.”

Transit Custom
Transit Custom offers class-leading load-carrying ability, including a number of innovative loadspace features such as the load-through hatch in the bulkhead for extra-long items, and the integrated roof rack which can be folded away when not in use. The driver also benefits from the latest Ford technologies like Lane Keeping Aid and Ford SYNC.

Class-leading fuel economy with CO2 emissions from 174 g/km is delivered by the improved 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel available with Auto-Start-Stop, while cost-of-ownership is further minimised by the longest service intervals in the class at two-years/30,000 miles.*

Ranger
The new Ford Ranger now delivers more payload and class-leading towing capability; along with innovative new comfort and driver assistance features; and is the first such vehicle ever to achieve a five-star Euro NCAP rating.

It is offered in three versatile cab bodystyles – Double, Super and Regular – that are among the roomiest in its class; comes with a choice of two powerful and economical Duratorq TDCi engines, and with the option of 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains.