2011 Ford Transit Connect Review

Ford Transit Connect Taxi in production and will arrive in dealerships in 2010 as a 2011 model, adding to the direction of Ford Motor Company in the U.S. market taxi.

In making the announcement at the Chicago Auto Show 2010, Ford also said it will introduce packages of motor preparation in all Ford Transit Connect - Basic and cab - allowing the conversion efficiency, clean-burning gas natural (CNG) and propane gas (LPG or liquefied petroleum gas). CNG and LPG are popular among taxi operators, due to its low cost of ownership.

The spacious interiors and flexible Transit Connect - the 2010 North American Truck of the Year - is perfectly suited for taxi service, and the conversion to CNG and LPG. 135 car cubic feet of cargo space containing a compressed gas tank, while the legs of passengers and ample cargo capacity.

 

"While meeting with the taxi operators in the city of the United States, we have received significant interest in vehicles that run on alternative fuels," said Mark Fields, Ford's President of America. "Taxi Ford Transit Connect, combined with the Ford engine is suitable for the use of CNG / LPG, has been designed to meet this need. This event marks a new era of" "transit" green.

To better serve taxi operators, Ford will provide the specifications required for the calibration of CNG or LPG conversion. Correctly following the specifications of Ford, the conversion can be done without voiding the engine warranty.

The advantage of alternative fuels

 

According to the Agency of Environmental Protection U.S., CNG is cheaper and burns cleaner than gasoline, resulting in 30 to 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions under. Propane also burns cleaner than gasoline.

"Compressed natural gas and propane to provide more than enough power for vehicles, because they are highly energetic fuels," said Rob Stevens, chief engineer of the Transit Connect. "Another natural advantage of these fuels, they offer lower emissions of greenhouse gases than gasoline. The function of methane or LPG provides operators with lower fuel consumption / cost of managing their fleet."

In addition, nearly 87 percent of natural gas in the United States are produced locally. Government credit are also tax incentives to convert fleets to alternative fuels.

From October 2009 onwards, the CNG training packages are available on the E-Series vans with 5.4 liter and 6.8 liters of gas.

 

Internal conversion ready

The Ford Transit Connect Taxi offers exceptional interior of people and goods. With its open architecture, the taxi is a free interior space with excellent visibility for passengers. Back seat was moved back three inches to maximize passenger comfort. And with 6.5 inches of ground clearance, passengers step easily through the double sliding doors. Ventilation control the climate has been added for the rear passengers.

 

Ford Transit Connect Taxi is also upfit package wiring hole in the roof and signage, vinyl front and rear seats, rubber floor in the back, a second row sliding windows and third row standard Windows - all of which are installed at the factory. Additional installation of technology and other changes, such as the signs of the roof of a taxi, and optional seating section managed by taxi upfitters local market.

Trunk of a vehicle can comfortably accommodate compressed natural gas tanks are directly behind the seat of the second row, while still allowing a lot of luggage.

 

Technology on the road

Ford is working with Creative Mobile Technologies, LLC (CMT) to integrate payment processing and information technology of the first passenger Ford Transit Connect taxi.

Ford and CMT are also developing strategies for the possible integration of Ford Work Solutions, a productivity suite of technologies to business owners provided by a cable to the PC board with full Internet access at high speed and navigation. "Ford has demonstrated a strong commitment to support the taxi industry, not only with a specific product, but also committed to working with technology companies that support the industry," said Jason Polina, head of the operation, CMT. "Ford understands that the taxi business is not only the vehicle, but a complete technology solution."

 

To demonstrate how this technology could work in the future is included in the Ford Transit Connect Taxi. It also features a 8.4 inch display and navigation electronics and infotainment shows the price of taxi, news, weather, sports scores and stock quotes. With the touch screen, passengers also can select their programming options, follow the path of the taxi on a map or scroll through a list of points of interest along the route - including restaurants, museums and shops.

When the destination, you will travel through the options to pay by debit, credit or debit card. Holders can pick up their card, select a pre-determined advice or a recommendation to use the touch screen to enter the tip amount, and the ideal place in the market immediately.

 

Based on the leadership of taxi

The "green" taxi is not new at Ford, which has been a leader in the taxi industry for decades. Ford was the first manufacturer to introduce gas-electric hybrid-powered taxis into North American fleets with the launch of the Ford Escape Hybrid in San Francisco and New York in early 2005.

Built on a platform dedicated commercial vehicle and tested according to Ford trucks difficult, Ford Transit Connect Taxi - including petrol versions and those modified to run on CNG / LPG - is designed to meet the extreme service taxi.

 

With transmission 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and automatic standard, the conventional engine Ford Transit Connect is designed to provide an estimated improvement of 30 percent fuel economy today's traditional taxis.

 

"Ford Transit Connect has been tested as it offers great versatility in the use of the commercial fleet," said Gerry Koss, marketing manager of Ford's fleet. "The Ford Transit Connect taxi, combined with the ability to convert CNG / LPG, further demonstrates its flexibility."