Aggressive pricing for Transit Connect

FORD has revealed an aggressive pricing strategy for the new 'baby' Transit van, the Transit Connect, and the Tourneo Connect car.

The Transit Connect is now on sale priced from £9,450 to £11,725 (ex-VAT), while the Tourneo Connect is priced from £14,799.67 on-the-road.

The entry-level Transit Connect – with a 74bhp turbodiesel engine and a payload of 625 kg – costs £300 more than the market-leading Citroen Berlingo 1.9D 600L LX, but has a greater payload and more powerful engine.

The low-roof, short wheelbase Connect TDCi has identical power to the Berlingo 800 2.0HDi LX but has a greater payload (825kg compared with 800kg) and costs £9,750, while the Citroen is priced at £10,175.

The Connect also compares favourably with equivalent rivals from Renault and Vauxhall.

Steve Parker, Ford of Britain commercial vehicles director, said: 'Both the short and long wheelbase Transit Connect are well placed in their markets to make an extremely attractive proposition for the commercial vehicle buyer.

'The insurance ratings, particularly on long wheelbase Transit Connect, mean that the low cost of ownership synonymous with Transit, continues with Transit Connect.

'These new members to the Ford Transit family lead their markets for durability and space. Businesses also get the support of 120 UK Ford Transit specialist dealers to keep their vehicles on the road.'

The short wheelbase Transit Connect has been given an insurance rating of group 2E, while the long wheelbase model is in group 4E. Delivery charges add an extra £631.53 to the published list prices.

Transit Connect fact file
Model	gvw(kg)	Payload (kg)	Price (ex-VAT)
T200 SWB low roof TDdi 114bhp	2,025	625	£9,450
T200 SWB low roof 1.8i 114bhp	1,970	625	£8,950
T220 SWB low roof TDdi 74bhp	2,230	825	£9,750
T210 LWB high roof 1.8i 114bhp	2,080	700	£10,150
T220 LWB high roof TDdi 74bhp	2,260	825	£10,650
T230 LWB LX high roof TDCi 89bhp	2,340	900	£11,725