Ford of Europe has fitted out a Transit van with £350,000 (568,000 Euros) worth of ground-to-satellite broadcasting equipment to highlight the versatility of the vehicle.

The manufacturer has developed the one-off unit, called the Satellite News Gathering (SNG) Transit, in a joint initiative with Stockholm-based satellite communications specialist SWE DISH.

Ford will offer the vehicle as a facility to broadcasters at press events and Neil Golightly, Ford's executive director of European public affairs, commented: 'The SNG Transit has already proved itself to be an exceptionally useful facility for broadcasters.

'Our partners in the project, SWE DISH, have applied fresh thinking and meticulous attention to detail on the whole concept, as well as drawing on the considerable strengths of the new Transit.' (July/August 2001)