Ford announced that it will begin selling its Transit Connect commercial van in the U.S. next year, and now the Blue Oval’s European division has announced a sport version of the van — dubbed the Transit Connect SportVan.
While the SportVan’s emphasis is more on sporty appearances rather than raw performance, the package does give the van a little flair. Not only does the SportVan come in Performance Blue with white racing stripes, but it also features full body colored bumpers, a bright chrome grille and side skirts, front and rear sports skid plates, body colored roof spoiler, silver door mirror housings and a unique exhaust tip.
The interior of the SportVan is covered in leather — including a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob — and also features a silver-accented center stack.
Motivation for the SportVan is provided by Ford’s 1.8L Duratorq TDCi diesel engine — producing about 110 horsepower and 185 lb-ft or torque.
No word if the SportVan will make it Stateside when the Transit launches next year, but it could be an interesting addition to the Transit lineup.
04/15, 1:26 PM
posted by:
ARMY Strong
sweet, i’ll take on any time just for the hell of it
04/15, 1:36 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
looks like a tennis shoe
04/15, 1:37 PM
posted by:
A4
are we getting the diesel engine too?
04/15, 1:43 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
My Gawd it’s the 1984 Dodge Caravan reincarnated with a blue oval instead of a pentastar. Tres chic. Anyone know if these are front or rear drive?
04/15, 1:47 PM
posted by:
ARMY Strong
i think they are rear wheel, cant be sure
04/15, 1:49 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
It’s a Dodge Sprinter, but smaller(?) had a Sprinter 2500 roll up next to me, I thought the thing was an RV. This looks to be the same but not a big as a UPS truck.
Look out! Here comes the next big thing: large crossover Vans!
04/15, 1:51 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
How many slices of bread can fit in that toaster?
04/15, 2:01 PM
posted by:
Stinky007
Come on, Ford is putting white stripes on every underpowered diesel utility it has and labels it “Sport”! Hello, earth to Ford, SPORT=FAST! You call that econobox fast!? How about that “monster” of a Ranger!?
That is lame, and only works in the UK, where every diesel is a pseudo-sportscar and comes with everything a new-age diesel ricer would need: STRIPES!
I’m not kidding, check out the other manufacturer’s “special” edition diesel “sportscars”…
@johnnycanuck: the car is front-wheel drive.
04/15, 2:03 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
^
It’s just an accord
04/15, 2:06 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Great now Ford is turning Fusion’s into vans.
04/15, 2:09 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Hey Hemi you get my Doritos
04/15, 2:42 PM
posted by:
MercMark
New vehicle for the A-Team!
04/15, 3:42 PM
posted by:
LexusSoarer
How large (or small) is this thing in comparison to other vans? The article does not mention anything about size and it’s tough to tell the scale just by looking at that one picture.
I am assuming that it’s smaller than the Flex, unless Ford really is trying to compete with itself in a segment that only itself competes in…
04/15, 3:47 PM
posted by:
xkr
bahh
04/15, 4:31 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
If it weren’t for all the CUVs FORD is rolling out this would go over fairly well in the US.
04/15, 6:11 PM
posted by:
The Stig
Sporty and van is an oxymoron.
04/15, 6:20 PM
posted by:
Bimmer
WTF? Everything with stripes now called Sport? And I don’t associate any VAN with SPORT, just not possible!
04/15, 6:59 PM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
Looks ****ing GREAT.
04/15, 7:27 PM
posted by:
deutschetouring1337
Didn’t FifthGear already say this like 5-6 months ago?
04/15, 7:41 PM
posted by:
autonut
I think I saw it in NYC auto show. It looked really cool as a cab and delivery van. It was actually displayed with appropriate/correct side steering, so I assumed it was German Ford. it also had only manual tranny in both models. I would buy this with diesel. it has torque as strong as Chevy/Ford smallish V6.
04/15, 8:37 PM
posted by:
bolex
damn, that little piece of **** actually looks cool.
04/15, 8:44 PM
posted by:
Arbiter
“Sporty and van is an oxymoron.”
So Google “Transit, the Supervan” and see what an F1 powered van looks like. No, not “sporty” at all.
Geez, the moron factor here just keeps increasing………………….
I suppose your Cavalier has a “sporty” fartcan exhaust?
04/15, 9:03 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
I doesn’t look that bad, maybe it’s the racing stripes…..
04/15, 10:39 PM
posted by:
jdasch1
Better than an Econoline E150 to trudge about. The engine we get here is a 2.0 liter 4 cyl gas. The diesel is for Europe. The ecoboost will make its way into this van by 2011. Then it will be quite the shocker for its utility value.
04/15, 11:13 PM
posted by:
elviososa
I would want one to replace my pick up. hehe
04/15, 11:34 PM
posted by:
llun00
Stripes or no stripes, that little bugger looks pretty damn cool. What I’d really like to see is some faux wood paneling on the sides with a surf board rack on top. Now that would be uber-sweet.
04/16, 1:54 AM
posted by:
Brendino
MercMark stole my line. If this is the new A-Team van, what is the new A-Team cast? I say Jim Carrey as Murdock, Tom Cruise as Face, Mr. T as B.A. (MAYBE Ice Cube), and perhaps an Mark Wahlberg kinda guy as Hannibal.
04/16, 7:29 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
MercMark was spot on… quality stuff!
Brendino, interesting view on cast lol… Carrey as Murdock I can defo see though… Mr T would have to come back as BA tho I can see others filling the role…
Right, now that new 4.something diesel v8 in LLN the other day? Drop THAT in the transit connect sportvan!
Not sure if the connect is RWD, but its actually too small for an A-Team van I think… The proper transits are RWD and good enough for a few assault rifles and RPGs
04/16, 11:38 AM
posted by:
RaineMan
Gimme a black one with some red rims…
A-Team baby!
04/16, 11:59 AM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
I see these all over Europe, yeah I noticed this back in 06 when I was in Amsterdam and I took a picture of one and noticed that when the Fusion first came out that they must have taken the headlamps from this van and used them for the Fusion. Global parts bin raid! Cool looking Euro van!